Let us Make our Campaign Dreams Come True,and Let our Society be for All Regional NGO Network for the Promotion of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons,1993-2002: Mission Completed?

Ichiro Maruyama

Secretary General
Regional Network of Non-government Organizations (RNN)

RNN was born out of a resolution of the 1993 Campaign for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002. The Campaign 93 was held in Okinawa, Japan. RNN is a very unique network, and the first of its kind in the Region with membership from both national and international organizations of/for people with disabilities. RNN commits and dedicates itself for the promotion of the A/P Decade through action that will result in concrete achievements. Its function is to enhance the linkages among NGOs, to encourage and support NGOs and UN agencies in implementing the Agenda for Action of the A/P Decade and to create and enhance public awareness of the Decade at all levels in the region.

Main Action of RNN: Campaigns

As a main event of RNN's various action activities, Campaign held after the Okinawa resolution. Since then, members met at Campaign (Indonesia), Campaign Bangkok (Thailand), and Campaign 2001 Hanoi (Viet Nam). The final Campaign 2002 to mark the end year of the Decade is to be held in Osaka, Japan, from 21 to 23 October 2002. Overseas participants to the Campaigns varied from 300 (Manila) to 1, 600 (Hong Kong). It is worthwhile to note that more than half of them were people with disabilities with various kinds of disabilities. RNN is especially happy to receive the attendance of quite a substantial number of participants with intellectually disability and some participants with psychiatric disability.

RNN is represented by a representative and a vice representative. The Representative comes from a delegate who is an NGO official of the country which hosts the outgoing annual Campaign, and the Vice Representative from the country hosting the incoming Campaign. The RNN Constitution provides that the Representative, Vice Representative and the chairpersons of the domestic members of RNN should be a person with disability. The current Representative is Ms. Duong Thi Van of Vietnam and Mr. Eita Yashiro of Japan is the Vice Representative.

The past 9 Campaigns served as an avenue for the community of organizations for/of persons with disabilities to demonstrate the collective capability to influence the challenges and systems that will have an impact on our cause. Furthermore, the involvement of governmental organizations (GOs) has raised government awareness to focus more on the plight of persons with disabilities. I am happy to report that all Campaigns have succeeded to invite the top leadership of the nation, for example, presidents and prime ministers to express their recognition and intention to promote measures for fellow citizens with disabilities. As well as for the Government, the Campaigns were the most striking movement of people with disabilities themselves, domestic or overseas, to raise public awareness. Many concrete results have been achieved, for example, making campaign host city accessible, and to governments to promote measures for people with disabilities. In some countries, because of the significant success of the Campaigns, they organized follow up national conferences bringing even more concrete impacts to their countries. We have also witnessed the formation of new organizations of people with disabilities following Campaign activities or a significantly improved status and participation of these organizations in decision making processes at the national level. The most important contribution of the Campaigns is perhaps a great many more people share that regional networking is a necessary strategy to bring about disability awareness and action. Such a strengthened level of regional networking that we have achieved would certainly lead to more active solidarity among all people concerned when we move forward to the next decade

At the same time, the Campaigns consist of scientific sessions, both plenary and working groups, on disability-related issues, to discuss progress being made during the Decade on these issues. People with disability, their families, administrators and professionals engaged in the various fields of disability, as well as volunteers are given the opportunity to discuss issues and exchange views with each other through the Campaigns. Now at the ending year of the Decade, it is timely to review any progress or developments of measures concerning the improvement of the lives of persons with disability all over the region.

Logo, Theme Song, Poster and RNN Information Services

Logo, Theme Song and Poster were selected by open competition in the Region and were presented to UNESCAP during the Campaigns. ESCAP has endorsed the winning entry and winning song as the official Asian and Pacific Decade logo and theme song. ESCAP has further urged member governments to use these thematic items for A/P Decade activities in their countries.

Another major RNN undertaking is its information service, including the information centre in Manila supported by Hong Kong Rehabilitation Trust, publication of various materials on disability related concerns. In addition to the RNN Newsletter, the Asia and Pacific Journal on Disability is published jointly with the RI Regional Committee for A/P. Among the RNN Planned Projects, there were the translation of important documents into members proposals submitted to RNN, and co-operative projects with partner organizations. .

Research and Review

RNN has set up thirteen Research Task Forces to evaluate the Decade. These Task Forces correspond to the 12 policy areas of the Agenda for Action for the AP Decade, plus "Women with Disabilities". We would like to enlarge the RNN review scheme by adding Country NGO Reports and International NGO Reports. The consolidated review report will be submitted to our End-Year Campaign 2002 and to the ESCAP High-Level Intergovernmental Meeting on A/P Decade as an NGO input.

Future Challenges

Now we are in the end year of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons. This will be the most critical year for us to come up with concerted strategies to deal with challenges of the year 2003 and beyond. Can we continue with same vigour and commitment in promoting the Decade? What should be our targets of accomplishment? Can we influence the awareness of the society to the level that disability is a very important social issue? Can enhanced awareness in the Region be converted to concrete and positive action?

We are pleased to note ESCAP's resolution that the A/P Decade be extended for 10 years from 2003 to 2012, to promote and implement measures supporting the rights of people with disabilities at both national and regional levels, and to ask the Senior Level Ministerial Meeting to recommend a new framework for the A/P Decade, 2003- 2012. RNN was one of the most staunch supporters of the proposal to extend the Decade, and we are grateful that General Assembly of UNESCAP has made the wise and important decision to extend the Decade. I would also like to express my congratulations and appreciation to you all for your support.

We must continue these efforts for the extended Decade, the very important humanitarian initiatives in our region.

We should expand and strengthen the New Network which will be born from the mission of RNN, and to carry on making the dreams that we have been building from our Campaigns come true.