ASEAN ministers in charge of social welfare and development and three countries of China, South Korea and Japan called for consolidated efforts in removing all barriers that had previously hindered the full participation of persons with disabilities in society, Vietnam News Agency reported Friday.
The appeal was set out in a joint statement released Friday at the conclusion of the 2nd ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Plus Three Ministerial Meeting for Social Welfare and Development in Hanoi.
Ministers expressed their great appreciation to the relentless and continued support and cooperation by the Plus Three Countries in building ASEAN's social welfare and development sectors.
"We noted that one of the purposes of ASEAN as set out in the ASEAN Charter is to enhance the well-being and livelihood of the peoples of ASEAN by providing them with equitable access to opportunities for human development, social welfare and justice and hoped to see enhanced ASEAN Plus Three collaboration in the social welfare and development sector," ministers said in the joint statement.
Ministers of the 13 countries also welcomed the proposal to establish a network addressing aging issue in ASEAN Plus Three countries as well as the proposed convening of ASEAN Plus Three meetings on aging to address the potential contribution and vulnerabilities of older persons.
The next ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting for Social Welfare and Development is scheduled to take place in Brunei in 2010.
On Dec. 6, the 6th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting for Social Welfare and Development issued a joint communique, focusing on the establishment of an inclusive, barrier-free and right-based society for people living with disabilities.
"We were committed to promoting cooperation towards an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society with protection of well-being of people against any risks; and creating equal opportunities for every member of the society to social services, especially for persons with disabilities, older persons, children in special circumstances, victims of trafficking and disasters," the ASEAN ministers said in the joint communique.
The ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Source: Xinhua
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