ANNOUNCEMENT
Bangkok – 22 December 2023
Deadline to submit expression of interest (EOI): 31 January 2024, 17:00 Thailand Standard Time
EOI information detail and application guidelines: available here
Application submission requirements: 1) A completed Nomination Form, 2) Supporting documents A and B as instructed in the Nomination Form. Please note that EOI is only accepted if it follows guidance and instructions and use the templates provided.
For any questions regarding the EOI and for submission of EOIs, please contact the Social Development Division, ESCAP by email to escap-sdd@un.org with copy to min.kim3@un.org.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has launched a Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) by civil society organizations (CSOs) that wish to become a member of the Working Group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023-2032. Applications are open to all CSOs, including organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), operating at the regional and subregional levels in the Asia-Pacific region.
Background
The Working Group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities was established during the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, to inform the implementation of the Decade with its expertise and knowledge. The Working Group consisted of an equal number of government and civil society members. The nature of membership enabled a multi-stakeholder approach to guiding the implementation of the Decade of 2013-2022.
In 2022, members States of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) adopted the Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023-2032, promulgating the fourth regional disability Decade. The Jakarta Declaration was then endorsed by the Commission through its Resolution 79/5 in May 2023 entitled “Implementation of the Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023–2032”. Through the declaration, member States requested to continue to utilize the guidance of the Working Group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, as appropriate, to support the effective implementation of the Jakarta Declaration. In this context, the ESCAP secretariat is facilitating the formation of the Working Group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023-2032.
Objective
The objective of the Working Group is to provide technical advice and support to members and associate members of the Commission in the full and effective implementation of the Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023–2032.
Membership
The Working Group shall be composed of representatives of ESCAP members and associate members and CSOs, including OPDs operating at the regional and subregional levels in the Asia-Pacific region. As a general principle, the Working Group should be composed of an equal number of governments and CSOs.
For CSO members, preference will be accorded to organizations of and for persons with disabilities, including organizations of, and for, women with disabilities. Among the CSOs represented in the Working Group, at least half of the seats shall be allocated for organizations of and for persons with disabilities. Representation of diverse groups of persons with disabilities and ensuring a balance across subregions will be given due attention in the constitution of the Working Group.
For more information about the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023-2032, the Working Group functions and expectations for its members, as well as selection criteria for CSO members, please refer to the following documents:
EOI information detail and application guidelines: Here
Resolution 79/5: Implementation of the Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023–2032: Here
Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023–2032: Here
Terms of Reference of the Working Group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023–2032: Here
Application deadline: No later than 17:00 Thailand Standard Time on 31 January 2024, by email to escap-sdd@un.org with copy to min.kim3@un.org.
Applications must follow the provided guidance and submission format as outlined in the Nomination Form (here).