DPI Asia-Pacific holds its Regional Assembly

Press release — Tokyo, Japan, 23–24 May 2016.

Disabled Peoples’ International Asia-Pacific (DPI AP) co-hosted its Regional Assembly with the Japan National Assembly of Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI-Japan) on 23 and 24 May 2016 at Toyama Sunrise in Tokyo, Japan. It was the first regional meeting of the third Asia-Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities since 2013; the previous assembly had been held in Incheon, South Korea, in October 2012.

Over the two days, new regional councillors and executives were elected. DPI AP officially launched discussion towards the mid-term evaluation of the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, and reaffirmed the importance of mainstreaming disability in the Sustainable Development Goals and fully implementing the CRPD in the region.

In his appeal, regional chairperson Shoji Nakanishi urged all member national assemblies to “join together at our General Assembly to show our strong unity and power for the advancement of rights and quality of life for persons with disabilities”.