Mission to the Republic of Vanuatu
7 - 13 March 2004
APCD Mission with Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Edward Nipake Natapei in Vanuatu
The APCD mission team undertook a mission to the Republic of Vanuatu via Australia from 7-13 March 2004, and identified the Prime Minister's Office as the Government's focal point organization. The Honorable Mr. Edward Nipake Natapei, Prime Minister was very interested in the APCD program and is planning to set up a Disability Desk at the Prime Minister's Office including the establishment of a National Coordinating Council on Disability, which will serve as the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Disability for the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu.
The mission team also identified the Disability Promotion and Advocacy Association (DPA) as the NGO focal point in Vanuatu, chaired by Mr. John Suran. APCD acknowledged that this is the only organization of PWDs in Vanuatu and the umbrella organization for all kinds of activities of PWDs. The mission team visited the Vanuatu Society for Disabled People (VSDP) and VANDISPORTS, an informal sports club for PWDs, which is under the umbrella of VSDP. They met with Mr. Nikenike Vurobaravu and Mr. Alastair Wilkinson, the Head and Regional Advisor on Social Development and Planning of the ESCAP Pacific Operations Centre (ESCAP/ EPOC) respectively. APCD and ESCAP/EPOC discussed future collaboration on social development issues for PWDs in countries of the Pacific Oceania area especially as information networking focal/associate organizations.
A highlight and honour for the mission team was attending the Presentation Ceremony of the Pacific Human Rights Award to the Disability Promotion and Advocacy Association (DPA) sponsored by the Fiji Human Rights Commission and Vanuatu Human Rights Organization.
