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Asia-Pacific renews commitment to disability inclusion with Jakarta Declaration
Senior Asia-Pacific leaders have renewed their countries' commitment to implementing disability-inclusive development from the grassroots up over the coming decade.
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(Stock image of a wheelchair user) The International Day of People with Disabilities, which falls each year on Dec. 3, is themed “Not All Disabilities are Visible” for 2022, and aims to spread awareness and understanding of “invisible” disabilities, such as mental illness, cognitive dysfunction, chronic pain and fatigue. (Courtesy of Shutterstock /Virinaflora)
T
he conclusion of the High-Level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (HLIGM-FRPD) on Friday saw the adoption of the Jakarta Declaration that outlines a decade of actions to fulfill the rights of disabled persons.
Delegates from 53 member states and nine associate members attended the three-day hybrid meeting hosted by Indonesia and organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Representatives from several observer states, other UN agencies and civil society organizations also participated in
The Jakarta Declaration contains 17 paragraphs and is expected to reaffirm the Incheon Strategy that ESCAP member states agreed 10 years ago.
The Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” consists of 10 disability-specific development goals with 27 targets and 62 indicators to track progress of improvements in the quality of life and fulfillment of the rights of persons with disabilities in the Asia and Pacific.
Indonesian Social Affairs Minister Tri “Risma” Rismaharini, who chaired the high-level meeting, said on Friday that the Jakarta Declaration had been adopted with very few technical issues. She also noted that the majority of member states had shown progress toward full inclusion of disabled persons.
“Yet, there is still room for improvement. Therefore, the hard work on disability-sensitive development should continue and be advanced in the next decade,” Risma said.
The declaration contains six resolutions for ESCAP member states to implement. Among them are: to harmonize national legislations with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), promote meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in planning and making policies, as well as promote universally designed accessibility of goods and services in line with international standards.
