Statement at the Opening Ceremony

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

Monthian Buntan
Senator, Government of Kingdom of Thailand

14 March 2012, Bangkok

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is, indeed, a great honor for me to address the audience of this Regional Stakeholder Consultation for the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, another historic event which will prove our will, commitment and capacity to collectively and individually write, yet, another meaninful chapter of the human history. And let me convey my sincere thanks and gratitute to UNESCAP for kindly giving me this opportunity and for organizing this activity. For over two decades, the spirit of cooperation and partnership among multistakeholders in the disability-related field has been demonstrated right here in the UNCC building this City of Angels (the regional hub of "progressive disability movement." And I am sure that we will do it again through out the next three days.

It was here through 1990s that we started our long journey by formulating the first regional policy guidelines on disability (The Agenda for Actions) so as to fulfill our first Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons. It was also here at the corner of the millennium that we felt the need of another decade by developing another regional policy guidelines (The Biwako Millennium Framework for Actions...), based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which, to our disappointment, lacked disability prospectives. Toward the second half of the decade, it was also here that the "Biwako Millennium Framework for Actions... plus five" was developed as supplement to the original one. It was exactly here that almost the same group of people, who have already given up on giving up, to bring in the experiences, knowledge and ideas to share with one another in order to move our human society more disability-inclusive than ever, shifting the paradign from backward, unproductive and undemocratic charity-based toward more progress and rights-based approach. And it was, again, here that we repeatedly celebrated our success, admitted our failure, review and revised our tasks, corrected our mistakes and reaffirm our strong commitment to win the war on exclusion, poverty, inaccessibility, isolation and all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities.

Distinguish guests, Ladies and Gentlement,

As the second decade is coming to the closure, we have reasons to proudly say that our common vision has been proven correct. And as we move to the new dawn of the next decade, we can see clearly, with or without sight, that the world is going to get better and brighter for all of us. We have built our strength through the Agenda for Actions from the first decade, the Biwako Millennium Framework for Actions from the second decade and we drove, since its inception, the first first international human rights law of the twenty-first century and the first disability-specific international human rights instrument (Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: CRPD) from here (Bangkok draft) to its successful adoption. It is time to take our vision toward reality by turning all of these materials into actions. It is the most suitable time for us to come up with a meaningful strategy, with a clear set of goals, targets and indicators.

It is the right time that, through this strategy, we can significantly reduce poverty and enhance employment of persons with disabilities. It is through this strategy that we will be more visible in the parliament house, in the government house and in the court house. It is through this strategy that accessibility to public buildings, transportation, information, knowledge and communication for all, including persons with disabilities, will be recognized, guaranteed and put into practice. It is through this Inceon Strategy that social protection, early intervention and education, participation of women and children with disabilities, disability-inclusive disaster preparedness and management, data collection on disability, accelloration of CRPD ratification and implementation and advancement of international cooperation, inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities, will be possible, with all targets and indicators which give truly measurable and tangible outcomes. It is through this Incheon Strategy that our "Make The Right Real" will not be just a campaign slogan, but the living spirit statement that keeps our collective and positive power together.

And finally, it is, hopefully, through this Incheon Strategy that we can and will celebrate the victory and that we have already given up on giving up.

Thank you!