FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION IN JAKARTA

Jakarta - 3 March 2020 | ASEAN Disability Forum (ADF) has held the focus group discussion successfully with underrepresented groups with persons with disabilities. The focus group discussion aimed to discuss and collect input from the underrepresented groups of persons with disabilities regarding the promotion, protection, and fulfillment on the rights of persons with disabilities as mandated in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Indonesia.

Some underrepresented groups attended the discussion represented by the Indonesian Association of Women with Disabilities (HWDI), the Association of Mental Health (PJS), the Indonesian Leprosy and Disability Movement (GPDLI), the Indonesian Down Syndrome Foundation (YAPESDI), and the Association of Indonesian Deaf-Blind (PELITA), and the ASEAN Disability Forum itself. Each representation of the group discusses five issues concerning the rights, livelihood, and well-being of persons with disabilities in Indonesia.

The issues discussed by participants are extracted from sustainable development goals, namely, health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, employment, and sustainable and smart cities. The participants emphasized that the measures and policies adopted by the government had not sufficient to protect and fulfill the rights of persons with disabilities, mainly the geographical and infrastructure gaps are unequal throughout the Indonesian region. The medical model also hampers the changing paradigm within the government apparatus and society that causes stigma and discrimination remains to happen.

The result of focus group discussion will be reported and formulated as the close-up report with underrepresented groups with regards to the enjoyment of the rights for persons with disabilities in five countries, namely, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, and the Philippines. This report will be launched mid this year after the pandemic outbreak disappear. (The ADF Secretariat)