By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, MAR 04, 2015: THE two-day Meeting of Second Session of the UN-ESCAP Working Group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022 concluded here yesterday with the following recommendations and decisions: 

++ India on behalf of the Working Group, to submit the Incheon Strategy to the Statistical Division of Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) for the development of the indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals, and to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities.

++ Create, maintain and manage an accessible internet-based discussion group to share good practices for enhanced implementation of the Incheon Strategy.

++ India to convene the Task Force on e-based forum for Working Group members which would include, among others, India, Indonesia, China and Republic of Korea apart from some NGOs and the ESCAP secretariat.

++  Submit inputs to the Draft Operational Guide by 31 March 2015.

++ Propose a structure to better involve non-Working Group members to enhance the implementation of the Incheon Strategy. Task force will examine this issue.

++ Government of Thailand to host the next session.

++ Submit to the ESCAP secretariat reports on the implementation of the Incheon Strategy, in particular on road map actions.

++ Collaborate with non-Working Group members to obtain their reports on road map actions.

++ Contact Civil Aviation Authorities to obtain information on their policies and rules regarding persons with disabilities as customers, including electric wheel chair users.

ESCAP ACTION

++ Create reporting templates for Working Group members.

++ Create a check list in the Operational Guide on Disability-inclusive Meetings.

++ Disseminate the Operational Guide on Disability-inclusive Meetings to key UN entities and all member States.

++ Upload on the ESCAP website the implementation of regional road map action taken by the ESCAP secretariat in 2013-2014.

++ Continue to use the ESCAP trust fund as a means to support provision of reasonable accommodation to participants with disabilities.

It may be recalled that the Meeting was opened yesterday by the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot with the reiteration of Indian Government's firm commitment to the cause of empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and implementation of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) as well as the “Incheon Strategy”.

Some of the important goals of Incheon strategy are: Reduction of poverty, Enhancement of accessibility, education and employment, Special focus on children and women, Promotion of social protection and political participation, and Strengthening of international cooperation. Shri Gehlot informed the meeting yesterday that India has chalked out a road map with specific time-frames to implement the Incheon Strategy and achieve these goals.