Pre-event for the “ESCAP-Takayama Congress on the Creation of an Inclusive and Accessible Community in Asia and the Pacific: A Town Easy to Live in is a Town Easy to Visit”

Towards the Creation of
an Inclusive, Barrier-free, Harmonious and Prosperous Society

United Nations Work on Accessibility in Asia and the Pacific and
Lessons Learnt from the Experiences of Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the City of Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, will jointly hold a barrier-free summit entitled “ESCAP-Takayama Congress on the Creation of an Inclusive and Accessible Community in Asia and the Pacific: A Town Easy to Live in is a Town Easy to Visit” from 24 to 26 November. In order to make the Congress widely known to the general public, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) will hold a pre-event on Friday 28 August at the United Nations University Headquarters Building under the title of “Towards the Creation of an Inclusive, Barrier-free, Harmonious and Prosperous Society – United Nations Work on Accessibility in Asia and the Pacific and Lessons Learnt form the Experiences of Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.”

The pre-event aims to enhance understanding of the works of the UN in relation to accessibility and the establishment of barrier free environments, as well as to reaffirm the importance of international cooperation and the participation of persons with disabilities in responding to present challenges. It will also introduce the accessible tourism programme initiated by the City of Takayama, and highlight the significance of local-government initiatives in moving forward.

Date / Time:28 August 2009 (Friday), 14:00 – 16:00
Venue: United Nations University Headquarters Building (UN House), Elizabeth Rose Conference Hall (5F)
Organized by:United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Supporter:City of Takayama, Tokyo Office
Participants:UN Agencies, embassies, government officials, NGOs (including disability groups), members of the media
Interpretation:Japanese/English (simultaneous verbal and Japanese sign language interpretation)
Capacity:120 people
Registration: Please let us know of your attandance by the attached fax reply sheet or e-mail by Friday 21 August. Please be informed that administreation ticket will not be issued.

Provisional Programme

14:00 Opening address by Mr. Kiyotaka Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information
14:05-14:25 ESCAP Work on Accessibility and Major Issues on Accessibility in Asia and the Pacific by Ms. Aiko Akiyama, Social Affairs Officer, ESCAP
14:25-14:45Persons with Disabilities, Agents of Change in Improving Accessibility in Asia and the Pacific and the Importance of International Cooperation in the field
by Ms. Venus M. Ilagan, Secretary General, Rehabilitation International
14:45-15:05Barriers Faced by Blind Persons and Participation in Takayama City’s initiatives on Accessible Tourism by Ms. Michiko Kubota, Shizuoka Prefecture Assistance Dogs Support Centre (NPO)
15:05-15:35Local Government Initiative for Building an Inclusive, Barrier-free, Harmonious and Prosperous Community by Mr. Makoto Yamamoto, Takayama City, Tokyo Office
15:35-16:00Q&A Session
16:00Closing remarks by Mr. Atsushi Ueno, Director, Global Issues Cooperation Division, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Mamoru Tsuchino, Mayor of Takayama City