Press Statement
In the first of its kind for Fiji and the region, the Pacific Disability Forum will be holding a 3 day workshop Consultation on Older Persons with Disabilities.
With the theme “People with disability aging with dignity”, this workshop is aimed at enhancing issues concerning older persons with disabilities in Fiji. This consultation workshop is the first ever activity organized by PDF to target older persons with disabilities, this activity is the first of its kind to be organized for Fiji and for the Pacific
It will be used as a mechanism to identify the capacities, needs, opportunities and challenges of older persons in accessing humanitarian assistance, social protection, and support services. It will also identify any other challenges faced by older persons with disabilities that prevents their meaningful participation in their own families and communities.
Older persons with disabilities are vulnerable to disasters and when proper structures are not in place they are further marginalized and become victims of violence and abuse.
It is for this reason, the Pacific Disability Forum in its current strategic plan 2021-2025 has emphasized on the need to address and advance the concerns of persons with disabilities.
A major output of this workshop is exploring services that can support needs of older persons with disabilities. Participants are starting to come in from Vanua Levu with majority expected to come in over the next few days from the West.
The Minister of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation – Rosy Akbar will be Chief Guest. The workshop will be held in the Pearl Resort from the 20th to the 22nd of this month.