On 1 July 2013, Malaysia launched a new Decade for Malaysians with Disabilities during the two-day Conference: “Incheon Strategy 2013-2022: A New Decade for Persons with Disabilities in Malaysia”, held in Kuala Lumpur.
On this occasion, the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific was disseminated. The Incheon Strategy had been endorsed by all 62 Governments of the ESCAP membership, including Malaysia, at the Commission session on 1 May 2013.
Malaysia is among the 15 Asia-Pacific Governments that are members of the Working Group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022. The other 15 members are civil society organizations. This pioneering regional mechanism is mandated to provide technical advice and support to ESCAP members and associate members to promote Decade implementation during the first half of the Decade.
Malaysia is a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) since July 2010.
The new Decade presents a golden opportunity for harmonization of domestic legislation with the CRPD. It is particularly important to seize this opportunity for strengthening implementation efforts that would build an accessible society for the meaningful participation of all persons with disabilities.
The Conference resulted in a resolution reaffirming Government support for the Incheon Strategy and its commitments, through concerted efforts with civil society and the public sector, to fully realize the rights of Malaysians with disabilities in the new Decade.
On behalf of ESCAP, Ms. Cai Cai, Chief, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Section, Social Development Division, delivered a keynote address on the Incheon Strategy.
The detailed information can be accessed from the Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation’s website at: http://rehabmalaysia.org/resource-page/.