Forum countries to advance rights of persons with disabilities
MEDIA RELEASE (67/09)
30th October 2009
PACIFIC STRATEGY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IDENTIFIES THEMATIC AREAS FOR ACTION
Pacific Islands Forum countries have committed themselves to working on several areas that would most effectively advance the rights of persons with disabilities in the region.
Forum Disability Ministers made the commitments when they endorsed the Pacific Regional Strategy on Disability during their first ever meeting held in the Cook Islands, 21 – 23 October.
The Strategy identifies several thematic areas that can be realistically addressed by the countries. Under each thematic area are selected indicative areas for actions designed to provide guidance to countries in regard to how they might address their own priorities and commitments. These activities are also to facilitate coordination with other regional frameworks, such as the Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF) which includes inclusive education as a cross-cutting theme.
The thematic areas for special attention are:
• Strengthen Political Leadership and an Enabling Environment;
• Recognition and Protection of the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
• Strengthen Partnerships: Coordination and Collaboration;
• Disability Inclusive Development;
• Enhancing the Central Role of Persons with Disabilities, and
• Mobilisation of Resources.
The Strategy will be implemented over a five year period (2010 to 2015) by governments in collaboration with civil society, regional stakeholders and development partners. An implementation plan will be developed in consultation with stakeholders and a monitoring and evaluation framework will also be developed now that the Strategy has been endorsed.
Strategy targets are linked to regional and international commitments to the Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
ENDS.
For information on the Pacific Regional Strategy on Disability, contact Mr Frederick Miller, the Forum Secretariat’s Disability Coordination Officer on phone 679 331 2600 or email frederickm@forumsec.org.fj
30th October 2009
PACIFIC STRATEGY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IDENTIFIES THEMATIC AREAS FOR ACTION
Pacific Islands Forum countries have committed themselves to working on several areas that would most effectively advance the rights of persons with disabilities in the region.
Forum Disability Ministers made the commitments when they endorsed the Pacific Regional Strategy on Disability during their first ever meeting held in the Cook Islands, 21 – 23 October.
The Strategy identifies several thematic areas that can be realistically addressed by the countries. Under each thematic area are selected indicative areas for actions designed to provide guidance to countries in regard to how they might address their own priorities and commitments. These activities are also to facilitate coordination with other regional frameworks, such as the Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF) which includes inclusive education as a cross-cutting theme.
The thematic areas for special attention are:
• Strengthen Political Leadership and an Enabling Environment;
• Recognition and Protection of the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
• Strengthen Partnerships: Coordination and Collaboration;
• Disability Inclusive Development;
• Enhancing the Central Role of Persons with Disabilities, and
• Mobilisation of Resources.
The Strategy will be implemented over a five year period (2010 to 2015) by governments in collaboration with civil society, regional stakeholders and development partners. An implementation plan will be developed in consultation with stakeholders and a monitoring and evaluation framework will also be developed now that the Strategy has been endorsed.
Strategy targets are linked to regional and international commitments to the Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
ENDS.
For information on the Pacific Regional Strategy on Disability, contact Mr Frederick Miller, the Forum Secretariat’s Disability Coordination Officer on phone 679 331 2600 or email frederickm@forumsec.org.fj
