The Asian and Pacific region has by far the largest number of people with disabilities in the world. Most of them are poor, their concerns unknown and their rights overlooked. In order to address the major issues that disabled persons face and thereby enhance the quality of their lives, the governments of the Asian and Pacific region declared the period 1993 - 2002 as the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons.

This unique regional initiative focuses on the inclusion of people with disabilities in society and in all mainstream development programmes to reach the Decade goal of full participation and equality of people with disabilities.

The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) supports member and associate member governments in the ESCAP region on developing approaches that promote the participation of people with disabilities in the development process. This support is provided through operational activities, encouragement of networking and collaborative action, identification of examples of good practice, as well as advisory services on the implementation of the Agenda for Action for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons.

Education
Training trainers
Accessible environments Assistive devices
T erminology
Women with disabilities

High-level Intergovernmental Meeting to Conclude the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons,
1993-2002
25-28 October 2002, Otsu City, Shiga, Japan