Jakarta (VNA)༒ – The ASEAN High-Level Forum (AHLF)on Disability-Inclusive Development and Partnership Beyond 2025 opened inMakassar city in Indonesia on October 10.

Speaking at the event, Indonesia’s Social Affairs Minister TriRismaharini said that the progress in achieving disability inclusion in thepast decade in ASEAN countries is not without ongoing challenges. Rismaharini noted that in Indonesia, disability inclusion isintegrated into the National Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities thatregulates the fulfillment of rights of persons with disabilities in varioussectors, including health, employment, and education. "We are still confronted with several challenges ineradicating the stigma and discrimination against persons with disabilities,removing various barriers they face, facilitating their participation invarious fields, and adapting a life cycle approach to fulfilling the rights ofpersons with disabilities," she remarked. Rismaharini calls oncountries to affirm their commitment to a better life for all people withdisabilities, to increase efforts, and to take positive steps towardsrespecting the protection and implementation of the rights of people withdisabilities. Accordingly, ASEAN member countries can deploy the ability todesign public spaces for people with disabilities, and improve the capacity ofrelevant parties as well as the bloc's campaigns to raise awareness about therights of people with disabilities. She emphasised that the forum is not a charity programme forpeople with disabilities, but an investment in human resources, accordingly,people with disabilities need to be cared for and given the same conditions asthose without disabilities. The AHLF on Disability-Inclusive Development and PartnershipBeyond 2025 held from October 10-12 sees the attendance of ASEANSecretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, representatives from ASEAN countries, andinternational and regional organisations. The forum aims to identify the region's challenges in strengtheningdisability-inclusive development and discuss concrete recommendations andaction plans to accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan2025./.