Walk for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities_December 2

IN CELEBRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY DAY 2011, Ranil Sorongon, Autism Society of the Philippines Executive Officer, and PWD Walk Program and Invitation Committee, Coordinator forwarded this message to all concerned PWD groups, institutions and advocates:

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 15% of the world’s total population are persons with disabilities. Recognizing the needs of this sector, the United Nations declared December 3 of each year as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities to promote the rights and welfare of this marginalized and often neglected members of society. For this year’s celebration the theme “Together for a Better World for All: Including Persons with Disabilities in Development” was adopted to push for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all development initiatives.

Part of the series of activities of the celebration is a “Walk for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” with a specific theme “Make the Right Real Together for a Better Asia and the Pacific for All” headed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), United Nations Economic and Social Commission in Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), SM Supermalls and Autism Society Philippines (ASP). It will be on December 2 Friday at the Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Registration will start at 7:30AM and the Walk at 10:00AM inside the mall.

More than 3,000 participants coming from international agencies and organizations, persons with disabilities, children with disabilities, parents, advocates, representatives of the Local Government Units and special guests are expected to attend. Free t-shirts and simple snacks will be given on a first come first serve basis to the first 3,000 participants courtesy of the organizers and sponsors of the event.

In relation to this, we are inviting you to join the walk. Kindly bring a banner of your institution for identification and send the list of participants to Ranil Sorongon of ASP.