ASEAN Disability Forum (in Bangkok)

On 30 November and 1 December 2010, Disabled Peoples’ International Asia-Pacific (DPIAP) organized an informal consultation on ASEAN Disability Forum (ADF) in Jakarta, Indonesia.The meeting was attended by the individual experts from different sectors, including disabled people’s organizations (DPOs), their parents’ organizations and international donors.This discussion was followed by the Jakarta Declaration adopted on 2 December 2010 at the Regional Conference on ASEAN and Disability.This Declaration reads as follows:

i) ASEAN Disability Forum should be established as a joint effort of multi-stakeholders, including ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN member states, international development agencies, civil society organizations (CSO), media, business sector, academic groups, disability related organizations and disabled people’s organizations (DPO) and their family organizations.

ii) ASEAN Disability Forum will organize its inaugural meeting in 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand and will have annual meetings with the participation of multi-stakeholders

In November 2010, ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD) was held in Brunei Darussalam.This meeting adopted the 2^nd Strategic Framework for Social Welfare and Development (2011-2015).ADF is positioned as a part of disability policies, especially under GO-NGO Forum.

Indonesia government proposed a declaration on disability to be adopted by the 19^th Bali ASEAN Summit this November.Thai government also proposed the proclamation of the ASEAN Decade of Persons with Disabilities at the same summit.It is highly expected that this Declaration will mention ASEAN Disability Forum as a vehicle of ASEAN Decade.

ASEAN Secretariat, however, suggests that ADF should gain accreditation of ASEAN.With accreditation as a registered Civil Society Organization, the performance of ADF will be strengthened and more influential to promote the rights of persons with disabilities.

Considering these circumstances, it is quite significant to organize the Preparation Committee on ASEAN Disability Forum just before SOMSWD meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.As well, it is also effective and useful to organize national seminar to build capacity and raise awareness of disability community in Thailand, utilizing this opportunity.