The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement workshop on Disability Inclusion and Victim Assistance in Southeast Asia was held in Bangkok, Thailand, 28-29 November 2016, by the Thai Red Cross Society, ICRC, IFRC and Norwegian Red Cross.

This workshop was a follow up of the earlier Movement workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam, March 2015, on enhanced implementation of the Movement Strategy on Landmines, Cluster Munition and other Explosive Remnants of War. The participants developed a plan of action which included commitments to increased action on treaty promotion, risk reduction and victim assistance.

This workshop is intended to identify concrete ways to implement the Strategic Framework in Southeast Asia and to assist in identifying best practices for the Movement within Southeast Asia and globally.

An important focal point in the Movement’s efforts to better respond to the needs of people with disabilities is the ICRC’s Special Fund for the Disabled (SFD). The SFD is in the process of scaling up its role as a Disability Solution Centre for implementation of the Strategic Framework on Disability inclusion. The workshop will also be a forum to introduce the ambitions and potential support that the SFD could provide to NSs in the region, and to share insights on the role that regional and partner NSs can play in ensuring access to and follow-up for physical rehabilitation services.

Objectives of the Workshop:

• Identify approaches and action points for implementation of the Strategic Framework on disability inclusion by National Societies (NS) in Southeast Asia and identify the types of expertise, capacities and assistance needed to enable implementation.
• Facilitate the sharing of best practices and lessons learned among NSs in Southeast Asia and relevant PNSs, and support regional cooperation within the Movement in this field.
• Support the ICRC’s Special Fund for the Disabled in identifying steps to enhance their future participation in the development of a Disability Reference Centre for the Movement.
• Follow up to the 2015 Hanoi workshop focus on the Convention on Cluster Munitions through a side event for senior or policy staff of the National Societies from Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and ICRC to coordinate efforts for adherence to the Convention by their States.

Workshop documents:

• Concept note
• Program / Agenda
• Report

Workshop presentations (that we managed to gather):

Overview session – The Movement’s Strategic Framework on Disability Inclusion and within the global context:

• The Movement’s Strategic Framework, Stephen Wainwright, Coordinator, Social Inclusion and Protection, IFRC, Geneva
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – implementation update, Monthian Buntan, Member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities & Member, National Legislative Assembly, Royal Thai Parliament
• Successes and key challenges in Southeast Asia, Saowalak Thongkuay, Disabled People’s International, Asia-Pacific Regional Office, Bangkok
• Community-based development, rehabilitation and inclusion: added value and lessons learned, Somchai Rungslip, Committee Member, Foundation for Children with Disabilities, Thailand
• IFRC support for Movement efforts in Southeast Asia, Hervé Gazeau, DRR Manager, IFRC-Bangkok

Strategic Framework Objective 1: All components of the Movement adopt a disability inclusive approach:

• New Strategy and Ambitions of the ICRC’s Special Fund for the Disabled, Max Deneu and Samuel Racine, ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled, Geneva
• Promoting inclusion: practical approaches, David Curtis, DI Consultant
• Cambodian Red Cross experience on data collection and use of data in programming and dialogue with local authorities, Mom Chanthy, Deputy Director, Health Dept. & Mom Phireak, Coordinator, Safer Rural Community Program, Cambodian Red Cross

Strategic Framework Objective 2: Persons with disabilities have equal access to the services and programs the Movement provides, enabling their inclusion and full participation

Strategic Objective 3: All components of the Movement endeavour to change mind-sets and behaviours in order to promote respect for diversity, including disability inclusion:

• Experiences in promoting respect for diversity and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Southeast Asia, Leo Pattiasina, Head, Social Service Subdivision, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI)

Reference documents:

• Disability-inclusive Sustainable Development Goals
• Monitoring tool for disability inclusion