International and regional instruments relevant to accessible tourism and disability by Aiko Akiyama

1. International and regional instruments relevant to accessible tourism and disability
Aiko Akiyama
Emerging Social Issues Division
ESCAP

2. Three documents Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
BiwakoMillennium Framework for Action towards and Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society.
BiwakoPlus Five

3. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) First disability-specific human rights treatylegally bindingprinciple: equality and non-discriminationhave the same rights on equal basis with non-disabled persons in civil, political, socio, economic and cultural domains of life. 50 articles.

4. Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
What does it mean? Take an example of traveling experience.
Access to information, services, transportation, facilities
Accessibility (Article 9)
Access to assistive devices, technologies, live assistance and intermediaries.
Personal Mobility (Article 20)

5. Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
What does it mean? Take an example of traveling experience.
Being a part of local festival, enjoying sports match, traveling.
Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport (Article 30)

6. Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
Governments have to take measures to ensure therealization of all these rights.
This convention obligates States to take measuresto any person, organization or private enterprise.

7. BiwakoMillennium Framework
for Action towards and Inclusive,
Barrier-free and Rights-based
Society.
•Regional guideline on policies and actions on disability, within a framework of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, from 2003 to 2012. -Time-bound document.
•Principle: inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based
•7 priority areas

9. BiwakoPlus Five
•Supplement to the Biwako, valid until 2012.
•Stress “disability-inclusive development”
•Stress “rights-based approach”
•Stress the implementation of laws and policies.
•States “take appropriate measures to promote accessible tourism.”under the area of access to built environments and public transport.

10. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Biwako2012
2007CRPDBiwako2015
2003
2000BiwakoPlus Five

11. Positive changes to be expected from implementing these documents
A new understanding: Making environment accessible is a matter of rights. “Inaccessible”might be illegal. “Barrier-free”society is for all =“inclusive.” New policiesMore accessible environment, services More benefit to the business

12. Impact of the implementing these documentsEx. TAKAYAMA, Gifu, Japan24
2007©Hida-TakayamaTokyo Office

13. TakayamaCity –Example #1Construction of Barrier-free Intersections
2007©Hida-TakayamaTokyo Office

14. TakayamaCity –Example #2
Installation of Wheelchair-Friendly
Restrooms
2007©Hida-TakayamaTokyo Office

15. TakayamaCity –Example #3
Transportation SupportFree use of electric scooters, wheelchairs, etc. In the TownHidaFolk Village
Sign promoting free use of strollers, wheelchairs, and scooters
2007©Hida-TakayamaTokyo Office

16. TakayamaCity –Example #4
Support for Visual and Hearing DisabilitiesInformation in BrailleSign-language AnimationPlease choose facilities that want to see.
2007©Hida-TakayamaTokyo Office

17. TakayamaCity –Example #5
Multi-lingual City Signage for Tourists
2007©Hida-TakayamaTokyo Office

18. TakayamaCity –Example #6
Taxis for the Disabled
About 30 Wheelchair Access Taxis Supporting the City
2007©Hida-TakayamaTokyo Office

19. TakayamaCity –Example #7
Large-Lettering and Color Contrast
2007©Hida-TakayamaTokyo Office

20. Impact-a case in Takayama
•Economic effect
•-Number of visitors:
•2.08 millions in 1993 to 3.18 millions in 2002
•-Amount of Consumption by visitors:
•30.85billion yen in 1993 to 53.66billion yen
in 2002 (73.9% up)

21. Impact –a case in Takayama
Lady in Wheelchair Enjoys the Friendly
Morning Market
2007©Hida-TakayamaTokyo Office

22. Conclusion
•Ratification of the Convention and implementation, Biwakoand the BiwakoPlus Five.
–Once 20 Governments ratifies, CRPD takes effect.
•National application of the Convention, Biwakoand the BiwakoPlus Five.
–Laws (anti-discrimination law on disability) policies, accessibility code)
–Awareness raising

23. BIWAKO

24. Let’s continue to work together
http://www.un.org/disabilities/UNESCAP Disability
Website:
http://unescap.org/esid/psis/disability/index.asp