Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment will be leading the Indian delegation to attend the High Level Inter-Governmental Mid-Point review meeting of Asia and Pacific Decade for Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022 in Beijing from 29th November to 3rd December, 2017. The delegation includes Secretary of the Department and other senior officers. This meeting is being organised by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in cooperation with Government of China. 

The main objective of the meeting is to review the progress made by the member States during the Decade at the mid-point in 2017 with regard to Incheon Strategy 'to make the right real' for persons with disabilities in Asia and Pacific. Incheon Strategy has been adopted to achieve the goals mentioned in UN Convention for Rights or Persons with Disabilities. Another objective of the meeting is to discuss the future policy action for building disabilities-inclusive societies in the region, bearing in mind the synergies between the Incheon Strategy and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Union Minister is expected to make a statement during the deliberation mentioning various steps being taken by India to achieve the Convention goals. 

A number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region will participate and also finalise a Declaration which will address the gaps and challenges in empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities. 
 

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Sanjay Kumar/jk/MoSJ&E/28.11.2017 

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