We the participants at the WBUAP
Mid-Term Regional General Assembly (Assembly) in Hong Kong, 24th November, 2014,
1. Call upon all governments
throughout the Asia-Pacific region (region) to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty at the earliest opportunity
so that persons who are blind or partially sighted (blind) or who have other print
disability, have full access to works of literature, culture and to educational materials.
2. Welcome the opportunity to
co-operate with the United Nations (UN) Development Programme to build capacity across the region
so that persons who are blind or who have
print disability are able to advocate for greater access to information.
3. Encourage development
organisations to work with governments to support data collection, develop disability inclusive
policies and strategies to progress the action plan of the Incheon Strategy.
4. Urge all governments and
relevant bodies throughout the region to make all efforts toward the speedy ratification and effective
implementation of the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). In particular, prioritize to ensure the full and effective
participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in
strengthening independent monitoring mechanisms,
given that fewer than half of the countries in the world who have ratified the UNCRPD have presented country and
shadow reports to the UN.
5. Being moved by the enthusiasm
and strong determination, expressed by women who are blind through the Women’s Forum, campaign
for the acceleration of women with disabilities’
empowerment programmes, in accordance with the Asian and Pacific inter-government Ministerial Declaration on
Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
(UNESCAP, 2014).
6. In recognition of challenges
and opportunities faced by youth who are blind in this region, and the tremendous success of the
Youth Forum held during this Assembly in stimulating innovation and social
entrepreneurship among youth of the region, it is recommended that:
- a youth forum be held at future
regional assemblies, and
- the World Blind Union (WBU) be
requested to hold an international youth summit.
7. Call upon all governments,
businesses and other global partners to take the necessary steps to ensure that essential technologies
are available, accessible and affordable to persons who are blind in the region, as it is
through such technology that real inclusion
can be advanced and social isolation eliminated.
8. Initiate and implement a web
accessibility campaign at the regional level to promote the adoption of internationally recognised
accessibility standards in web design, APPs,
e-learning and other ICT products and services; in consultation with organizations of the blind.
9. Undertake to actively share
best practice initiatives and programmes in areas of fundraising and capacity development.
10. Noting the high levels of unemployment and under
employment of persons who are blind in
the region, task all governments to implement programs that enable full participation in open employment including
education programs for employers and the
community, transition to employment programs and the provision of specialist equipment schemes by the government.
11. In recognizing that social
enterprises have demonstrated their impact in creating employment for persons who are blind, in
changing public attitudes and in generating funds to further the cause of the movement for
people who are blind, the Assembly urges
the WBUAP and WBU to establish a task force to investigate how social enterprises can be promoted and advanced.
