The 3rd Asia-Pacific CBR Congress

Welcome remarks by Mr. Shigeru Sumitani, Chairperson, The 3rd Asia-Pacific CBR Congress Organizing Committee (draft)

It is my great pleasure to be able to hold the 3rd Asia-Pacific CBR Congress today in the presence of Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Hitachi.

We also have many participants from abroad to whom I would like to extend my cordial welcome.

The First Asia-Pacific CBR Congress was held in Thailand in 2009, consequently resulting in the establishment of the CBR Asia-Pacific Network. Since then, such dynamic activities have developed in a very short period of time as the CBR Convention in Malaysia in 2010, the Second Asia-Pacific CBR Congress in the Philippines in 2011, and the CBR World Congress in India in 2012.

When the CBR Guidelines were published in 2010, the initial goal of “Community-based Rehabilitation,” the CBR, has evolved into “Community-based Inclusive Development,” the CBID.

The CBR Congress will serve as a platform where stakeholders from disabled persons’ organizations, rehabilitation agencies, NGOs and NPOs, administrative agencies, etc. from both home and abroad, gather together and share, through plenary and concurrent sessions, the CBR practices implemented in the Asia-Pacific region and their outcomes, along with promoting the exchange of opinions and interactions at the same time.

I would like to conclude my remarks by wishing that, taking advantage of this Congress, the CBR activities in the Asia-Pacific region will be further strengthened and expanded so that a universal society will materialize where all people can live supporting each other and cooperating with each other.

Thank you very much.