2019 AICHR Regional Dialogue on Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Gender Perspective on Disability Rights)
Bangkok, 3 December 2019 – In conjunction with International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the AICHR convened its 2019 AICHR Regional Dialogue on Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Bangkok, Thailand. The Dialogue participated by relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, Government Ministries, National Human Rights Institutions, organisations of disabled persons, academia, and the ASEAN Secretariat.
In her opening remark, H.E. Prof. Dr. Amara Pongsapich, Chair and Representative of Thailand to the AICHR, highlighted that the Dialogue was to discuss actions towards the implementation of the Enabling Masterplan: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with focus on the intersection between disability rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls with disabilities to ensure priority on the rights of women and girls with disabilities in each and every aspect of their life.
In her keynote speech, Ms. Risnawati Utama, member of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), emphasised that gender equality is a cardinal principle to human rights as it is enshrined in international human rights instruments. Noting that all ten members of the AMS are signatories to the CRC, CRPD and CEDAW, this principle shall be upheld when it comes to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in ASEAN.
Over the course of three days, the participants discussed the issues of women with disabilities and policy and political rights, gender perspectives and justice system, disaster preparedness and management for women and girls with disabilities, inclusive education for women and girls with disabilities, and mainstreaming gender and disability rights in business.
The AICHR had an interface with organisations of disabled persons and conducted a visit to the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) on the 3rd December as part of the commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The Dialogue was hosted by AICHR Thailand in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand, the ASEAN Disability Network (ADF), with the support of the Government of Japan and the Australian Government.
