Statement by Katsunori Fujii, on behalf of Japanese Government
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
Wednesday, 14 March 2012, Bangkok
Goal 2
We would like to support the goal 2 as it is written in the draft Incheon Strategy.
In the goal 2 we would like to introduce the Japanese experience to you. That is the establishment of the Committee for Disability Policy Reform within the government which is based on the manifest of the new ruling party in January 2010. The purpose of the committee is to change or establish the national laws to meet the requirement of CRPD.
There are 4 characteristics in the committee.
1．Participation of persons with disabilities. Out of 26, 14 members are persons with disabilities.
2．Support system to fulfill the reasonable accommodation for members who have special needs at the meeting.
3．38 meetings were held in two years, One meeting lasted 4 hours.
4． Discussion, documents are open to everyone in the website of the government , observers are accepted at the meeting, Real time broadcasting by CS system, on-demand broadcasting has been available.
There are three outcomes regarding revision of major relevant laws and establishment of the new laws.
Amendment of Basic Law for Persons with Disabilities, 2011 which covers people with incurable diseases which was not included before.
Law for comprehensive support in the daily living and social life of persons with disabilities, 2012
Antidiscrimination Law for persons with disabilities will be enacted in 2013
The committee for disability policy reform will be renewed as the committee for disability policy from April this year. It focuses on strengthening of function and authorization. There are three major points.
1．Monitoring of Basic program for persons with disabilities
2．Recommendation to relevant Ministers through the Prime Minister
3．Relevant Ministers will have duties on response to the recommendation
There are practices on “Nothing about us without us” in Japan. The important thing in policy making is not only what to decide, but also who will decide is more important. Therefore goal 2 is very important to start the new era in the disability.
Goal 7
On this occasion I also would like to extend our gratitude for the support for the Great Earthquake and Tsunami by your respective country and NGOs.
First of all I would like to introduce you the data on victims who have disability by the Great Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan.
This is the mortality rate introduced by the National TV Service and major newspaper company. According to them, the mortality rate of persons with disability who were affected by the disaster is 2.06%. The mortality rate by this disaster, compared to the whole population is 1.11% , this figure is double compared to persons without disability. The great earthquake and tsunami hit both people with and without disability. This figure shows seriousness. We may not be able to deny this disaster shows the dimension of man-made disaster.
Based of such fact, I would like to strengthen Goal 7 in the draft Incheon Strategy in the following points.
The speed of large and small reconstruction and restoration for persons with disabilities who are affected by the disaster, has connection with the levels of substance of support services such as welfare services for persons with disabilities.
Therefore, in addition to universal design, the strengthening of policy on support such as reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities at the daily base is questioned.