Announcement 

In Association With

Ministry of Social Welfare

Government of the People’s

Republic of Bangladesh

Monsur Ahmed Choudhuri

Chairperson

Conference Committee

Khandaker Jahurul Alam

Co-Chairperson

Conference Committee

A H M Noman Khan

Secretary

Conference Committee

Message

From the Honorable Advisor

Ministry of Social Welfare,

Women & Children Affairs,

Industries, Jute & Textiles

Government of the People’s

Republic of Bangladesh

As a citizen of Bangladesh, I feel proud that we are hosting the 3rd General Assembly & Conference of Asia Pacific Disability Forum (APDF) in Dhaka, Bangladesh jointly organized by National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD) and APDF in association with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of Bangladesh.

The theme of this Conference “Disability & Development – Practical Strategies” is very timely. We have to be more practical and result oriented for the sustainable development of persons with disabilities. I hope the expert participants from different countries can find out the appropriate way to reach the goal of smooth inclusion for persons with disabilities into the mainstream society.

I consider disability as nothing but a part of human diversity. Persons with disabilities deserve the right to lead a social life that others have. They also have the right to a barrier free environment in every aspect of their lives. I believe that, we all are working to ensure full and effective participation of all persons with disabilities in the society on an equal basis with others.

Development of persons with disabilities is one of the major priority areas of the Government of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, the Government and the non-government organizations are working together in the area of disability. This is a matter of pride that the working relationship between NFOWD and the Ministry of Social Welfare is recognized as the best practice of GO-NGO collaboration in this region.

I congratulate Asia Pacific Disability Forum (APDF), the most prestigious international network of NGOs working with disability in this region, for providing us the opportunity to execute our traditionally well-reputed hospitality. We are eagerly waiting to welcome the soldiers of the disability movement from different parts of the world. The Ministry of Social Welfare feels proud to take proper initiatives on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh to make the event a grand success.

Thank you all and best wishes.

Geeteara Safiya Choudhury.

Message

From the Secretary

Ministry of Social Welfare

Government of the People’s

Republic of Bangladesh

I am delighted that National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD) and the Asia Pacific Disability Forum (APDF) are jointly organizing the 3rd General Assembly & Conference of Asia Pacific Disability Forum (APDF) from 27th to 29th February, 2008 in Dhaka, Bangladesh in association with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of Bangladesh. This is the first time that the event is being held outside South-East Asia. This is pleasing for us to host such a prestigious event in this country.

The theme of this Conference “Disability & Development – Practical Strategies” will be helpful to reach out a consensus viewpoint on practical and achievable road map regarding the development of persons with disabilities in this Region. After the adoption of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, this type of international event becomes more significant as the convention elevated the disability movement into a major global issue.

The Government of Bangladesh is highly committed to the development of persons with disabilities. But we do not want to remain confined with our views on Bangladesh only. In order to develop the persons with disabilities and to help them facing the future challenges, we need to broaden our views now and look up to other countries who have excelled in their efforts. We may be a small country with limited natural resources. But in our limited capacities, we also have some successes that could be a good learning exercise for others. A conference of this sort is always a good learning-sharing platform for development practitioners from across the world. If we join forces together based on our collective learning, and if we can build our human resources to face the future, we could also make a mark.

The Ministry of Social Welfare and NFOWD are working hand in hand to ensure a successful event. However, let us not forget the contribution and support that is being provided by other Ministries and Departments of the Government of Bangladesh towards this end, to ensure a smooth sailing.

Traditionally Bangladesh is a hospitable nation. We are waiting to welcome the overseas participants as well as the participants from Bangladesh in this conference. We hope that this will be a memorable and productive event for all.

Wish you all the best.

M A Hye Howlader.

Introducing the Hosts

Asia Pacific Disability Forum (APDF):

The Asia Pacific Disability Forum (APDF), of which members consist of over 30 national and regional disability organizations, was established as a new regional disability NGO network in the Asian and Pacific region at its Inaugural Meeting in Singapore in November 2003. It replaced the former Regional NGO Network on Disability (RNN), which was established in 1993 to promote the 1st Asian & Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (1993 – 2002) through organizing an annual campaign meeting in a country in the region on a rotational basis.

The major objectives of APDF are (a) to promote the 2nd Asian & Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (2003-2012) through the implementation of Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF) for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free & Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia & the Pacific, and (b) to promote the earlier ratification & implementation of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 13, 2006.

Its main activities are (a) to organize a biennial Conference to promote BMF in close collaboration with UNESCAP, and (b) to actively participate in the BMF Stakeholders’ Coordination Meeting (BMF-SCM) of UNESCAP, annually held at the UNESCAP Headquarters, and other relevant meetings, etc.

The 2008 Conference at Dhaka is the first conference of APDF to be held in South Asia, including those meetings having been organized by RNN since 1993.

National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD):

National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD), the national disability think-tank, is the apex federating body of NGOs working with people with disabilities in the country. It is registered with the Government of Bangladesh as the only national network of NGOs in the country.

Initiating in 1991 with only 22 member organizations it now has a membership strength of 253 local, national and international organizations, with many more waiting to be included. The Forum is concerned with looking into matters regarding the rights & opportunities of people with disabilities in Bangladesh. It is the body that has earned the capacity and the recognition to play a leading role in national level coordination in Bangladesh, and as a result has been included as an Executive Member in the National Social Welfare Council & the National Foundation for the Development of Disabled Persons, and as a Member in the National Coordination Committee and the National Executive Committee on Disability constituted under the guidance of the Disability Welfare Act 2001. It is also a member of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Disability, and the Committee under the Ministry of Social Welfare to ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities in the national poverty reduction strategies & policies based on the national Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).

The Forum principally works in three areas; (a) coordination amongst its member organizations, (b) national level awareness raising and sensitization, and (c) policy advocacy and influencing work, and its principal relationship is with the government of Bangladesh, and also large donors.

UNESCAP has recognized its linkages with the Ministry of Social Welfare as one of the best practices of GO-NGO collaboration in the disability development sector in the Region.

The Venue

The premises of the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center (BCFCC) have been selected to host this Conference. Located at the heart of the city, the venue is a center of excellence for any large international level conferences. Its location, far away from the busy roads makes it an ideal venue for a gathering of this sort. All sessions, including concurrent sessions will be accommodated in one building, which also is adequately accessible to people using wheelchairs.

For overseas participants who will be residing in facilities arranged by the Organizers, which will be far away from the venue, adequate transportation will be arranged for pick-up and drop in the mornings and the afternoons respectively.

Program Information

The three-day program has been tentatively scheduled as follows. A detail schedule would be provided in coming Announcements.

Following the sessions on the second day, the programs will include a cultural program.  

On the third and final day the Closing Ceremony will be followed by an official Banquet.

Registration

All those wishing to attend the Conference, including the Paper Presenters, must complete the Registration Form as instructed below.

A.  E-mail

In order to ensure that your registration information is processed quickly and correctly, registration by e-mail (using the attached Registration Form) is recommended for all the participants coming from abroad. However, this will complete only part of the registration formalities. To complete your Registration, you will need to pay your Registration Fees as specified below (please see "Method of Payment").

B.  Mailing/Fax/Hand Delivery

If you are an in-country participant, or if you are (a participant registering from abroad, but) unable to register through e-mail, please fill out the attached Registration Form and return the completed Registration Form to the Conference Secretariat. Please note that all Accompanying Personal Attendants will have to register as ‘a participant’ by paying full registration fee.

Registration will be deemed incomplete without payment of Registration Fees

Registration Fees will be charged as follows:

Deadline of Registration for Reduced Fee: August 31, 2007 and all registration will close on Friday, November 30, 2007.

Payment must be received by August 31, 2005 in order for registrant to be qualified for the reduced fee. If you wish to pay by bank transfer, you are strongly advised to forward the payment early. The bank remittance receipt will be accepted as proof of the day you transferred the money (see "Method of Payment" below).

Registration Fees will include entry to the Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, a Cultural Program, a working lunch and two snacks daily for three days, Conference Kits, Abstracts, Programs, Documents, round-the-clock e-mail and internet access at the venue. For the overseas participants only registration will also include pick-up & drop services between airport, accommodation facility & all official venues.

Method of Payment of Registration Fees

In-country participants are strongly advised to submit their completed Registration Forms and pay the specified amount of Registration Fees directly at the NFOWD Secretariat. A Money Receipt will be handed over immediately upon submission of the fees

Bank Transfer

Participants coming from abroad are strongly advised to submit their completed Registration Forms by e-mail and pay the specified amount of Registration Fees to the NFOWD Secretariat by Bank Transfer. In-country participants who cannot hand-deliver their forms are advised to mail their forms Under Certificate of Posting or through Registered Post. Registration Fees should be submitted to the NFOWD Office, either by Demand Draft or Pay Order, in favor of National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled by such in-country participants.

Participants are responsible for all bank transfer charges. You are requested to send a copy of the bank remittance receipt with the registration form. The participants coming from abroad, who cannot submit the fees by bank transfer, for unavoidable circumstances, can submit the fees (only in cash) at the Registration Desk at the Accommodation venue prior to collecting the Conference kits.

Bank Name: Standard Chartered Bank, Dhanmondi Branch, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Account Name: National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD)

Current Account Number: 01-1247786-01

Swift Code Number: SCBLBDDX

Bank Address: House # 11, Road # 5, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Tel +880-2-8613507, 8614240, 9669096

The remitter's name should be the same as the participant's name.

If the name is different, please inform the NFOWD Secretariat of the names of both the remitters and the participants.

Note:

For overseas participants, wishing to beat the August 31^st deadline for reduced fees, but who cannot send the payment by bank transfer in time, should inform the Secretariat accordingly during registration. In that case, you will be charged the reduced amount, even if you are paying your fees upon arrival at Dhaka.

We cannot unfortunately honor Credit Cards.

Confirmation of Registration

Upon receipt of the Registration Form and your payment, the Conference Secretariat will send a registration card with your registration number. Please present the card to receive the Conference materials and your Name Tag.

Participants coming from abroad will be able to collect the Conference Kits at their respective accommodation facility upon arrival. Those who arrive on February 5^th 2008 or onwards, will be able to collect their Kits at the conference venue upon arrival.

In-country participants will be informed directly on when, where and how they can collect their Kits.

Due to safety & security reasons, no person shall be admitted at the Conference venues without the specified conference Name Tag, as only this would be treated as your Identity Card.

Cancellation

Notice of cancellation should be sent in writing to the NFOWD Secretariat. Refund of the registration fee will be made as follows:

Cancellation received by January 15, 2008  50% refund

            (Handling charge will be deducted)

Cancellation received after January 15, 2008  No refund

Please note that all refunds will be made after the Conference.

Safety & Security

Organizing such a large event, especially involving so many overseas participants, naturally calls for extra special safety & security measures. Keeping this in mind, the organizers will be taking some necessary safety & security measures prior to, during and immediately after the three-day event.

The organizers shall arrange a series of meetings with the Government of Bangladesh in this regard. With the assistance of the relevant authorities of the Government, adequate number of security personnel will be deployed at the conference venue and all the venues earmarked for accommodation of the overseas participants. In addition to that, a private security establishment shall be hired for additional measures, which will be equipped with scanners and metal detectors at the conference & accommodation venue.

As such, if any participant is willing to bring in any electrical and/or electronic device apart from laptops, cameras (still and/or movie, mechanical and/or digital), calculators, cell phones, recording instruments, motorized mobility/assistive devices etc., to the Conference venue, a prior notification to the Secretariat will be deeply appreciated.

We recognize and sincerely apologize for the fact that this may cause a little hindrance to free movement while entering in and around the conference venue. But considering the highest possible safety & security of all personnel & property concerned with the Conference, it is a necessity that we cannot hope to do without.

Your safety & security is at the top of our agenda. Your cooperation and understanding in this regard will be ardently solicited.

Language

English will be used as the common official language during the proceedings of all working sessions and events of the Conference. However, if any overseas participant is not well conversant in English, and therefore prefers simultaneous interpretation of the proceedings in any other international language, the organizers shall try to accommodate the facility, if notified in advance.

Considering the need of sign language users, the organizers shall arrange interpreters well conversant in American Sign Language (ASL). However, recognizing the dearth of qualified ASL interpreters in the country, the organizers will appreciate the support from volunteers. For in-country sign language users, sign supported Bangla interpreters shall be available throughout the official events.

Call For Papers

Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Abstracts

Choose a Sub-Theme:

To support the main theme of the Conference, the Scientific Committee has identified a set of sub-thematic areas, including a set of topics that could be covered under each of the sub-thematic areas. These are as follows:

Participants, who wish to present papers, should select from any of these sub-themes.

Size of Abstracts and Papers:

The abstract should be prepared within two hundred and fifty words and should touch on the major areas of the main paper. The main paper should not exceed six-pages with 1.5 line spacing using Arial 12 sized fonts.

Contents:

Papers should be based on practical experiences, and not only on hypothesis. It should cover on situation, practices, experiences and learning. Good practices in any country will be given preference while selecting abstracts for final presentation.

Submission of Abstracts:

Please submit Abstracts using the specified form only. Fax or photocopies will also be accepted. However, it is advisable to send the Abstracts by E-mail or hand delivery. Where that is not possible, it could be mailed by Express mail, Under Certificate of Posting, or Registered Post.

Selection, Notification and Presentation:

The Scientific Committee will select papers for presentations on the basis of the contents and merit. The decision of the Scientific Committee in this regard will be treated as final.

Selected paper presenters shall be notified by E-mail (or Registered Post, where E-mail is not possible) by Sunday, September 30^th 2007.

Deadline for Submission of Abstracts & Papers:

Abstracts should reach the Secretariat by Friday, the 31st of August 2007

Full Papers should reach the Secretariat by Thursday, the 15th of August 2007