Regional Leadership Conference of Persons with Disabilities in South Asia July 31- August 2, 2010 Islamabad
The government of Pakistan has agreed and endorsed the establishment of “South Asian Disability Forum (SADF)” that will network various DPOs and NGOs in South Asia, representing all disabilities, to address a regional point of view in South Asia.


In collaboration with the governments, corporate sectors, international NGOs, sub-regional and regional agencies, UN agencies and other partners, the SADF is expected to play a role to highlight a regional focus on the inclusion of persons with disabilities as a development priority. The secretariat of SADF will be located in Islamabad.
Making another important announcement on this occasion, the Secretary for Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education Muhammad Ather Tahir said that in the new National Labour Policy, quota for PWDs will be increased from 2 to 3 per cent.

The conference participants acknowledge that there is a growing concern of disability within the region and further actions should be taken by all stakeholders including both government and non-government sectors in South Asia ensuring that the persons with disability are entitled to enjoy the same rights, privileges and opportunities as other citizens.
The participants also noticed that there are attitudinal barriers with metaphors, jargons and phrases which reinforce exclusion of persons with disabilities in South Asia and agreed that such terminologies as special parks and special buildings be replaced with other appropriate words.
They noted that present judicial systems, governance and administrative structures in South Asia are usually not conducive to the needs of PWDs and recognized the need of measures to be taken to address these issues. The participants also urged all stakeholders to consider research and development opportunities to demonstrate good practices and raise awareness in general public.
They stressed the importance of education and training in an inclusive manner with support from governments, APCD, corporate sectors, international NGOs in close consultations with sub-regional and regional agencies, UN agencies and other partners bearing in mind a large number of persons with disabilities being excluded in communities across South Asian countries.

They also called for community- based inclusive development programs and emphasized that accessibility standards should implied in the construction and refurbishment of commercial, public buildings and other disability-sensitive communications by using accessible format in any type of materials. They also stressed that poverty reduction programs should mainstream disability issues from regional perspective.
Mr. Niaz Ullah Khan, Country Director Sightsavers Pakistan ensured the support to strengthen sub-regional initiatives for the mainstreaming of persons with disabilities. Amir Ibrahim, Chief Strategy Officer Telenor Pakistan pledged 50,000 hours of human resource to volunteer with organizations of disabled persons and support to conduct international conference on the subject in following year.
Executive Director Asian-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD), Akiie Ninomiya, said that they have found Pakistan the best for establishing ‘South Asian Disability Forum’ because of the potential of people and geographic location of the country. He said that mobility is the major issue being faced by PWDs. He urged South Asian countries to focus on health, education and community involvement of PWDs to make them useful citizens.

Inaugural session of the conference was addressed by British High Commissioner H.E Adam Thomson, Executive Director Asian-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD), Akiie Ninomiya, Country Director Sightsavers Pakistan Mr. Niaz Ullah Khan, Chief Strategy Officer Telenor Pakistan, Mr. Amir Ibrahim, Country Director ILO, Mr. Donglin Li, Senior Representative of JICA Mr. Toshiya Sato and President of STEP, Mr. Muhammad Atif Sheikh
Sources: http://www.disabled-world.com/news/asia/pakistan-disability-forum.php
http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=661182&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\08\01\story_1-8-2010_pg11_5
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=254506
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