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Press
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UNESCAP News Services
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10 October 2003
Press Release No: N/23/2003
UNESCAP TO PROMOTE CONVENTION ON RIGHTS AND
DIGNITY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Panel Discussion to raise awareness of human rights issues
facing disabled
Bangkok (UN Information Services) -- The United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP) will hold a Regional Workshop on elaborating a comprehensive
and integral Convention on the protection and promotion of the
rights and dignity of people with disability from 14 to 17 October
2003 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.
Nearly 100 experts on disability and human rights
from the Asian and Pacific region are expected to attend. The
Workshop aims to produce a draft of an International Convention
on disability. The "Bangkok Draft" will be forwarded
to a United Nations working group that has been charged with
preparing a draft text on the Convention and which is expected
to meet early next year.
As a side event to the Workshop, a Panel Discussion
on the Barriers Persons with Disabilities Face in the Pursuing
Careers in Professional Field will be held on the morning of
17 October 2003. The Discussion is expected to raise awareness
on specific human rights issues facing persons with disabilities
in Thailand. Among the panelists are Khun Sirimitr Boonmool,
a disabled lawyer from Thailand whose application to take the
Thai judicial service recruitment examination for an assistant
judgeship was rejected in 1999 due to his physical disability,
and Khun Pradit, Professor Emeritus, Human Rights Commission
of Thailand.
For further information on the meetings, please
see www.worldenable.net/wadbangkok2003/programme2.htm
and
www.worldenable.net/bangkok2003a/
The elaboration of a disability-specific convention
has been the subject of discussion within the United Nations
for more than 15 years. In 2001, the General Assembly established
an Ad Hoc Committee to consider proposals for the International
Convention. The Committee established a Working Group to prepare
a draft text of the International Convention for negotiation
at its next session to be held in 2004.
For further information, please contact
Ms. Aiko Akiyama, Disability Programme
Population and Social Integration Section, Emerging Social Issues
Division
Tel: +662 288-2315; Fax +662 288-1030; Email: akiyama@un.org
Website: www.unescap.org/sps/disability.htm
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