High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) organized a High-level Intergovernmental Meeting (HLIGM) on the Final Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, pursuant to ESCAP resolution 69/13, as the Decade concluded in 2022. The objective of the meeting was to review progress and achievements made in the Decade (2013-2022), leading up to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Prior to the HLIGM a two-day long pre-event was organized from 17-18 October 2022 in collaboration with the regional Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPD). The objective of this pre-event was to develop a CSO statement and a few more statements on predetermined agendas that were presented at the HLIGM.
Shuchona Foundation was invited as a member of UNESCAP's working group on disabilities, and as a CSO Steering Committee member for the HLIGM Pranay Bhuiyan and Salwah Chowdhury actively participated in the meetings in-person, while some colleagues joined online. The 2-day long regional CSO meeting prior to the HLIGM was held on 17-18th October 2022 at Century Park Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event was inaugurated by Dwi Ariyani, Regional Head of Asia Program, Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF). There were 49 CSO representatives from 18 countries present at the event. The participants were divided region-wise and each region drafted a reflection statement on Incheon Strategy and developed challenges, best practices and recommendations based on their regional context. Pranay Bhuiyan and Salwah Chowdhury from Shuchona Foundation, Tika Dahal and Meena Paudel from Nepal Disabled Women Association and Dipendra Manocha from DAISY Consortium (India) were contributors to the “South Asia” regional CSO statement. During the second day of the CSO meeting, SF colleagues participated in the discussion for “Promote life cycle and gender” and discussed issues pertinent to the theme and compiled the dialogue in a narrative statement. The CSO meeting was an excellent opportunity to network, work closely, and learn from OPDs and allies from the region.
The HLIGM was a 3-day long event held from 19-21 October 2022 at the Fairmont Hotel in Jakarta. On the first day, intergovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies and other international organizations, OPDs and CSOs presented statements. At the end of the first day, all the delegates visited the National Monument at Gambir in Jakarta. The second day included roundtables, moderated, and a plenary discussion with interventions from delegates. The final segment of the meeting for the day was the gala dinner hosted by the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Republic of Indonesia at the Ministry. This was an opportunity for the SF representatives to network further and introduce Shuchona Foundation and its work to other delegates. The final day of the HLIGM began with an excursion to the Centre of Excellence “Sentra Terpadu Inten Soeweno.” This visit was intended to see the Social Rehabilitation Services at MoSA and the works of the Social Welfare Service Recipients (PPKS). Information on the existing social rehabilitation programs and services was exhibited in small stalls. The delegation visited the location for the implementation of Vocational Therapy for the manufacture of salted eggs, doormats, batik (a cloth dyeing technique), and other handcrafted items including motorbikes. Closing remarks at the HLIGM was, delivered by H.E. Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). At the end of the meeting, the report on the meeting and the outcome document was adopted.
