Bites: March and April 2002
International Relations
DPA believes that it has a responsibility to participate in the international community on behalf of New Zealanders who have disabilities to ensure involvement in sharing of new developments and to promote its aims.
Celebrating the end year of AP Decade
Events in Sopporo and Osaka, Japan, later this year will mark the end of the Asian and Pacific decade of Disabled Persons 1993-2002.
The End Year of the Asia-Pacific Decade is being commemorated at the Sopporo Forum in Japan, 2002 when the 6th World Assembly of Disabled Peoples' International holds a session during15-18 October this year.
Back to back with the Sopporo Forum is the Osaka Forum, which is the 12th Rehabilitation International Asia and Pacific Regional Conference, Osaka, 21-23 October 2002. This event will also mark the End Year of the Asia-Pacific Decade.
The Asia-Pacific Decade required participating countries to carry out 15 actions but New Zealand, as far as we can tell, never signed up to it, says DPA chief executive, Gary Williams. I think DPA did its best to persuade the New Zealand government to take action but it didn't go anywhere.
About 40 countries participated including Fiji and Australia. The 15 actions set down change in areas such as social, human rights and income issues. In some areas New Zealand had made progress, but it lagged behind on others.
DPA will send delegates to the events in Japan, most likely members of the NEC.
Want to know more?
If you need more information from the DPA National Secretariat on any item in Bites simply phone /ITTY us on (04) 801-9100, fax your request to (04) 801-9565, send it email: gen@dpa.org.nz, or to DPA (New Zealand) Inc, PO Box 27-524, Wellington or check our website www.dpa.org.nz.