FACTSHEET
What is the Asian and Pacific Decade of
Disabled Persons, 1993-2002?
It represents a concerted commitment on the part
of Governments and people in the region to promote
the full participation and equality of people with
disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region.
Why the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled
Persons?
• About 400 million of the world’s more
than 600 million persons with disabilities live
in Asia and the Pacific;
• Close to 200 million need the use of specific
assistive devices and their needs are largely unmet;
• About 160 million live below the poverty
line;
• Less than 10 per cent of children and youth
with disabilities go to school;
• People with disabilities continue to face
institutional, environmental and attitudinal discrimination
and barriers
The Decade is aimed at translating into reality
the fact that people with disabilities are entitled
to the same rights as everyone: the right to economic
and social security, to employment, to live with
their families, to participate in social and creative
events, to be protected against all discrimination,
etc.
Have other regions declared similar Decades?
ESCAP is the first to declare a Decade for the
region, in order to implement the World Programme
of Action. The Asian and Pacific Decade has served
as a model for the African Decade of Disabled Persons,
2000-2009.
What is the Otsu meeting about?
The High-level Intergovernmental Meeting to Conclude
the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons
will be held in Otsu, Shiga, Japan. The meeting
will review the achievements and shortcomings of
the Decade. It will also adopt a framework for action
towards an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based
society for persons with disabilities in Asia and
the Pacific.
What are the achievements of the Decade?
First, disability concerns are more widely viewed
as issues of human rights and not just as a welfare
issue. Second, there have been improvements in terms
of national coordination, legislation and policy,
training and employment, prevention of causes of
disability and self-help organizations of disabled
persons.
What are the shortcomings?
There is still a very low rate of access to education
for children and youth with disabilities. For those
who do have access to education, few receive inclusive
education. Most segregated special schools are located
mainly in urban areas and have limited capacity.
People with disabilities also face multiple barriers
in accessing ICT and the skills and knowledge that
are required to benefit from it. The problem is
especially acute in rural areas in the ESCAP region.
Women and girls continue to struggle with a double
discrimination, on the grounds of gender and of
disability. They have less access to health care
and rehabilitation services, and fewer education
and employment opportunities. Another area of concern
is poor people with disabilities. Major causal and
interrelated factors are unemployment and lack of
education.
Why the lack in education?
Major barriers include:
• Lack of early identification and intervention
services;
• Negative attitudes and exclusionary policies
and practices towards children with disabilities;
• Inadequate teacher training, particularly
for teachers in inclusive regular schools but also
for teachers in special schools;
• Lack of support systems for teachers;
• Lack of appropriate teaching materials and
devices; and
• An inaccessible school environment.
What are the plans to overcome these persistent
shortcomings?
At the Otsu meeting, Governments will adopt the
“ Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards
an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based society
for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific”.
This will serve as a guide and a renewed commitment
during the next Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled
Persons, 2003-2012 to address issues in the following
priority areas:
• Self-help organizations of persons with
disabilities;
• Women with disabilities;
• Early intervention and education;
• Training and employment, including self-employment;
• Access to built environments and public
transport;
• Access to information and communications,
including ICT; and
• Poverty alleviation through social security
and sustainable livelihoods.
