Permanent Representative H.E. Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. reaffirms the Philippine government’s commitment to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities at the 11th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 12 June 2018.
New York, 12 June 2018 –Speaking at the 11th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 12 June 2018, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Teodoro L. Locsin Jr reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to advance the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities, protect their dignity and ensure their full enjoyment of human rights and opportunities.
“A man or a woman is how he or she thinks, what he or she contributes to humanity by exceeding past human limitations, and not how he or she walks if they can,” Ambassador Locsin said in his statement.
Ambassador Locsin also highlighted the country’s efforts to include persons with disabilities in all government programs. He noted the government’s initiative to ensure accessibility in public places, establish special education facilities, provide employment assistance and healthcare services and raise awareness to combat common myths and misconceptions about disability. Consistent with the battle cry “nothing about us without us,” the Philippine Government involves person with disabilities in the management of Persons with Disability Affairs Office. The government also integrates disability issues with gender issues for the empowerment of young women.
Ambassador Locsin noted the many gains that the Philippines, and the UN achieved in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities. Some challenges, however, remain, particularly in the area of data and statistics. The UN Flagship Report on Disability and Development which will be released this year is hoped to significantly bridge gaps in data.
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