Promotion of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Asia and Pacific Aiko Akiyama Social Affairs Officer Emerging Social Issues Division ESCAP

The regional arm of the United Nations Secretariat under the Economic and Social Council. Covers the largest of the five regions in the world, Asia-Pacific with 62 associate/member states.

ESCAP past initiatives provided a favorable ground for the promotion of CRPD As the regional engine, issue catalyst and norm- setting organization on disability issues, ESCAP –Raised awareness from the high-governmental level to the grass-roots level. –Promoted policy development and data collection 14 Governments –comprehensive disability laws 7 Governments- anti-discrimination laws on disability 21 Governments- national plan on action on disability –Facilitated networking bet. Governments and disabled peoples organizations.

ESCAP regional initiatives Active in disability issues since st regional Decade of Disabled Persons in the world. 2 nd regional Decade from 2003 to 2012.

2 nd regional Decade from 2003 to 2012 Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society in Asia and the Pacific (BMF) serves as the regional policy guideline. Promotes a paradigm shift from a charity-based approach to a rights- based approach to disability.

Biwako supports the work of the Ad Hoc Committee. Submission of the Bangkok Draft to the Ad Hoc Committee in Knowledge enhancement on the concepts and the content of the CRPD through annual organization of the regional workshop on the subject. Participation of persons with disabilities from the region in the process. Biwako Millennium Frame work for Action- contribution to the CRPD

Biwako helps the implementation of the CRPD in the region CRPD Biwako Biwako Plus Five

Promotion of CRPD in the Asia-Pacific through Biwako plus Five and the Biwako Draft Biwako Plus Five, a supplement to the Biwako, contains seven additional strategies for promoting a rights-based approach, which includes CRPD ratification, establishment of anti-discrimination laws, amendment of domestic laws in the light of human rights instruments. Implementation of the Biwako will lead to the promotion and implementation of CRPD, owing to the substantive similarities between the two documents.

1 Self-help organizations of persons with disabilities 2 Women with disabilitie s 7 Poverty Alleviation through capacity-building, social security and sustainable livelihood programmes 3 Early intervention and education 4 Training and employment, including self-employment 5 Access to physical environments and public transport 6 Access to information and communications, including information and communications technology Biwako 7 priority areas

Promotion of CRPD in the Asia-Pacific through Biwako plus Five and the Biwako Biwako and Biwako provides detailed actions, which are useful for the implementation of the CRPD.

Planned activities, promoting CRPD Continuing function as issue catalyst, regional convener, and strengthen research and information dissemination function. Promote UN inter-agency collaboration as well as DPOs, human rights, development organizations. Promote the involvement of subregional organizations (e.g., PIF, ASEAN, CAREC, SEMEAO…)

Planned activities, promoting CRPD Promotes monitoring of the implementation of laws and policies. Workshops and publication on situation analysis of anti-discrimination laws on disability, social security laws on disability.

Planned activities, promoting CRPD Convention in Manga (comic book)-easy to understand for persons with different disabilities. Publication of Disability at a Glance-a snapshot view of disability demography and policy in the region. Publication of Community Profile- a case study of how rights are actually interpreted and implemented at a community level.

Let s work together Thank you UNESCAP Disability Website: