3rd December, 2007, ILO Bangkok – Vietnamese photographer Mr. Hung Nguyen, has won the “Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities” Asia Pacific region photographic competition. Second prize also went to a photographer from Viet Nam and the third to a photographer from Cambodia .

As well as the region-wide contest, national competitions were also held in Thailand and Cambodia and three prize-winners selected in each case.

H.E. General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand will present the trophy to Mr Hung at an Awards Ceremony at the Pullman King Power Hotel, Bangkok . General Sonthi will also present the prizes to the Thai national competition winners.

In addition to specially inscribed trophies all the winners will receive awards of between US$50 and US$1,000.

Nearly 250 pictures from 19 countries across Asia Pacific were entered, depicting the photographers’ interpretations of the competition theme of decent work for persons with disabilities, including those who are self-employed, or people advocating for their right to decent work. The contest was open to anyone aged over 18, resident in an Asia Pacific country. Entries were received from Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, East Timor, Fiji, Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

The competition was organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI) and Irish Aid to promote understanding within Asia-Pacific of people with disabilities, their right to decent work and contribution to the workplace. The Embassy of Finland helped to support the Thai competition.

According to ILO Director General, Mr. Juan Somavia, decent work is “work that meets people's basic aspirations, not only for income, but for security for themselves and their families, without discrimination or harassment, and providing equal treatment for women and men with and without a disability.”

The competition also raised awareness of the United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons (3^rd December) and the importance of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006.

Mr Hung’s winning photo was a stunning sepia image of a man with one arm, casting his fishing net, while standing on the edge of his small fishing boat. The winning Thai photograph, taken by Mr. Hansa Tangmanpoowadol, shows the versatility and determination to succeed of a physically disabled man painting with a brush in his mouth. The winning photograph from Cambodia , which also took third prize in the regional competition, submitted by Mr. Vibol Chhoum, shows a young woman with only one hand working on a computer in an office.

Judging was conducted by a panel of experts comprising: Mr. Ron McMillan, a leading international photographer; Khun Chukiat Jaroensuk, Euro RSCG; Khun Suchada Saengarun, Accor Hospitality; Khun Plernpit Srisiri, State Enterprise Workers’ Relations Confederation; Khun Suthida Chuthamas, Bureau of Employment for Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security;   Khun Supattraporn Tanatikom, Disabled Peoples’ International, and Debra Perry, International Labour Organization.

Debra Perry, ILO Senior Specialist in Disability said: “We were very pleased with the response to the competition. The photos cover a wide range of work situations and show persons with disabilities in formal and professional sector jobs, such as architects and managers, as well as in self-employment or informal jobs. They reflect the strong desire of people with disabilities to work and support themselves and their families, often in very creative ways.”

Saowalak Thongkuay, Regional Development Officer, Disabled Peoples’ International said: “There are more than 400 million disabled people in the Asia-Pacific region, including about 250 million of working age. This competition has been an important step in promoting greater understanding among employers and society that people with disabilities are very capable of doing a good job and have an equal right to decent work.” 

Mr. Ron McMillan, Chairman of the Judging Panel said: “The judging panel took into consideration a wide range of factors, including the quality of the photographs, composition, lighting and other technical aspects, the impact on the audience, links to decent work, and the caption provided by the entrant. During the judging a lively discussion took place but in the end there were some clear winners. The judges were all very impressed with the quality and number of the photographs submitted especially considering the challenging subject matter.”

The full list of winners is:

Asia-Pacific Prize

1^st            “Net Casting” Mr. Hung Nguyen, Vietnam (US$1,000)
2^nd            “The Warmth of the Teachers’ Hand” Mr. Thoi Luu Thuan, Vietnam (US$500)
3^rd            “Look at Capacity not Appearance” Mr. Vibol Chhoum , Cambodia (US$250)

Thailand Prize

1^st            “Perseverance” Mr. Hansa Tangmanpoowadol (US$500)
2^nd           “Be Proud Of” Mr. Jatupol Soison (US$250)
3^rd            “Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities” Mr. Nuttaphol Jiengjarasnon (US$250)

Cambodia Prize

1^st            “Look at Capacity not Appearance” Mr. Vibol Chhoum (US$500)
2^nd           “From Small Beginnings” Ms Jan Nye (US$250)
3^rd            “Working Together” Mr. Robert Joiner (US$250)

The International Labour Organization

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations agency devoted to advancing opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.  Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue in handling work-related issues.  The ILO is also the global body responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards.  The ILO's unique tripartite structure brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers to jointly shape its policies and programmes.

Disabled Peoples’ International

Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI) is a global  cross-disability, self-help, human rights organization of persons with disabilities established in 1981. It has been promoting full-participation and equalization of opportunity of persons with disabilities by delivering "A voice of our own." It holds special consultative status with the United Nations and has collaborated with many other international agencies as well. Disabled Peoples’ International Asia-Pacific Region has been playing an important role in the disability movement of the Asia-Pacific Region.

Irish Aid

Irish Aid is the Government of Ireland ’s programme of assistance to developing countries. Ireland has had an official development assistance programme since 1974. Ireland ’s development cooperation policy is an integral part of Ireland ’s wider foreign policy. Its aid philosophy is rooted in its foreign policy, in particular its objectives of peace and justice. Its development cooperation policy and programme reflect a longstanding commitment to human rights and fairness in international relations and are inseparable from Irish foreign policy as a whole.

Embassy of Finland 

Finland supports bilateral and regional development cooperation projects and programmes in the region and also projects carried out by Finnish and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Finland has launched bilateral development cooperation projects in Cambodia and Laos, and Thailand also benefits from the regional development cooperation programmes. Furthermore, the Embassy has access to the so-called funds for local cooperation which are primarily channeled to projects carried out by local NGOs. The key objective is to strengthen the civil society of the recipient country.

 For more information please contact:

David Toogood
Jigsaw Communications
Tel: 02-253-2793

Sophy Fisher,
Regional Information Officer,
RO- Bangkok

Off: +662 288 2482
Fax: +662 288 3062

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