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..Press
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UNESCAP News Services
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Date 30
November 2004
Press Release No: N/31/2004
UNESCAP CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED
PERSONS
Understanding and support for disability
issues is top of the agenda of the UN International Day of Disabled
Persons, 3 December 2004
Bangkok (United Nations Information Services)
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia
Pacific Region will celebrate the day with speeches, an exhibition,
a forum by members of the community and documentary screenings
at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.
The theme of the day “Nothing about Us without
Us: Ensuring Access to Information and Communication Technologies”
is anchored in the principle of participation by and for persons
with disabilities.
The program will begin at 09:00 hours, 3 December
with the delivery of Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message
by Deputy Executive Secretary of UNESCAP Ms Keiko Okaido followed
by an exhibition, a panel discussion involving regional representatives,
including Thailand’s blind and deaf communities, and the
screening of four UN documentaries.
The Exhibition will represent members of the Thailand
Association of Blind; Disabled People's International, Asia
and Pacific; the National Association of Deaf, Thailand; the
SAORI Creative Centre; the International Labour Organization
(ILO) and UNESCAP.
UNESCAP's programme is incorporating goal six
of the Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF) for Action for an Inclusive,
Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities
in Asia and the Pacific, namely, access to information and communications,
including information, communication and assistive technologies.
BMF is the regional policy guideline for the second
Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons from 2003-2012.
The International Day of Disabled Persons was
proclaimed in 1992 and, since then, has been observed annually
worldwide on 3 December to promote an understanding of disability
issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being
of persons with disabilities.
Note to Editor: You or your representatives
are cordially invited to attend the celebration of International
Day of Disabled Persons on Friday, 3 December at 09:00 hrs at
the UN Conference Centre, Rajadamnern Nok Ave, Bangkok.
For further information please contact:
Aiko Akiyama, Project Expert on Disability
Tel: +(66-2) 288-2315; akiyama@un.org
Penelope Lake, UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1869; unisbkk.unescap@un.org
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