Consideration of a regional framework for action towards an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific

I. PREAMBLE 1

II. PRINCIPLES AND POLICY DIRECTIONS OF THE BIWAKO MILLENNIUM FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION 3

III. PRIORITY AREAS FOR ACTION 4

IV. TARGETS AND ACTION IN THE PRIORITY AREAS 5
A. Self-help organizations of persons with disabilities and related family and parent associations 5
B. Women with disabilities 7
C. Early detection, early intervention and education 9
D. Training and employment, including self-employment 13
E. Access to built environments and public transport 15
F. Access to information and communications, including information, communication and assistive technologies 17
G. Poverty alleviation through capacity-building, social security and sustainable livelihood programmes 21

V. STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE TARGETS OF THE BIWAKO MILLENNIUM FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION 24
A. National plan of action (five years) on disability 24
B. Promotion of a rights-based approach to disability issues 24
C. Disability statistics/common definition of disabilities for planning 25
D. Strengthened community-based approaches to the prevention of causes of disability, rehabilitation and empowerment of persons with disabilities 26

VI. COOPERATION AND SUPPORT IN PURSUANCE OF THE BIWAKO MILLENNIUM FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION 26
A. Subregional cooperation and collaboration 26
B. Regional collaboration 27
C. Interregional cooperation 28

VII. MONITORING AND REVIEW 28
A. Organization of regional and subregional meetings 28
B. Regional working group to coordinate and monitor the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action 29
C. Mid-point review of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action 29