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Efforts in China and the Asia Pacific region to help amputees and other disabled people

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) has declared 2003-2012 as the second Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons: “Towards an Inclusive Society”

Nawang Sherpa and our Friendship Beyond Borders Expedition would like to highlight efforts in this region that provide amputees and other disabled people with the encouragement and opportunities needed to lead productive lives. Some examples are shown below of what is already being done.

We also wish to demonstrate, as the Paralympics do, the power of sport to inspire disabled people and create more integration into society.

China Disabled Persons Federation As the unified organization of and for over 60 million persons with various categories of disabilities in China, the aims of the China Disabled Persons' Federation are to promote humanitarianism, protect the human rights of persons with disabilities, ensure their equal participation in society, help them contribute to economic growth and social development as well as their equal share in the material and culture achievements of the society.

The History of Sport for Persons with a Disability Information from the Beijing 2008 Olympics website.

Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 2003-2012 "As a major initiator of the regional scheme, China is suggesting that the United Nations formulate an international convention on the rights of the handicapped, who account for one-tenth of the world population. UNESCAP has organized a series of activities on the elaboration of a comprehensive and integral international convention on the protection and promotion of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities as well as workshops and meetings on policy measures, information networking and promoting awareness."

Shanghai sports and performing arts training centre for the disabled "The establishment of the centre not only recognizes the remarkable achievements disabled people have fulfilled in sports and the performing arts, but also shows the country's support for gifted disabled people to excel despite their conditions," --Deng Pufang

China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe - "My Dream" Song & Dance Evening (Lyric Theatre) A very popular touring show performed by The China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe. With assistance from the CASI Foundation, the federation sent a group of disabled artists on a good-will performance tour to the United States in 2000.

Shanghai builds more facilities for disabled "There are approximately 520,000 disabled people in the city, or one in every five families on average, according to the Shanghai Disabled Persons' Federation...Shanghai will invest 300 million yuan (US$36 million) in the next four years, aiming to make the city more convenient for the disabled," said Fan Zhaopeng, deputy director of the Shanghai Handicapped-Accessible Facilities Supervision Centre, part of the Shanghai Disabled Persons' Federation.

All handicapped Chinese to enjoy rehabilitative services by 2015 "Five percent of China's population, or over 60 million people, are handicapped, and the government began large-scale efforts to rehabilitate them in the 1980s...By 2010, all the handicapped in cities and developed rural areas will have access to the services, while 70 percent of those living in underdeveloped rural areas will get aid...by 2015, all the handicapped in the country will have access to rehabilitative services."

Donation to help the disabled by Hong Kong's businessman Li Ka-shing A national network funded by Li Ka-shing is aiming to help all disabled Chinese people back on their feet with artificial limbs by 2015.

National Aid to the Disabled Day 2005--Nation pledges to create more jobs On the 2005 National Day of the Disabled, Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu said the country would "redouble its efforts" in creating a better work environment for them. The theme of that day, which falls on the third Sunday of May every year, was "promoting employment for the disabled."

Plans announced on National Aid to the Disabled Day 2004 China plans to allocate 100 million yuan (US$12.05 million) each year for the 2008 Paralympic Games from 2006 to 2008. Construction of infrastructure for the disabled is progressing smoothly throughout the country. "In one sentence, the development of disabled people should be parallel to that of others in China," -- Deng Pufang

Shanghai to host the Special Olympics in 2007 Shanghai will welcome more than 7,000 mentally disabled people from 170 countries and regions to compete in 28 sports in the 2007 world's Special Olympics.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger hands the Special Olympics torch to Deng Pufang Schwarzenegger carried the torch during the ceremony held to celebrate the growth of the Special Olympics in China and focus attention on the Special Olympics World Summer Games which are to be held in Shanghai in 2007.

UN launches book to help the disabled "Deng Pufang, Chairman of China Disabled Persons' Federation and winner of the 2003 United Nations Prize in the Field Of Human Rights, said the Chinese Government and organizations working for disabled people have taken an active role in the formulation of the International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."