ASEM conference recognises the ability of people with disabilities
(10 September 2004)For the first time people with disabilities had a real influence at the ASEM Peoples Forum held in Hanoi this week. International development charity VSO had ensured that 15 people with disabilities attended and made their voices heard.
Their presence made a big impact, not only on the other participants but importantly on the Forum’s final statement. Across the board, from peace and security to democratisation, disability was taken as a vital consideration.
The statement on peace and security for example included a commitment to ‘demand justice for all victims of weapons of mass destruction, including people with disabilities’ and in the statement on economic and social security, ‘to adopt and implement comprehensive legislation with respect to the rights and needs of people with disabilities.’
Tim Watson, Vietnam’s Programme Director says:
It has been a very positive week and it is so important that people with disabilities have been speaking for themselves and have been truly recognised for their ability not disability.
Just one example of this was during the final plenary, despite a highly charged atmosphere and their own nerves, Ariane, who is blind, and Treeyarak, who has a physical disability, took the microphone and proposed an amendment to identify that women with disabilities face particular barriers and discrimination. The amendment was applauded and accepted.
Despite UN estimates that 400 million people in the Asia Pacific region live with disabilities, the issue is rarely given the attention it deserves.
Less than 5% of disabled children from this region have access to schooling or informal vocational education programmes. Community attitudes and beliefs often deny disabled citizens their basic rights to be included in conventional aspects of life. This problem is exasperated by governments, donors and development organizations who often overlook disability issues in their plans for development. The results of this exclusion are quite stark. According to a recent World Bank study, people with disability make up roughly 15-20% of the ‘poor’ in developing countries.
The ASEM summit, taking place this October is now the focus of the attention of all whom attended this week in Hanoi. The British Ambassador to Vietnam was one of those struck by the success of this weeks activities and has pledged to do all he can to ensure disability is firmly on the agenda in October.
For more information and to talk to a spokesperson, contact Adam Bowers on +44 (0)208 780 7265 or adam.bowers@vso.org.uk
Editors' notes
Asia - Europe People's Forum (AEPF)
The Asia Europe People's Forum (AEPF) is a network of organisations from Asia and Europe working on issues of common concern to both regions. Its main activities include the organisation of parallel civil society conferences on the occasion of the official ASEM Summits. Such conferences were organised in Copenhagen (2002), Seoul (2000), London (1998), and Bangkok (1996).
The Asia-Europe Peoples’ Forum in Hanoi between the 6-9 September 2004 will focus on the theme: Asia-Europe in Transition: Strategies of Social Actors. At present both the regions are facing new and unprecedented challenges, a phenomenon that is unleashing a process of transformation in both continents. The transition has resulted in a variety of experiences, patterns and trends and has implications for the future of people, their counties and Asia-Europe relations.
The aim of AEPF Hanoi 5 is to examine the various aspects and common experiences in transition in Asia and Europe and its implication for people, their livelihoods and human security. The critical themes of AEPF Hanoi 5 include a) Peace and Security issues; b) Econom
VSO sponsored delegates at workshop:| Name | Nationality | Organisation | Disability |
|---|
| Mr. Didi Tarsidi | Indonesian | VSO/DREAM IT Indonesia | Blind |
| Ms. Pamikatsih Supijarto | Indonesian | InterAct Foundation | Polio / wheelchair |
| Mr. Sapto Nugroho | Indonesian | Talenta Foundation | Polio / wheelchair |
| Mr. Setia Adi Purwanta | Indonesian | DRIA MANUGGAL, Institute for Research, Empowerment and Development for people with different abilities | Blind |
| Ms. Ariani Soekanwo | Indonesian | Indonesian Association of Women with Disabilities / Committee of Citizen with Disabilities election Access | |
| Mr. Richard O’Brien | British | Regional Special Education Centre- Koen Haen (Thailand) | Physical disability |
| Ms. Manida Sophitpong | Thais | Friends of 2000 (People with Disabilties Group) | Physical disability/crutches |
| Mr. Rattpol Sricharoen | Thais | VSO/DREAM IT Thailand | |
| Mr. Rattpol Sricharoen | Thais | VSO/DREAM IT Thailand | |
| Mr. Kitti Supsuntipong | Thais | Nakorn Srithamarat Disabled Association | Paraplegia / wheelchair |
| Ms. Treeyarak Treebutpakdee | Thais | VSO/DREAM IT Thailand | Physical disability |
| Ms. Wisakha Phurikrai | Thais | c/o VSO Thailand | |
| Mr. Ingemar Farm | Swedish | The Swedish Disability Federation (HSO), representing the European Disability Forum | Stomach disability |
| Mr. Tim Boyes-Watson | British | VSO | |
| Ms. Anuradha Banerjee | British | VSO | |
| Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Hang | Vietnamese | Hope Club | Polio / wheelchair |
| Ms. Dang Huong Giang | Vietnamese | The disabled youth club of Thai Binh Province | Physical disability |
Richard O'Brien
Richard, himself a thalidomide survivor, works as Rehabilitation Advisor in the Regional Special Education Centre of Koen Kaen province of Thailand. Richard works with local Thai collegues to implement & support special needs teaching in Khon Kaen & 8 other provinces in North-east Thailand. He acts as a role model for disabled children and their families, most of whom have never seen a teacher who is disabled before.
Hope Club
The Hope Club is a community project located in a Hanoi, Vietnam. This project, engages over 50 participants with disability in four distinct programmes : a vehicle unit, a music club, a cultural unit & english lessons. Over the past year, Hope Club members with the support of the British Embassy & VSO have improved their vehicle unit, gaining money to purchase modified tuk tuks in order to be able to earn a basic living.
VSO
VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) is the world's largest international development charity that works through volunteers. VSO has over 1,600 volunteers working in 34 different countries.
VSO has been working in Vietnam since 1991. VSO Vietnam works in long term partnerships with government, non-government and international organisations in: Education, Secure Livelihoods, HIV and AIDS.
