Joint Statement of Civil Society Organizations
for the Regional Preparatory Meeting for the High-Level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012

14-16 March 2012 Bangkok, Thailand

Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD)
Asia and Pacific Disability Forum (APDF)
CBR Asia-Pacific Network
DAISY Consortium
Disabled Peoples’ International Asia-Pacific
Inclusion International Asia-Pacific
Rehabilitation International (RI) Asia-Pacific
World Blind Union (WBU) Asia-Pacific
World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) Regional Secretariat for Asia and the Pacific
World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB) Asia-Pacific
World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (WNUSP
ASEAN Autism Network
ASEAN Disability Forum
Pacific Disability Forum (PDF)
South Asian Disability Forum (SADF)

Note: Texts in parentheses are the changes made by CSOs

I. Preamble
II. Key Principles and Policy Direction
III. Incheon Goals and Targets (INGOTS): Goals:; 1. Reduce poverty and enhance employment prospects; 2. Promote participation in political processes and in decision making; 3. Enhance access to the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge and information and communication.; 4. Strengthen social protection; 5. Expand early intervention and education of children with disabilities; 6. Ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment; 7. Ensure inclusion of disability perspectives in disaster preparedness and management; 8. Improve disability data reliability and comparability; 9. Accelerate the ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and harmonization of national legislation with the Convention; 10. Advance subregional, regional and interregional cooperation
IV. Modalities for Effective Decade Implementation: National, Subregional and Regional Levels: A. National level; B. Subregional level; C. Regional level
Annex: Terms of Reference: Regional Committee on the Asian and Pacific Make the Right Real Decade of Persons with Disabilities

I. Preamble

We, the ministers and representatives of members and associate members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) assembled at the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, held at Incheon, Republic of Korea from 29 October to 2 November 2012,

PP1. Recalling United Nations General Assembly resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982 that adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, and resolution 48/96 of 20 December 1993 that adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, in which persons with disabilities are recognized as both development agents and beneficiaries in all aspects of development,

PP2. Recalling United Nations General Assembly resolution 61/106 of 13 December 2006 that adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol which entered into force on 3 May 2008,

PP3. Recalling United Nations General Assembly resolution 65/1 of 22 September 2010 on keeping the promise: united to achieve the Millennium Development Goals which, inter alia, recognized that policies and actions must focus on the poor and those living in the most vulnerable situations, including persons with disabilities, so that they benefit from progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals,

PP4. Recalling Commission resolution 48/3 of 23 April 1992 on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, that proclaimed the first such regional decade in the world,

PP5. Recalling Commission resolution 58/4 of 22 May 2002 on promoting an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for people with disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region in the twenty-first century that proclaimed the extension of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, for another decade, 2003-2012,

PP6. Recalling Commission resolution 59/3 of 4 September 2003 on regional implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific during the Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, in which the Commission, inter alia requested members and associate members to support the implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action,

PP7. Recalling Commission resolution 64/8 of 30 April 2008 on regional implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action and Biwako Plus Five towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, that mandated the convening of a high-level intergovernmental meeting to review the implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action and Biwako Plus Five in 2012, the concluding year of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012,

PP8. Recalling Commission resolution 66/11 of 19 May 2010 on regional preparations for the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, that encouraged the participation of all key stakeholders, including organizations of persons with disabilities from Asia and the Pacific, in the preparatory process leading up to the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting,

PP9. Recalling Commission resolution 68/xx of 23 May 2012 on the Asian and Pacific Make the Right Real Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022,

PP10. Noting that an estimated 650 million persons with disabilities live in Asia and the Pacific,

PP11. Welcoming the progress achieved by ESCAP members and associate members in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in the first two Asian and Pacific Decades and the insights gained and good practices developed for advancing disability-inclusive development, associated with economic and social change,

PP12. (Recognizing) the contributions of diverse stakeholders, including organizations of and for persons with disabilities, to a strengthening of disability-inclusive development,

PP13. Recognizing that there are still many challenges to be addressed to ensure that persons with disabilities have equitable access to education, employment, healthcare and social and legal support systems,

PP14. Underscoring the urgency of addressing the long-term consequences of rapid population ageing that is under way in Asia-Pacific, especially its inextricable link with disability,

PP15. Noting the need for continuous effort to improve understanding and change negative stereotyping and discriminatory behaviour towards persons with disabilities,

PP16. Further welcoming the Community-based Rehabilitation Guidelines, a joint document of the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Disability and Development Consortium which provides a comprehensive multisectoral poverty reduction strategy for implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,

OP1. Adopt the Incheon Strategy to Make the Right Real for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific (hereinafter referred to as the Incheon Strategy), including the Incheon Goals and Targets, to catalyze action that shall accelerate, during the new Asian and Pacific Make the Right Real Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013 to 2022, the achievement of the regional vision of an inclusive society that protects, upholds and promotes the rights of all persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific,

OP2. Commit to implement the new Asian and Pacific Decade by promoting action on the Incheon Strategy to reach the Incheon Goals and Targets (INGOTS) by 2022,

OP3. Invite all members and associate members to participate actively as key actors in the implementation of the Incheon Strategy,

OP4. Request the Executive Secretary of ESCAP to accord priority to supporting members and associate members in the implementation of the Incheon Strategy.

OP5. Further invite subregional intergovernmental organizations, development cooperation agencies, international and regional financial institutions, members of the United Nations system, and civil society and private sector entities, to join in supporting the implementation of the Incheon Strategy.

II. Key Principles and Policy Direction

1. The Incheon Strategy recognizes (and is based upon) the principles of (the United Nations) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: (a) Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons;
(b) Non-discrimination;
(c) Full and effective participation and inclusion in society;
(d) Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity;
(e) Equality of opportunity;
(f) Accessibility;
(g) Equality between men and women;
(h) Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.

2. To realize and protect the rights of persons with disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region, the Incheon Strategy underscores the policy direction stated below.

3. Strive to ensure:

(a) Legislative, administrative and other measures supportive of rights fulfillment are adopted, implemented, reviewed and strengthened to ensure that disability-based discrimination is eliminated;

(b) Development policies and programmes are disability-inclusive, gender sensitive and, to the extent feasible, harness the potential of combining universal design with technological advancements for enabling persons with disabilities to fulfill their rights;

(c) Development policies and programmes address the basic needs of persons with disabilities and their families who live in poverty, including to have food security, housing, sanitation, clean drinking water, affordable health care, and other aspects of social protection;

(d) Rigorous collection and analysis of gender-disaggregated disability data is pursued for evidence-based policy making;

(e) (National, subnational and local budgets based upon disability-sensitive plans accord priority to disability-inclusive development, including human rights, advocacy and capacity building, towards maximizing the participation of persons with disabilities in development programmes and in service coverage in all aspects of life.)

(f) National, subnational (and local) coordination, with subregional and regional linkages, is further strengthened through intensification of multisectoral collaboration, to expedite and review Decade implementation and share related good practices;

(g) Community-based inclusive development is promoted to ensure that all persons with disabilities, irrespective of socio-economic status, religious affiliation, ethnicity and location, are able on an equal basis with others to contribute to and benefit from development initiatives, particularly poverty reduction programmes;

(h) Persons with disabilities are included in mainstream community life with choices equal to those of others, including the option to live independently if they so wish;

(i) Persons with disabilities have access to the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge, and information and communication systems, (in a usable manner), with reasonable accommodation provided, and taking into consideration the need to accommodate economic, geographic, linguistic and other aspects of cultural diversity, which altogether constitute a critical bridge to fulfilling their rights;

(j) Diverse disability groups are empowered that include but are not limited to the following (under-represented groups: girls and boys) with disabilities, youth with disabilities, women with disabilities, persons with intellectual, learning and developmental disabilities, (persons with autism,) persons with psychosocial disabilities, (persons who are hard of hearing and deafened, persons who are deafblind, ) persons with multiple disabilities, persons with extensive disabilities, older persons with disabilities, persons with disabilities living in slums, as well as in rural, remote areas (and island atolls,) persons living with HIV(/AIDS, Indigenous persons with disabilities and family advocacy groups).

(k) Disabled people’s organizations, self-help groups and self-advocacy groups, with the support of families of persons with disabilities, (as needed by the groups concerned, )participate in decision making, to ensure that the interests of marginalized groups are adequately addressed.

III. Incheon Goals and Targets (INGOTS)

Incheon Goals and Targets (INGOTS)

4. The Incheon Strategy is composed of 10 interrelated Goals.

5. The timeframe for achieving the Goals and Targets is the Decade, 2013 to 2022.

Goal 1: Reduce poverty and enhance employment prospects

The new decade must see greater progress in reducing poverty among persons with disabilities and their families. The majority of persons with disabilities are (dis)proportionately poorer, more disadvantaged and often excluded from society. Having a decent job and the necessary education, training and support to keep that job is one of the best means of overcoming poverty. Those who can and want to work must therefore be better supported and equipped to do so. This requires more flexible and more accommodating labour markets. Lifting persons with disabilities and their families out of poverty would contribute to the achievement of inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Target 1.1. (Endeavour to eliminate or to at least reduce to half the) proportion of persons with disabilities whose income is (below the average standard of living.)

Target 1-2. (Endeavour to eliminate or to at least reduce to half) the employment-to-population ratio gap between persons with disabilities and the overall working age population.

Target 1-3. Increase the participation of persons with disabilities in (employment through inclusive human resources development and vocational training).

(Target 1-4. Identify, modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices that constitute obstacles and barriers, and discrimination of persons with disabilities against employment in both public and private sectors. )

Goal 1: Indicators for tracking progress

1.1. Proportion of persons with disabilities below (the average standard of living).

1.2. Employment-to-population ratio of women and men with disabilities in (both) public and private sectors.

1.3. Proportion of women and men with disabilities among all participants in (inclusive human resource development and vocational training).

1.4. Proportion of persons with disabilities living in poverty covered under the general poverty reduction programmes.

(1.5. Number of amended laws, and regulations and petitions instituted to remove obstacles and barriers, and discrimination of persons with disabilities against employment in both public and private sectors.)

Goal 2: Promote participation in political processes and in (governmental) decision making

The participation of persons with disabilities is the cornerstone for the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities. Being able to exercise the right to vote and the right to be elected is intrinsic to this goal. The Decade, 2013-2022, must witness greater and more widespread progress in the participation of diverse groups of persons with disabilities, including women and youth with disabilities, in political processes and in decision-making at all levels. Technological improvements should be harnessed to enable persons with disabilities to exercise their rights and fulfill their responsibilities as full members of society, including by ensuring the accessibility of seats of judicial, executive and legislative power such as the supreme court, ministries and parliament.

Target 2-1: Ensure that persons with disabilities, including women with disabilities, are represented in decision-making bodies.

Target 2-2: Provide reasonable accommodation to enhance the participation of persons with disabilities in the political process.

(Target 2-3: Ensure accessibility of seats of judicial, executive and legislative power such as the supreme court, ministries and departments, and parliament.)

Goal 2: Indicators for tracking progress

2.1. Proportion of seats held by persons with disabilities, including women with disabilities, in (judicial, executive ,) legislative and other formal decision-making bodies at national , subnational and (local) levels.

(2.2. Number of services and programmes that support persons with disabilities, including persons with intellectual disabilities, persons with psychosocial disabilities, persons with multiple disabilities, persons with extensive disabilities and persons who are deafblind in living independently in the community.)

2.3. Number of diverse disability groups represented¹ in the membership of the national coordination mechanism on disability.

2.4. Representation of women with disabilities in the national women’s machinery for gender equality and women’s empowerment.

2.5. Proportion of accessible polling stations that incorporate access features (and consider privacy), including services and information materials, to enable persons with disabilities to vote in elections.

2.6. Measures for disability-inclusive electoral procedures and processes, including voter registration, that enable persons with diverse disabilities to participate in elections as candidates and as voters.

Goal 3: Enhance access to the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge and information and communication.

Access to the physical environment, public transportation and information for knowledge is a precondition for persons with disabilities to fulfill their rights in an inclusive society. The accessibility of urban, rural and remote areas based on universal design increases safety, clarity and ease of use (for) all members of society, (including persons with disabilities.) Access audits are an important means of ensuring accessibility and must cover all stages of the planning, design, construction, maintenance and monitoring and evaluation process. Access to assistive devices and related support services is also a precondition for persons with disabilities to optimize their level of independence in daily life and live in dignity. Ensuring the availability of assistive devices for those living in low resource settings involves encouraging research, development, production, distribution and maintenance.

Target 3-1: Establish and implement national plans that ensure all public buildings and transportation mechanisms are accessible, based on universal design in combination with assistive technologies.

Target 3-2: Ensure that all public buildings shall have been access-audited by persons with disabilities trained for this purpose.

Target 3-3: Enhance the accessibility and usability of public transportation, and information and communications services.

Target 3-4: Halve the proportion of persons with disabilities who need usable assistive devices and/or products but do not have them.

Goal 3: Indicators for tracking progress

3.1. Proportion of new public buildings and public transportation that have been access-audited by persons with disabilities who have completed training for this purpose.

3.2. Adoption of legislation, policies and guidelines (for accessible and usable public building, public transportation and information and communication), including provision of reasonable accommodation.

3.3. Proportion of new and renovated public transportation: airports, bus and train stations, and inter-island wharves and jetties that follow internationally-recognized accessibility standards.

3.4. Proportion of persons with disabilities whose specified need for (usable) assistive devices is met.

3.5. Proportion of daily captioning, sign-language interpretation and audio description of public television news programmes.

3.6. Number of certified sign language interpreters per 1,000 deaf persons who express the need for their services.

(3.7. Number of certified captioners per 1,000 persons who are hard of hearing and deafened, and do not use sign-language.)

3.8. Proportion of government publications and e-government services, including government websites, which meet internationally-recognized accessibility standards for (information and communication technologies (ICT). )

Goal 4: Strengthen social protection

Social protection coverage in developing parts of Asia-Pacific is often only available to those with regular employment contracts in the formal sector, leaving the vast majority of the population, especially persons with disabilities, without sufficient coverage. It is therefore critical to promote further the social protection floor with a focus on health care and income protection. In addition, persons with disabilities are often burdened with higher insurance and healthcare premiums on the grounds of their disabilities. There is also a lack of access to service schemes, (such as insurance,) for (independent) living and (personal assistance services) within a community setting, in particular for persons with psychosocial disabilities, persons with extensive or multiple disabilities and persons with intellectual disabilities.

Target 4-1: Provide full health care and (reasonable) income support for all persons with disabilities who are eligible to receive such protection.

Target 4-2: Establish (services and programmes including peer counselling and personal assistance services) that support persons with intellectual disabilities, persons with psychosocial disabilities, persons with multiple disabilities, persons with extensive disabilities and persons who are deafblind in living independently in the community.

(Target 4-3: Provide community-based services to support decision-making of persons with disabilities to live independently in the community. )

Goal 4: Indicators for tracking progress

4.1. Proportion of the population eligible for disability benefits who receive those benefits.

4.2. Average annual amount of disability benefits per person disbursed.

(4.3. Proportion of persons with disabilities who have access to and receive affordable medical services. )

(4.4. Number of services and programmes that support persons with disabilities, including persons with intellectual disabilities, persons with psychosocial disabilities, persons with multiple disabilities, persons with extensive disabilities and persons who are deafblind in living independently in the community. )

4.5. Proportion of persons with disabilities who have access to mainstream social protection programmes.

(4.6 Number of community-based service providers, including independent living centers which support decision-making of persons with disabilities. )

Goal 5: Expand early intervention and education of children with disabilities

(Early detection, intervention, empowerment and education of children with disabilities, followed promptly by the necessary support, could significantly improve their prospects. The earlier that they are given the support that they need, the better would be their chances of maximizing their development potential, regardless of type and degree of impairment. At present, in many parts of Asia-Pacific, 95 percent of children with disabilities are estimated to be excluded from the education system. Attention and resources given to the inclusion of children with disabilities in education and in general programmes for all children would provide them with opportunities for a better future. This includes engaging parents and other family members as partners in providing more effective support for children with disabilities. )

Target 5-1: Introduce systematic measures with universal coverage to identify (all infants and children with disabilities, in particular, those with intellectual, developmental or psychosocial disabilities, and with autism) and provide them with timely (diagnosis, habilitation and )rehabilitation, and other support services.

Target 5-2: Halve the gap between children with disabilities and children without disabilities in enrollment rates for primary and secondary education.

Target 5-3: Provide free comprehensive primary and secondary education for all children with disabilities.

Goal 5: Indicators for tracking progress

(5.1. Proportion of pregnant women, mothers and their family members who receive information, protection and services regarding disability rights, prevention, detection of impairment in their children, and early intervention. )

5.2. Proportion of children with disabilities accessing early childhood care, (education, life skill development programmes )and development services (at the community level).

5.3. (Primary and secondary education enrollment and completion ratios of girls with disabilities and boys with disabilities).

5.4. (Proportion of educational materials and programmes that are accessible to children with disabilities, including those who are with autism and intellectual disabilities, blind, hard of hearing and deafened, deafblind and deaf, which include education in sign language and a sign language environment. )

5.5. Proportion of teachers trained in meeting the learning needs of children with disabilities.

5.6. Proportion of total country-level budgetary resources spent on supporting the education of (children with disabilities )in mainstream schooling and in special schools.

5.7. (Legislation to ensure the implementation of free comprehensive primary and secondary education for all children with disabilities. )

Goal 6: Ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment

Girls and women with disabilities face multiple forms of disadvantage. Isolation, compounded by dependency on caregivers, renders them extremely vulnerable to many forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, with attendant risks of sexually transmitted infections, including of (HIV/AIDS) and unintended pregnancy and higher rates of maternal and infant death. Forced sterilization is a serious and complex issue. Girls and women with disabilities are largely invisible in mainstream programmes for the advancement of girls and women in society. Furthermore, information (and )knowledge concerning reproductive health, general health care, and related services is (less available in formats and languages that can be easily understood by all), including those with intellectual disabilities or no education. In this situation, very few girls and women with disabilities have the means to develop self-esteem, knowledge and skills. The true promise of the Decade, 2013-2022, is fully realized only when girls and women with disabilities are active participants in mainstream development programmes.

Target 6-1: Include reasonable accommodation and affirmative action measures in national development plans, to enable girls and women with disabilities to have equitable access to mainstream development opportunities.

Target 6-2: Achieve universal access by girls and women with disabilities to reproductive health.

Target 6-3: Increase the enforcement of legal, regulatory and (programme support measures) to protect girls and women with disabilities from exploitation, violence and abuse.

Goal 6: Indicators for tracking progress

6.1. National development plan with reasonable accommodation and affirmative action measures that explicitly enable girls and women with disabilities to have equitable access to mainstream development opportunities.

6.2. Proportion of reproductive health services that provide information in languages and formats that women and girls with disabilities can access.

6.3. Proportion of women with disabilities living with (HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases) who receive treatment, care and support.

6.4. Number of cases of intervention to protect girls and women with disabilities from exploitation, violence and abuse, (particularly from the sexual perspective).

Goal 7: Ensure inclusion of disability perspectives in disaster preparedness and management

Asia-Pacific is the region most adversely affected by disasters. Persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are at higher risk of death, injury and secondary impairments, as a result of exclusion from disaster preparedness policies, plans and programmes. In addition, public service announcements are usually issued in formats and languages (that are not accessible to and understandable by persons with disabilities and the general public who are injured by disasters), while emergency exits, shelters and facilities tend to be inaccessible. It is thus essential for disaster-risk reduction and management programmes to be disability-inclusive, incorporating universal design principles in services and infrastructure for everyone’s access and safety.

Target 7-1: Establish disability-inclusive disaster preparedness and management plans, (in collaboration with organizations of persons with disabilities), covering the entire process from (warning, evacuation and rescue to resettlement), as well as post-disaster counselling.

Target 7-2: Implement legal, policy, planning and other measures on providing timely and appropriate support to persons with disabilities in preparing for and responding to disasters.

Goal 7: Indicators for tracking progress

7.1. Proportion of disability-inclusive disaster preparedness and management plans, including (distribution of) manuals and standard operating procedures, at all administrative levels.

7.2 Establishment of a national mechanism, with the participation of persons with disabilities, that is dedicated to the formulation, implementation and evaluation of disaster risk reduction and management initiatives at national, subnational (and local) levels.

7.3 Proportion of (accessible) emergency shelters and disaster relief sites and services, including counselling, that persons with disabilities can use.

Goal 8: Improve disability data reliability and comparability

Not being counted means that persons with disabilities tend to be invisible and excluded. Definitions of “disability” and “persons with disabilities” that are used for collecting disability data vary widely throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The inadequacy of disability statistics impedes policy making that is evidence-based and evidence-building for continuous improvement, to support realization of the rights of persons with disabilities. Taken together, data comparisons across countries are frequently unreliable. The Asia-Pacific region needs more accurate statistics on the population of persons with diverse disabilities and on their socio-economic status. The Decade, 2013-2022, is an opportunity to enhance data collection aimed at generating comparable disability statistics over time and across borders. The achievement of this goal is central to the measurement of most of the INGOTS indicators.

Target 8-1: Produce and disseminate reliable and internationally comparable disability statistics.

(Target 8-2: Such disability statistics to be made available every five years.)

Goal 8: Indicators for tracking progress

8.1. Disability prevalence based on the six core International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) questions.

8.2. Disability prevalence by age, gender, socio-economic status, and geographic location.

8.3. Gender-disaggregated disability prevalence data on disaster casualties, by areas.

8.4. Government support and training provided for disabled people’s organizations to assist, including as enumerators, in disability data collection.

Goal 9: Accelerate the ratification and implementation of the ((United Nations) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and harmonization of national legislation with the Convention

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the first disability-specific, international legal instrument that provides a comprehensive approach to respecting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of persons with disabilities. The Convention explicitly empowers persons with disabilities as holders of rights, as distinct from being treated as objects of charity. The ESCAP region played an instrumental and historic role in the initiation and drafting of the Convention. At the global level, 106 States are parties to the Convention, while 153 are signatories. As of 24 February 2012, 35 Governments in the Asia-Pacific region have signed the Convention, while 23 Governments in the region have ratified the Convention or acceded to it. Thus far, the ESCAP region has the lowest rate for ratification and accession, as compared with the other four regions of the world. One aspiration of Asia-Pacific for the Decade, 2013-2022, is improvement on the current record.

Target 9-1: (All the Asia-Pacific member states) shall have ratified the (United Nations )Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (by the mid-point of the Decade (2017), and its Optional Protocol by the end of the Decade (2022)).

Target 9-2: Enact national anti-discrimination law to uphold and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.

(Target 9-3: Establish regional and subregional disability rights mechanisms to evaluate and accelerate the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Goal 9: Indicators for tracking progress

9.1. (Number of Governments that have ratified the Convention by 2017 and its Optional Protocol by 2022).

9.2. Number of national laws amended or nullified that directly or indirectly discriminate against persons with disabilities.

9.3. National anti-discrimination law which specifies that the denial of provision of reasonable accommodation is a form of disability-based discrimination.

(9.4. Number of members with disabilities in both regional and subregional disability rights mechanisms to evaluate and accelerate the implementation of the Convention, as well as that of individual petitions).

Goal 10: Advance subregional, regional and interregional cooperation

The experience of two Asian and Pacific Decades underscores the value of cooperation, at subregional, regional and interregional levels, for facilitating mutual support, including through sharing lessons learned, good practices and innovating solutions. The Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, adopted on 1 December 2011 by the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, Busan, Republic of Korea, recognized the importance of international commitments on disability to form the foundation of cooperation for effective development. Furthermore, civil society and the private sector could play important roles in catalyzing innovative approaches to fulfilling INGOTS. The Decade, 2013-2022, provides an opportunity for international cooperation, with multisectoral dimensions, to support effective implementation.

Target 10-1: Contribute to an Asia-Pacific multi-donor trust fund for the implementation of the Incheon Strategy.

Target 10-2: Development cooperation agencies in Asia-Pacific strengthen the disability-inclusiveness of their policies and programmes.

Target 10-3: United Nations regional commissions strengthen interregional exchange of experiences and good practices concerning disability issues.

(Target 10-4: United Nations, development cooperation agencies and governments facilitate the active participation of persons with disabilities in international cooperation activities.)

Goal 10: Indicators for tracking progress

10.1. Annual contributions by governments and other donors to an Asia-Pacific trust fund to support the implementation of the Incheon Strategy to Make the Right Real.

10.2. Number of donors contributing each year to an Asia-Pacific trust fund to support the achievement of the Incheon Goals and Targets.

10.3. Number of development cooperation agencies operating in Asia-Pacific that have mandates, policies, action plans and focal points on disability-inclusive development, supportive of ratification and implementation of the Convention and related review.

10.4. Proportion of financial resources allocated by development cooperation agencies that strengthen disability-related initiatives.

10.5. Number of regional and subregional incentive schemes to spearhead Decade implementation through INGOTS fulfilment.

10.6. Number of disability-related inter-regional initiatives involving the United Nations regional commissions.

(10.7. Proportion of participation of organizations of persons with disabilities in international cooperation. )

IV. Modalities for Effective Decade Implementation: National, Subregional and Regional Levels

6. This section identifies the modalities that together promote and support Decade implementation, as well as build data and information for advancing progress on realizing the rights of persons with disabilities in the course of the Decade.

A. National level

7. The heart of Incheon Strategy implementation is the national coordination mechanism on disability with its subnational linkages.

8. Many such mechanisms were established in the course of the past two Asian and Pacific Decades of Disabled Persons. Thus, they would naturally assume primary responsibility for the implementation of the Incheon Strategy. This would involve, inter alia, the development of national action plans and establishment of baseline data for indicators to enable progress tracking, with the support of diverse sectoral ministries and departments, civil society, including organizations of persons with disabilities and their family support groups, and the private sector.

9. National coordination mechanisms on disability are called upon to translate the Incheon Strategy (into national and local, and spoken and signed languages, in accessible formats, and ensure wide dissemination,) to mobilize nationwide engagement in Decade implementation.

10. The United Nations Country Teams are encouraged to support Incheon Strategy implementation by reflecting this in United Nations programming at the country level and in consonance with the spirit and intent of the United Nations Guidance Note for United Nations Country Teams and Implementing Partners.

B. Subregional level

11. Subregional intergovernmental bodies, such as the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Secretariat, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat, and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Secretariat, are encouraged to support the implementation of the Incheon Strategy.

12. In that regard, the following complementary subregional policy instruments are noted: the Pacific Regional Strategy on Disability 2010 - 2015, and the Bali Declaration on the Enhancement of the Role and Participation of Person with Disabilities through which Heads of State/Government of ASEAN Member States had proclaimed at the 19th ASEAN Summit, held in Bali, Indonesia, on 17 November 2011, the period 2011- 2020 as the ASEAN Decade of Persons with Disabilities.

13. The ESCAP secretariat’s subregional offices in North and Central Asia, East and North-East Asia, the Pacific, and South and South-West Asia shall promote the Asian and Pacific Make the Right Real Decade of Persons with Disabilities by supporting subregional cooperation.

C. Regional level

14. A regional committee on the Asian and Pacific Make the Right Real Decade of Persons with Disabilities shall be established. The committee shall promote full and effective Decade implementation. Its functions shall include regular review of and reporting on Decade progress, promotion of regional cooperation to advance Incheon Strategy implementation, and provision of advice and support to Governments, as appropriate. The terms of reference of the committee are annexed.

15. The ESCAP secretariat shall contribute to Decade implementation through its regional convening and norm setting role, analytical work, and technical support to governments. In particular, the ESCAP secretariat is requested to undertake the following: (a) track Decade progress and support the improvement of disability statistics; (b) promote exchange of national experiences and good practices; (c) support governments, as appropriate, in harmonizing legislation with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; (d) support the Make the Right Real campaign to promote the rights of persons with disabilities; (e) engage with civil society to ensure that Decade implementation is responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities, including through regular convening of the Regional Stakeholder Consultation on the Asian and Pacific Make the Right Real Decade of Persons with Disabilities; (f) make committee documentation available in accessible formats.

16. The Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability, which was established as a legacy of the first Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons to promote the empowerment of persons with disabilities, and a barrier-free and inclusive society, is requested to continue to build the capabilities of persons with disabilities and multisectoral collaboration, with special attention to encouraging private sector engagement in disability-inclusive business that promotes disability-friendly products, services, employment opportunities and entrepreneurship development.

17. Civil society entities are encouraged to participate in Decade implementation and promotion, towards ensuring continuous Decade responsiveness to the aspirations and needs of persons with disabilities.

18. Private sector entities are invited to collaborate with governments, civil society and other stakeholders to forge Asia-Pacific leadership in disability-inclusive business practice.

(19. A regional disability rights tribunal is established with the aim that persons with disabilities can enjoy human rights on an equal basis with others in line with the Conventions, clarifying infringements of human rights and discrimination against persons with disabilities that commonly happen in various countries. )

Annex:

Terms of Reference:
Regional Committee on the Asian and Pacific Make the Right Real
Decade of Persons with Disabilities

Objective

1. The objective of the Regional Committee on the Asian and Pacific Make the Right Real Decade of Persons with Disabilities is to promote the full and effective implementation of the Decade, 2013-2022.

Functions

2. In pursuance of the objective stated in paragraph 1 above, the Committee shall have such functions as:

(a) Undertake regular review of Decade progress, especially towards Incheon Strategy implementation;

(b) Issue periodic regional reports, including at the mid-point of the Decade and at its conclusion;

(d) Coordinate with subregional entities to strengthen subregional action towards Incheon Strategy implementation;

(e) Advise and support Governments, as appropriate.

Membership

3. The Committee shall be composed of (15) ESCAP members and (15 )civil society entities.

4. The tenure of Committee members shall be five years, with the possibility of re-election for another five years.

5. ESCAP members shall be eligible for election to the Committee.

6. A civil society entity that meets the following criteria shall be eligible for election to the Committee: (a) operate at regional and subregional levels in Asia and the Pacific; (b) be an organization or network that represents, supports and/or promotes the interests of both women and men with diverse disabilities; (c) has technical expertise relevant to advancing Incheon Strategy implementation. (Special consideration shall be given to emerging entities in line with the Incheon Strategy, II. Key Principles and Policy Direction, 3 (j)).

7. The first election shall take place at the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, to be held in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 29 October to 2 November 2012. The second election shall take place at the mid-point of the Decade (2017) at the next High-level Intergovernmental Meeting.

8. ESCAP members participating in the 2012 High-level Intergovernmental Meeting mentioned in paragraph 7 above shall elect (15) ESCAP members to serve on the Committee.

9. (Fifteen) civil society entities participating in the 2012 High-level Intergovernmental Meeting mentioned in paragraph 7 above shall elect (15) civil society entities that meet the eligibility criteria specified in paragraph 6 above to serve on the Committee.

Rules of procedure

10. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

Secretariat

11. The ESCAP secretariat shall serve as the secretariat of the Committee.

1. Diverse disability groups include but are not limited to the following under-represented groups: girls and boys with disabilities, youth with disabilities, women with disabilities, persons with intellectual, learning and developmental disabilities, persons with autism, persons with psychosocial disabilities, persons who are hard of hearing and deafened, persons who are deafblind, persons with multiple disabilities, persons with extensive disabilities, older persons with disabilities, persons with disabilities living in slums, as well as in rural, and remote areas and island atolls, persons living with HIV/AIDS, Indigenous persons with disabilities and family advocacy groups.

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Joint Statement of Civil Society Organizations for the Regional Preparatory Meeting for the High-Level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012