VI. REVIEW OF THE ROADMAP LEADING UP TO THE HIGH-LEVEL INTERGOVENMENTAL MEETING ON THE FINAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS, 2003-2012

※Excerpt from the "DRAFT REPORT OF 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" handed to the participants on March 16, 2012.

11. The secretariat presented the status of implementation of the roadmap for the regional preparatory process leading up tp the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of te Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012. It indicated that the Regional Preparatory Meeting constituted an important element of the regional preparatory process, which comprised three tracks:(1) intergovernmental consensus-building and follow-up; (2) stakeholder engagement and advocacy; and (3) assessment of the achievements and remaining challenges of the second Decade.

12. The secretariat delivered a presentation on progress in its on-going action research project on "Disability, Livelihood and Poverty". The secretariat informed the Regional Preparatory Meeting that the eight DPO's participating in the project had begun research with secretariat support. This followed a capacity building workshop (Bangkok, January 2012) in which facilitators supported DPO representatives in further defining a quantitavie research survey and qualitative methodology. The research outcome would be highlighted in a publication in support of Goal 1 of the Incheon Goals and Targets(INGOTS) to reduce poverty and enhance the work and employment prospects of persons with disabilities. The project would empower persons with disabilities through strengthening their voices, generating knowledge and avocation for policies which would enhance their livelihoods.

13.　DPO partners were including　cross-disability and gender-inclusive perspective in their research and were engaging persons with disabilities as enumerators and research assistants. The research would cover both urban and rural and remote communities. Several DPOs were also undertaking research to solicit the views of government and the private sector which would be incorporated into the results. In the discussion that followed, attention was drawn to the importance of effectively communicating the outcomes of the action research in accessible formats for persons with disabilities, including those with psychosocial impairments.

14. The secretariat presented a summary of the results of its questionnaire survey concerning the implementation of the BMF and the Biwako Plus Five over the period of the second Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012. The survey involved two questionnaires: one for government and another tailored to civil society entities. The government questionnaire had been sent to 58 governments in the ESCAP region. The civil society questionnaire had been sent to 129 civil society entities, including DPOs.

15. As of 14 March 2012, the secretariat had received response from 46 Governments and 91 civil society entities. The response rare for Governments was around 80 per cent and that civil society entities was just over 70 per cent. In terms of Government response rates were as follows: South-East Asia(91 per cent); East and North-East Asia (86 per cent); the Pacific (76 per cent); South and South-West Asia(70 per cent); North and Central Asia (67 per cent). The secretariat expressed its appreciation of the efforts made towards completing the questionnaires. In particular, the secretariat thanked civil society organization experts who had worked closely with many national disability focal points to support timely completion of the questionnaire responses.

16. The secretariat indicated that, drawing form the responses received thus far, progress concerning the second Decade had been identified in three main areas: tights-based policy making; national institutional and financial commitment; and multi-pectoral approach to disability issues.

17. The secretariat further indicated that the survey results had identified the following 10 areas which would need stronger policy attention: poverty reduction and employment; participation; accessibility; children with disabilities; women with disabilities; disaster risk reduction; data collection; national legislation and the CPRD and international and subregional cooperation.

18. The secretariat informed the Regional Preparatory Meeting that, as of 14 March 2012, 23 Governments in the region had ratified the CRPD; this represented a 46 percent ratification rate.

19. The secretariat informed the Regional Preparatory Meeting that the full report on the analysis of survey responses would be submitted to 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 hosted by the Republic of Korea in Incheon.

20. The Government expert of Japan expressed appreciation of the secretariat’s substantive preparations for the High-level intergovernmental Meeting, particularly in contributing to building further momentum in the promotion of disability-inclusive development. The Governmental expert also indicated that the Government of Japan would continue its support for the implementation of the road map.

21. The Regional Preparatory Meeting expressed appreciation of the inclusive and participatory approach in the regional preparatory activities leading towards the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting, including the engagement of persons with diverse disabilities and other stakeholders in that process.

22. The World Federation of the Deaf expert emphasized the value of survey responses that yielded information on the dearth of sign language interpretation services in Asia-Pacific. The Regional Preparatory Meeting welcomed the secretariat’s confirmation that final analysis of the action research and survey responses would address issued on information accessibility, including those related to persons who were deaf, visually impaired, those who had intellectual disabilities and those with psychosocial disabilities.

23. Furthermore, the Regional Preparatory Meeting welcomed the secretariat’s intention to issue the final report on survey findings in accessible formats.