7th Pacific Regional Conference on Disability – Indigenous Forum
Indigenous persons with disabilities often experience multiple discrimination and face barriers to the full enjoyment of their rights based on their indigenous status and also on disability. The international community has recognized that special measures are required to protect the rights of the world’s indigenous people.
The indigenous peoples of Oceania are Papuans, and Austronesian Melanesians including Torres Strait Islanders, Micronesians, and Polynesians[2]. Indigenous peoples make up the majority populations of Oceania These differs from the term Pacific Islanders which usually excludes indigenous Australians and may be understood to include both the indigenous and non-indigenous populations of the Pacific Islands alike. there are available reliable data on indigenous population in the Pacific through national censuses which includes population of persons with disabilities. However, these data need to be analysed and made available to organisation of persons with disabilities.