8 countries to discuss improving education, training for persons with disabilities

BANGKOK (ILO News) - Representatives from eight Asian countries will attend a Bangkok conference focusing on opening up educational and training opportunities to persons with disabilities.

Communiqué de presse | BANGKOK | 28 mars 2011

BANGKOK (ILO News) - Representatives from eight Asian countries will attend a Bangkok conference focusing on opening up educational and training opportunities to persons with disabilities.

More than 400 million women and men with disabilities live in Asia and the Pacific. Many find it extremely difficult to access up-to-date, appropriate training that can help them find decent work or make the most of self-employment opportunities.

The meeting will review laws, policies, programmes and services on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in general vocational education and training. It will try to identify the steps required to improve their access to such training. The participants will also have the chance to exchange knowledge and good practices from across the region and countries will be encouraged to take tripartite action to promote inclusive vocational education and training.

The meeting is organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO)/IrishAid project, “Promoting Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities through Inclusion” (INCLUDE) and the ILO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

“The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been ratified by 19 countries in this region,” said Emanuela Pozzan, ILO Sub-regional Disability Coordinator. “The Convention calls on governments to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to ordinary tertiary and adult education and vocational training. However, many persons with disabilities can’t get this access. This often leads them towards social exclusion and poverty and means their societies loose out on a source of talent.”

Approximately 65 participants are expected to attend the meeting, representing national labour and education ministries, workers’ and employers’ bodies and organizations of and for persons with disabilities. The countries invited include Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam.

The three-day conference will be held from 29-31 March 2011 at the Amari Watergate Hotel, Bangkok. The media are welcome to attend and representatives from disabled peoples’ organizations, governments, employers, trade unions, and the ILO will be available for interview.

More information can be found at: Promoting Inclusive Vocational Education and Training in the Asian Region – Opening Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities , or by contacting:

Emanuela Pozzan
Subregional Coordinator on Disability
pozzan@ilo.org

Tel: +662 288 1724 / +66 (0) 81 886 9924

Krisdaporn Singhaseni
Information Officer
krisdaporn@ilo.org

Tel: +662 288 1664 / +66 (0) 81 6241399