Mission Report to Fiji
2 - 7 March 2003
An APCD mission team went to Suva,Republic of The Fiji Islands from 2 to 7 March 2003 and met with five Governmental Organizations, and nine Non- governmental Organizations.
The mission team with repressentatives from PWDS Group
The mission team met with Mr. Setareki Macanawai, Vice-chairperson of Disabled Peoples' International, Asia-Pacific Oceania Sub-regional Office and members of Fiji Disabled Peoples' Association. Both organizations are priority Non-governmental Organizations for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Fiji. Fiji Disabled Peoples' Association agreed to serve as the NGO focal point organization.
The mission team met with Hon. Ms. Adi Asenaca Caucau Filipe, Minister, Ministry of Women, Social Welfare, and Poverty Alleviation, who plays an important role on disability-related issues and works closely with Non-governmental Organizations on these issues. The APCD team also met with Mr. Rishi Ram, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and Director
of the Fiji National Council of Disabled Persons (FNCDP), which is the focal point for Governmental Organizations for PWDs. Representatives of Non-governmental Organizations were also Council members.
Ms. Surapee and Hon. Ms. Adi Asenaca Caucau Filipe, Minister, Ministry of Women, Social Welfare, and Poverty Alleviation
Dr. Helen Tavola, Social Policy Adviser, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), who associates with 14 countries in the South Pacific and works closely with the UNESCAP Oceania Sub-regional Office in Vanuatuon disability-related issues also met with the mission team.
The APCD team met with 20 teachers from the Special Education Teachers' Association to exchange information and share the concept of APCD. They expressed interest in networking with APCD both in the training implementation and information exchange.
