APEC is committed to empowering people with disabilities

The member economies of APECthrough the Working Group on Human Resources Development, endorsed the Arequipa Objectives, in order to promote impactful progress through policies that empower people with disabilities for sustainable and inclusive growth.

“We must recognize the valuable contribution of people with disabilities to the development of the region,” said Zhao Li, leader of the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG).

“We must ask ourselves whether we have helped create learning and economic opportunities for our own economy and, more importantly, whether we have helped create opportunities for those who are less fortunate than us in the extended APEC family.”

“We are here to seek opportunities to change lives, improve communities and be the voice of the voiceless,” Li added.

Through the Arequipa Goals, member economies will expand participation in education programs for people with disabilities in rural public schools by 2030, in line with the 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Goals.

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“Although APEC has seen a significant amount of progress in this area, there is still much work to do if we want to make our work more relevant to a huge segment of our societies that are still being left out, that still remain invisible, that still remain invisible. “They are outside the scope of our policies and strategies that seek to benefit them,” said Ambassador Carlos Vásquez, 2024 President of the APEC Senior Officials Meeting.

Delivering his speech at Wednesday’s meeting in Arequipa, Ambassador Vásquez reminded members of the people who would like to know the actions APEC is taking to help them reach their full potential, noting that “failing their hopes and Aspirations should not be an option for us.

“With the adoption of the Arequipa Goals, APEC has reached a new milestone, now in favor of people with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region,” added Ambassador Vásquez.

Through the Arequipa Goals, member economies will expand participation in education programs for people with disabilities in schools

APEC economies have made a commitment to gradually expand access to education programs for people with disabilities, empower them to seek employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, and include them in the formal labor market. The objectives seek to increase the percentage of qualified special education teachers in rural areas, as well as improve vocational training programs and the participation of people with disabilities in these programs by 2030.

Members will also promote policies aimed at increasing the participation of people with disabilities in the formal labor market by 2030 and highlight the productive role they play and the contributions they make to economic growth.

“The future of any economy depends on how it nurtures its human talent and spirit,” said Dr. Rebecca Sta Maria, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat.

«No APEC working group can achieve success if it does not pay the necessary attention to its talent. With the Arequipa Goals, the HRDWG has set a standard for us in APEC to promote equality and inclusion of people with disabilities, recognizing their valuable contributions to the development of the region,” added Dr. Sta Maria.

Member economies will also strive to expand social protection coverage for persons with disabilities, including those in rural areas and informal sectors, by 2030.