Pacific Disability Forum

I’ve been asked to speak to us or share with us, as colleagues in the civil society space on this project on Raising Pacific Voices. This thought came through my mind. This project Raising Pacific Voices, is not really about whose voice is the loudest, or whose voice will be the loudest. Because that is then instilling, that is then implying, that we are here in the CSO space which is already competitive, that it will be a competitive project. 

We also thank the CEO of the Pacific Disability Forum- Mr. Setareki Macanawai  for facilitating a short  presentation to the FEMM on the economics of disability in the region and the need to support mobilisation of resources to assist in the implementation of the PFRPD priority goals at national level.
 
We also acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Alex Corte , International Disability Alliance for his expert adviser and assistance to PDF and PIFS in this important meeting.  

The Fifth Pacific Regional Conference on Disability was held at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Apia, Samoa from 20th to 24th February 2017.  The Conference was jointly organised by the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF), Nuanua O Le Alofa (NOLA) as host organization and the Government of Samoa with funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Government of Australia.

The Conference was attended by around 200 delegates representing organisations of persons with disabilities (DPOs), Governments, regional and international organisations, universities, and development partners from American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America and Vanuatu.

The PDF Conference is a platform for representatives from organisations of persons with disabilities (DPOs), disability service providers and development partners to discuss issues about the protection, enjoyment and promotion of all human rights of all persons with disabilities and advancement of disability inclusive development in the region.

This 5th Conference was themed “Building a more inclusive and equitable Pacific for persons with disabilities” in alignment with the recent adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The Fifth Pacific Regional Conference on Disability 2017 in Samoa was livestreamed to the rest of the world during the whole duration of the conference through internet connectivity provided by Digicel Samoa in both conference venues at Tanoa Tusitala and the TATTE Building in Apia. The Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) acknowledges the sponsorship provided by Digicel Samoa as it enabled PDF to reach persons with disabilities who could not make it to Samoa, enjoyed the conference from the comfort of their homes.

The Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) in partnership with Nuanua O’LE Alofa (NOLA) the national disable persons organisation (DPO) in Samoa and funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is hosting the Fifth Pacific Regional Conference on Disability (PRCD) at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel in Apia, Samoa from the 20 to 24 February 2017. The biennial conference is a platform to dialogue and, discuss issues pertaining to building a more inclusive and equitable Pacific for all persons with disabilities. 

The Pacific Disability Forum in partnership with disable peoples organisations in Fiji signed a Terms of Reference (TOR) with the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) and the Fiji National Council of Disabled Persons (FNCDP). The TOR signed on 31 August 2016 will be a guiding documents that will assist the Fiji Election Disability Access Working Group (EDAWG) in ensuring that Fiji’s election systems, materials and venues are accessible for all persons with disabilities in Fiji.
 

The Pacific Disability Forum in partnership with the UN Women Sub Regional Office in the Pacific will roll out in Samoa and Kiribati the Eliminating Violence Against Women (EVAW) Toolkit which was piloted in Fiji in 2015. The EVAW roll out project which started in December of 2016 is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for a period of one year.

The Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) research titled “Accessible ICT for Persons with Disabilities in the Pacific: A case for Cook Islands, Fiji, PNG and the Republic of the Marshall  Islands” aims to promote accessible ICT in the Pacific and establish a baseline data of ICT usage by persons with disabilities in Cook Islands, Fiji, Marshall Islands and PNG.

Pacific Disability Forum CEO Mr. Setareki Macanawai and Research and Development Officer Ms. Laisa Vereti participated in an Implementation Workshop on Disability Statistics from 13-15 July 2016 in Nadi, Fiji with the support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Pacific Community. This regional training was attended mainly by heads of Statistics Departments from countries in the region. This training was organised in response to a need in the region for additional technical support for implementing and analysing the Washington Group tools and data in upcoming national censuses.

The Pacific Framework on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PFRPD) was adopted at the 47th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) in September 2016. This commitment from our leaders indicates their will to build a Pacific that is inclusive and equitable for all persons with disabilities. The Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) welcomes the decisions made by our leaders and acknowledges the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) support and role in making this happen.