By: ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT
Published: 24/02/2009 at 12:00 AM
Bangkok Post Newspaper section: News

Southeast Asia will never be a "caring and sharing community" while the rights of the disabled are being neglected, say representatives of the deaf and blind.

Panomwan Boontem Fujita, president of the Thai Deaf Women's Network, told a forum at the weekend the Asean charter, which governments claim to be a people-centred statute, did not stipulate facilities and mechanisms for the participation of people with disabilities.

"Please do not forget women and children with all forms of disability, who comprise 2% of the 570 million population of Asean," Ms Panomwan said.

"They are the most marginalised and vulnerable group [in society].

"The voices of workers, farmers, minorities and ethnic groups are being heard but the handicapped are not being heard."

Ms Panomwan, speaking before Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan at the end of the 4th Asean Civil Society Conference on Sunday, said she would like to see Asean-member governments provide suitable facilities and a platform so disabled people could have meaningful participation in the promotion and protection of their own rights.

She also recommended that the Asean human rights mechanism, which was being finalised, promote and protect the rights of handicapped people.

The Asean members should come up with rehabilitation or remedial measures if the rights of these people are violated or abused.

Sawat Pramoonsilp, president of the Association for Career Advancement of the Blind in Thailand, said all Asean members should ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Ms Sawat said that would help support the well-being of people with disabilities.Unless it did this, she said, it could not become the caring and sharing community many leaders have claimed for it in recent years.