2nd Asia Pacific CBR Congress slated in Manila

“It is important…to recognize the equality of rights of every fellow human being regardless of differences in beliefs and social status” – Dr. Jose Rizal, Philippine National Hero.

It is with great pride that our country, the Philippines, will be hosting the 2nd Asia-Pacific Community Based Rehabilitation Congress, with the theme “CBR: Building Communities for Everyone”, from November 29th to December 1st, 2011 at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.

2nd Asia Pacific CBR Congress poster

The Congress is an event of the Asia-Pacific CBR Network (established by the World Health Organization and the Asia-Pacific Centre for Development). The Congress takes place every four years. Hundreds of delegates are attending from across Asia-Pacific, America, Africa and Europe.

CBR is a key strategy in ensuring the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in the villages and cities across the country, region and the globe. The Philippines is one of the few countries to have ratified the UNCRPD on April 15, 2008.

The international community looks to the Philippines as one of the key leaders in the field of CBR. Nations need to mainstream disability into the development agenda of government and at local level, in order to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities are respected. This will also help countries achieve their Millennium Development Goals.

The conference aims to (1) promote multi-sectoral partnerships for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD), Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and other development initiatives, (2) share good practices in CBR for inclusive development, (3) promote participation in the CBR Asia Pacific Network, and (4) explore the possibilities of forming the CBR Global Network.

The Philippines’ National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); is chairing the National Organizing Committee composed of representatives from Government Agencies (GA), Disabled Peoples’ Organizations (DPO), local and international Non-Government Organizations (NGO).

Autism Society Philippines (ASP) is represented by Executive Director, Ranil Sorongon, who is a member of both the National CBR Training and Development Committee (CBR-TDC) and member of the Programme Committee for the Congress. The CBM-CBR Philippine Coordinating Office will serve as Secretariat.

The Asia-Pacific CBR Network has extends its gratitude to WHO, IDDC, ILO, JICA, UNESCAP, UNDESA, and to the host agency – the National Organizing Committee and is honored that DSWD Secretary Corazon “Jinky” Juliano-Soliman will grace the event. The Network also wishes to thank all the delegates and to encourage as many of you as possible to join this auspicious event.

For details of the congress, log on to www.cbrcongress.com.