JAKARTA, Oct 24, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - The 'High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities' (HLIGM APDPD) closed on Friday (Oct 21) with 53 Asia-Pacific and 9 associated countries adopting the landmark Jakarta Declaration, marking the start of the fourth 'Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities'.

"Today, on the last day of the high-level intragovernmental meeting in the Asia Pacific, we are adopting the Jakarta Declaration 2023-2032, which will be followed up by all members, accelerated and implemented," said the meeting chair and Indonesian Social Affairs Minister, Tri Rismaharini (Risma).

"Through the Jakarta Declaration, we reaffirm our global commitment to a better life for all persons with disabilities," said Risma, emphasizing the commitment of Asia Pacific countries in realizing the Incheon Strategy, initiated ten years ago. "The priority issue is an alignment of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the level of legislation."

"It is time to increase efforts and take affirmative steps to implement universal design in all public areas, to increase the capacity of people handling persons living with disabilities in all sectors, and conduct national breakthrough campaigns to build awareness about disability," she said. "Harmonization of legislation is the toughest challenge for our own government, as it has central, provincial and regency/city government levels."

Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana said although the implementation of the CRPD was making progress, people with disabilities in the Asia Pacific region face obstacles in education, work, decision making, and many other aspects.

She invites UN ESCAP members to strengthen partnerships with disability organizations, the private sector, United Nations entities and the others to create a comprehensive community approach. Armida hopes that people with disabilities can participate in all policies and programs related to disability actively and significantly, in line with the spirit of 'nothing without us about us'.

HLIGM APDPD was held on a hybrid basis from 19 - 21 October 2022 and was attended by delegates from 53 member states, 9 association member, observer countries, UN agencies, and civil society organizations.

Written by: PR Wire, Editor: PR Wire (c) ANTARA 2022

Source article at: https://en.antaranews.com/news/256377/asia-and-pacific-countries-make-jakarta-declaration-agreement

UN ESCAP member countries also underlined the importance of making strategic investments to push disability-inclusive development through a whole-society approach in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, especially organizations of persons with disabilities and private sector entities, in order to accelerate action to promote and protect the rights of persons living with disabilities.

"I encourage all participants to continue their cooperation with one another and to take all necessary steps to make the recommendations formulated during this meeting in Jakarta. Now and in the next decade, we must come together and work it out," Rismaharini said.

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