In July, our staff member Saphia Grant virtually attended a United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) session of Stakeholder Consultations for the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022.
As an organisation with expertise and experience in the area of disability inclusive development WWDA was invited to participate in stakeholder consultations with the purpose to expand collaboration and participation of organisations of people with disabilities and other civil society organisations in the final review process and the preparation of the High-level meeting that WWDA has been invited to in Jakarta in October this year.
Some key things Saph took away from the meetings was;
- Listening to other people from around the Asia Pacific experiences and expertise.
- Learning more about the work done over the current decade.
- Hearing the different gaps and barriers people with disabilities face throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
- Hearing what is working.
- Sharing and receiving information.
- Acknowledging the evolution of language around disability, strategic direction around disability and priorities for disability inclusivity in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Participating and contributing to high-level discussions with like-minded people.
- Having the opportunity to invite people to, and talk about the WWDA Asia Pacific Gender and Disability Network.
- Hearing about how people with Invisible Disabilities across the region are advocating for recognition and support.
- Learning that Women with Disabilities are a focus of many organisations across the region.
