WWDA at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction

Saph says, “It has been an overwhelming yet incredible experience to be at such a massive conference with delegates from Civil Societies, Private and Government sectors. I started the week by meeting WWDA member/People With Disability Australia (PWDA) Board Member Clare Gibellini and Physical Disability Australia President Andrew Fairbairn. I have also been lucky to meet WWDA Member/ WWDA LEAD Project Steering Committee Member Jane Britt and PWDA Senior Project Officer & Pacific Disability Forum Member Samantha French at the Queensland with Disability Network and PWDA Disability Networking lunch.

WWDA member Tanya Carroll and I helped the Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reductions team finalise the “Statement of Actions: Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific” which was so much fun for us WWDA inclusivity nerds! This is the first time the Pacific has been included in this conference, which also means that it is the first time that climate change has specifically been included. I find it very exciting that Pacific Women with Disabilities are attending and look forward to meeting with them later in the conference. There is so much more to write, but for now I will leave it on the note that this conference so far has shown just how important it is to have Women with Disabilities an active part of the discussion around Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change.”