TITLE: Australia Leads Support for People With Disabilities in Asia Pacific
PORTFOLIO: Foreign Affairs and Trade
URL:
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/media/release.cfm?BC=Latest&ID=1213_3874_2510_2635_942
SNIPPET: PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE.
Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob
McMullan, today committed Australia to a leadership role in supporting
people with disability in the Asia Pacific.. Mr McMullan released the draft
strategy for consultation today at the International Conference on
Disability, Disadvantage and Development in the Pacific and Asia on 29
September.
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/keyaid/disability.cfm
MEDIA RELEASE
BOB MCMULLAN MP
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
MEMBER FOR FRASER
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AA 08 60 29 September 2008
Australia Leads Support for People With Disabilities in Asia Pacific
Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob
McMullan, today committed Australia to a leadership role in supporting
people with disability in the Asia Pacific.
An estimated 650 million people across the world have a disability and
about 80 per cent of the population with a disability live in developing
countries. The Asia Pacific region is home to two-thirds of this population.
"The Australian Government recognises that poverty is both a cause and
consequence of disability and is committed to ensuring that the benefits of
development reach those who are most excluded," Mr McMullan said.
Australia is providing $45 million over two years to develop an
avoidable blindness program and the development of a comprehensive
disability strategy to guide Australia's international development
assistance program.
Mr McMullan said the Government's new emphasis on disability reflected
Australia's commitment to increasing social participation for all.
Mr McMullan released the draft strategy for consultation today at the
International Conference on Disability, Disadvantage and Development in the
Pacific and Asia on 29 September - 1 October.
"This conference shows that there is a growing interest in disability
across the region and increasing recognition that people with disability,
who often count amongst the poorest of the poor, have an important role to
play in national development.
"I am determined that Australia will take a lead in this respect,"
said Mr McMullan.
He said the conference also represented a timely opportunity to
discuss the draft disability strategy with disability representatives, many
of whom have contributed to its development, before its official launch
later this year.
The conference aims to exchange knowledge and promote action on
disability in developing countries. Organised by the Australian Disability
and Development Consortium, it has attracted over 200 participants from the
region and will open at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra on 29
September.
Australia has recently ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, and, in addition to a disability strategy for its
aid program, is preparing a national disability policy to be released in
2009.
Note to editors: Draft strategy
Media contacts: Sabina Curatolo (Mr McMullan's Office) 0400
318 205
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590
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