Health equity is not only a health issue. It is a leadership challenge that cuts across every sector, and disability inclusion is part of it. Persons with disabilities across Asia and the Pacific continue to face barriers to health services, education, employment, and full participation in public life.

Full title: WEBINAR ON DISABILITY STATISTICS-MAPPING AND ASSESSING PROGRESS AGAINST GLOBAL AND REGIONAL FRAMEWORKS: A FOCUS ON THE JAKARTA DECLARATION ON THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC DECADE OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, 2023-2032

Date: June 3, 2026

Location: Online

Kind of event: Workshop

Joint Partner: UN ESCAP, SIAP

Registration Link: Register here

26 February 2026, Thursday, 11:15 – 12:15 (Thailand Standard Time)
Venue: Meeting Room A at United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok
Co-organizers:
ESCAP Social Development Division 
UK Permanent Mission to ESCAP
In collaboration with: 
Agency for Private Enterprise Development and Collective Economy (APEC), Ministry of Finance, Viet Nam
Foreign Trade University Innovation Incubation Space (FIIS), Viet Nam
CareER Association, Hong Kong, China 

The project “Promoting Disability-Inclusive Employment and Businesses”, under the initiative “Catalysing Disability-Inclusive Employment and Business towards Effective Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023–2032,” was launched through the collaboration of three partner organizations: the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEP), the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD).

An estimated 16 per cent of the global population - around 1.3 billion people - live with some form of significant disability.[1] In Asia and the Pacific, this translates into approximately 750 million persons with disabilities,

ESCAP was pleased to announce the First Session of the Working Group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023-2032, which was held on June 3–4, 2025, at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok and online. 

The Regional Forum on Digital Transformation and Future of Work for Persons with Disabilities was held on 2 June 2025 at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, as well as online. The Regional Forum spotlighted the pivotal role of inclusive technologies, digital tools, and skills development in advancing labour market inclusion and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Senator Monthian passed away on the morning of 2 March 2024 at his home in the suburbs of Bangkok. He was 58, just two months short of his 59th birthday.

Senator Monthian was a giant in the struggle for the human rights of persons with disabilities, a fervent advocate for and change maker on disability rights at all levels: international, regional, national and local.