The themes of the Dialogue and Workshop are “Social Inclusion: Good Policies and Practices for Disabled People”, with the sub-themes: 1. Cities as Equal Opportunity Employers and Service Providers; 2. Disabled Rights; and 3. Cities and Global Environmental Change.
The aim of the dialogue and workshop was to provide a forum for governors, mayors and local governments in the Asia-Pacific region to share best practices and experiences with an aim to develop and strengthen their policies. This included measures to promote greater social inclusion of city dwellers, especially disabled people, while fully respecting their political, economic, social and cultural rights, as well as their overall human rights and fundamental freedoms.
During the workshop UNESCO Ten Point of Action Plan for the Coalition of Cities against Discrimination in Asia and the Pacific was promoted.
Participants agreed and signed the Auckland Declaration to work as a regional coalition to evaluate better practical measures to promote and protect human rights, and to promote respect of the integrity and dignity of all people including persons living with disabilities.
Dr. Vallop Suwandee, Chairman of Advisers to the Governor of Bangkok, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration; Mayor Prapat Poocharoen, Lamphun Municipality; and Mayor Pongsak Yingchoncharoen, Yala city Municipality, Thailand have tentatively agreed to collaborations and supports for the UNESCO International Conference on the Coalition of Cities against Discrimination to be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2016. The conference will invite all of the UNESCO Coalition members from six regions – Africa, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Arab States, Europe, and Asia and the Pacific so that member cities/municipalities can meet to discuss and exchange ideas and experiences, think and act together. This conference will celebrate a decade (2006-2016) for UNESCO Coalition of Cities against Discrimination in Asia and the Pacific, as the Coalition of Cities in Asia and the Pacific was launched in August 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), acted as the Lead City for the region. This conference will show that the Central Government and the Local governments (local authorities) will think and act together.
For any further information, please contact Dr. Sarinya Sophia, Programme Officer at UNESCO Bangkok Office (Tel: +66 2-391-0550 – ext. 144, Fax: +66 2-391-0866, E-mail: s.sophia@unesco.org).