Asian U student at the UN

Asian University student attends UN sponsored Conference aimed at helping People with Disabilities

This article was written by Tanes Rianglaem (Nate), a third year BA student at Asian University.

“On September 21-22, 2006 I had the opportunity to attend the Seminar on South to South Cooperation on Disability: Development of APCD Network at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok. The event was hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD). The objective of the seminar was to develop and strengthen the network of People with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Asia and Pacific region.

The participants from various countries, particularly in Asia and the Pacific region, shared interesting facts, ideas and projects which have been completed successfully. They mainly discussed how they can help one another to develop and strengthen the network of PWDs in this region. Many significant topics involving disability issues were also raised during this seminar. The attending participants, they all have the same aim, want to create a barrier-free society for PWDs from the community level through to the global level.

It was my great chance to attend such a valuable event like this. I have gained much experience and knowledge by sharing ideas with other young people, especially on disability issues. Disability issues may be seen as a serious and not pleasurable to look into. In fact, it is very necessary to be more concerned into it.

People with disabilities represent one of the most marginalized groups and that their rights have been routinely ignored or denied throughout much of the world. I as a young person personally believe that we all can make a difference for all PWDs in today’s society by helping to promote the empowerment of PWDs and increasing people’s awareness of disability problems and issues. To create a barrier free society for PWDs needs everybody’s hands working on it, not just organizations that work on disability.”

Picture shows Nate with Ms Lasapan, Chief of Information Support Department, APCD

Tanes Rianglaem (Nate) was chairman of the Community Service Committee, Asian University 2005-2006. Tanes has attended many international conferences and seminars, particularly on social issues. Most of them were hosted by UN agencies such as UNICEF or UNESCAP. Tanes has also been actively participating in social work activities.