TCI engaged in the First Session of the Working Group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2023–2032, held on 3–4 June 2025 at the United Nations Conference Centre.
It was joined by member states and civil society organizations from across the region to discuss the strategic direction and opportunities of the Working Group, review the implementation progress of the Jakarta Declaration including lessons learned and good practices, and contribute to shaping the Group’s operational structure and procedures.
As part of the Working Group, TCI emphasized that our movement of persons with psychosocial disabilities continues to be left out of the economic empowerment initiatives, be it securing employment, running its own businesses, accessing vocational training, accessing livelihood opportunities, or social protection schemes.
When we talk about disability disaggregated data collection, we remain uncounted and excluded from the census systems due to the inappropriate designs of data collection tools. These tools must be developed based on barriers and the participation of persons with disabilities in communities.
In our movement, we say that economic empowerment cannot be realized without meaningful community inclusion. We highlighted that there is a need to move away from welfare models that reinforce dependence. We call and advocate for investing in community-led support, peer-driven innovation, and inclusive social protection and budgeting.
At the working group meeting, we had the opportunity to share models on community inclusion that can and are supporting the economic empowerment of persons with psychosocial disabilities in the region. We call on stakeholders and governments to support such initiatives for inclusive policies, which recognize us as workers, innovators, and leaders. Our economic inclusion is central to our dignity, autonomy, and participation in society, and until we are included, economic justice will remain incomplete.
Waqar Puri United Nations ESCAP Cai Cai 蔡縩 Srinivas Tata
