Asia and Pacific: Governments Urged to Act on Disability-related Poverty

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) --If the cycle of poverty faced by persons with disabilities is to be overcome, Governments in Asia and the Pacific must accept that persons with disabilities should be treated as equal members of society free from discrimination.

This is the message that will be delivered from 25th to 28th October in Otsu, Japan, at a high-level meeting with more than 300 representatives from Governments, NGO's and United Nations agencies in attendance.

The meeting, convened by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific - UNESCAP, will officially conclude the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993 - 2002.

During the last ten years, the general awareness of the special needs of persons with disabilities has improved markedly in the Asian and Pacific region, but two-thirds of the world's disabled persons live in this region and 40 % of them (roughly 160 million) still live below the poverty line.

Research carried out by UNESCAP has shown that many persons with disabilities face stigmatization when it comes to seeking employment and access to public services.

"People with disabilities, particularly in developing countries, are often the victims of negative social attitudes and are subject to stigmatization, neglect, and sometimes exacerbation of the disabling condition or the onset of new disabling conditions, as a result," states a UNESCAP Review Paper to be presented to delegates at the meeting. "Exclusion and marginalization reduce the opportunities for people with disabilities to contribute productively to the household and the community, and increase the risk of falling into poverty," it concludes.

Women and girls continue to struggle with a double discrimination based on their gender and impairment. They have less access to health care and rehabilitation services, and fewer education and employment opportunities.

Delegates to the meeting will be asked to endorse a new Asian and Pacific decade with the theme "Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities."

For more information please contact:

Mr. David Lazarus
Chief, United Nations Information Services
UN Building
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue
Bangkok, 10200
Thailand
Tel: 02 288 1864-9
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

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