Pacific Disability Forum
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Event Name:
Pacific Regional Disability Conference
Event Location:
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Event Date:
21 April 2009
PACIFIC DISABILITY FORUM (PDF)
PACIFIC REGIONAL DISABILITY CONFERENCE 2009
LE LAGON HOTEL, PORT VILA, VANUATU
20-23 APRIL 2009
ADVANCING DISABILITY CONCERNS IN THE PACIFIC REGION
A Pacific society that is culture positive and inclusive of indigenous cultures, gender-equitable, barrier-free and rights-based, that promotes full participation and equality of opportunities for all persons with disabilities in all aspects of life, and includes children, women, and men in isolated island atolls, remote, rural and urban areas.
To improve the situation of persons with disabilities in Pacific Island countries and territories by realizing and fulfilling the stated philosophy and objectives of PDF through building and strengthening the capacity of the regions national Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs) to provide practical services, humanitarian support and advocacy services to their members and clients.
STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES – 2008-2011
GOAL:
To eliminate poverty for people with disabilities in the region
PURPOSE:
To strengthen the capacity of the regions National Disabled Persons organisations (DPOs) to provide practical services, humanitarian support and advocacy services to their members and clients.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To develop a responsive regional organisation with requisite resources and financial stability to articulate and pursue the concerns of persons with disabilities in the Pacific region.
2. To build and strengthen the capacity of National disabled persons organisations (DPOs) in the region.
3. To support members and stakeholders in the region in raising public awareness on the rights and issues of persons with disabilities.
4. To support women and girls with disabilities in the region to advocate and promote their equal participation at all levels.
5. To promote the mainstreaming of disability rights and issues in the plans and policies of governments, development partners and civil society organisations in the region.
BACKGROUND:
The Pacific Disability Forum at its inaugural meeting in Nadi, Fiji in July 2004 adopted its own Constitution which reaffirmed the collective desire of national organisations of persons with disabilities in the Pacific to hold annual Council Meetings, and a general meeting of members every two years. Such meetings are attended by the Full Members of the organisation which are the national disabled person’s organisations in Pacific Island countries and territories. To date, there are 26 Full Members of PDF from 11 Pacific Island countries and 1 territory with four more DPOs from three other countries whose membership applications will be considered at the 2009 Council Meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu. PDF established its regional office in Suva, Fiji in January 2007 with financial assistance from NZAID which is presently the single funding agency supporting the operations and programmes of this regional peak body on disability.
To add value to PDF regional meetings, The Pacific Regional Disability Conference though being organised for the first time by PDF will comprise of three consecutive events:
· Pacific Regional Forum on women with Disabilities – Monday, 20 April 2009.
· Pacific Disability Conference – 21-22 April 2009. A series of sessions and workshops on thematic areas like women with disabilities, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Pacific Plan, Biwako Millennium Framework, disabled persons organisations, disability and development amongst others, are organised to build the capacity of national DPOs and their representatives, as well as seizing the opportunity of being together in one place to share information, exchange ideas, build alliances and strengthen solidarity.
· PDF General and Council Meeting – 23 April 2009. Business meeting for member organisations of PDF.
PDF is aware that disability is an issue that cuts across social, economic, cultural, spiritual and environmental aspects of our society, and therefore must be taken as an overarching principle to any development initiative at all levels. For this reason, PDF intends to work in partnership with donor and development partners as well as with other key stakeholders towards the realisation of its vision, mission, goals and objectives.
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