Present:
WFD RSA/P Director Mr. Eiichi Takada Bangladesh Mr. Feroz Ahmed Mr. K. M. Zahid Hassan Hong Kong Mr. Sung Ah Man Mr. Choi Wai Hung India Mr. Onkar N. Sharma Mr. Deepak Prasad Sahay Japan Mr. Yutaka Osugi Mr. Takeo Ogura Korea Mr. Se-Joon An Mr. Yoon Ho Kim Macau Mr. Cheong Kong Chi Ms. Lok Leng Lao Malaysia Mr. Mohomad Sazali Shaari Ms. Sariah Ibrahim Mongolia Mr. Lhagvajav Dashdendev Mr. T. Tsedenbal Nepal Mr. Raghav Bir Joshi Mr. Binaya Bahador Basnet New Zealand Mr. Anthony Walton Pakistan Mr. Muneeb Mansoor Ms. Yasmeen Akhtar Philippines Ms. Maritess Racquel A. Estiller Mr. Julius G. Andrada Singapore Mr. Lim Chin Heng Ms. Low Jarn May Thailand Mr. Bonlert Khanapornworakarn Ms. Nilawan Pitipat
Observers:
WFD President Dr. Liisa Kauppinen WFD Vice President Mr. Leonard A. Mitchell Sweden Ms. Kerstin Kjellberg Thailand Mr. Anucha Ratanasint Laos Ms. Oudalay Rangsy Ms. Vilaihong Inkhamhuang Vietnam Mr. Le Huu Thang Mr. Pham Van Hai Ngo Thi Thanh Van
<<Day 1 (Dec. 8) >>
1. Opening Address by Mr. Eiichi Takada (Director, WFD RSA/P)
Mr. Takada expressed his pleasure that the delegates of fourteen member countries were present, which is the largest number of attending countries ever for WFD RSA/P. Furthermore, he expressed his great excitement that the representatives of Vietnam and Laos were able to attend the meeting. "The National Association of the Deaf started small, but has now grown to a large and strong organization. This is proven by the fact that they have supported the participation of Laos and Vietnam, which is a great achievement. Although it is a disappointment that Myanmar and Cambodia could not participate because of the decision of their governments, this is the type of cooperation that improves the status of the Deaf, and for this cooperation, it is necessary for us to actively exchange and discuss our views and ideas at these meetings" said Mr. Takada.
2. Welcome Speech by Mr. Anucha Ratanasint (President, NADT)
Mr. Ratanasint taught the meeting participants the sign for "Ayutthaya" and gave a simple introduction to the city's history. Next, he explained how NADT had become the host of the 13th WFD RSA/P Representative Meeting, and said "We were quite worried because this was our first attempt to host a large-scale international meeting. I am greatly looking forward to exchanging information and growing our friendship during these three days." A video was then shown which introduced the history of NADT, including footage of NADT's offices, computer training, motorcycle and car driving lessons, Thai Sign Language books, and woodwork and art created by the Deaf. Before ending his speech, Mr. Ratanasint introduced the executive members of NADT.
3. Addresses: Dr. Liisa Kauppinen (President, WFD)
Dr. Kauppinen explained that this was her fourth time to attend the WFD RSA/P Representative Meetings, and said "I have been constantly observing the efforts of NADT, and have been amazed at their strength and growth during the recent years. I am also very impressed with the activeness of the Deaf community in the Asia/Pacific region, also Mr. Takada's devotion toward its development." She informed the participants that Mr. Kang of Korea has joined the WFD Board, and together with Mr. Takada, that the Board now has two members from the Asia/Pacific region. "I also feel great pleasure that WFD can carry out its activities in close cooperation with the Asia/Pacific region," she added.
Address from Ms. Kerstin Kjellberg (SDR)
Ms. Kjellberg's address was postponed as she will be joining the meeting on the 9th.
4. Roll Call / Self Introduction
The delegations from the 14 member countries, and furthermore Vietnam and Laos, introduced themselves to the other participants. Countries absent from the meeting were Australia, China, Indonesia, Iran, and Sri Lanka. The Secretariat did not receive a notice of absence from Indonesia, Iran, and Sri Lanka.
Next, WFD Vice President Mr. Mitchell introduced himself and said, "This is my second attendance to the Asia/Pacific Representative Meeting in succession to the meeting in Brisbane, and I will use this opportunity to learn about your region. Canada will be hosting the World Congress of the Deaf in 2003, and I would like to invite all countries present today to participate. Dr. Kauppinen has an extreme amount of experience and knowledge, so please use this opportunity to learn much from her as I have done along the years working together with her."
Mr. Takada requested that each country do their best to prepare the funds needed to attend the next World Congress, and asked Canada to provide support to attending countries as widely as possible. He then introduced the staff members of NADT that made great efforts to prepare for the Representative Meeting.
<<30 minute break>>
5. Briefing on Meeting Schedule
Mr. Takada explained the three-day schedule of the meeting, and confirmed that there were no objections.
6. Minutes of Previous Meeting (Appendix)
The minutes of the previous meeting in Brisbane, Australia were approved.
7. Adoption of Agenda
The Agenda was approved.
8. Reports on Activities
Before the report from the Director, WFD President Dr. Kauppinen presented a report on the activities of WFD.
Dr. Kauppinen reported on five subjects: 1) the WFD secretariat and its publications, 2) WFD regions such as the Asia/Pacific and Africa, 3) the United Nations, 4) world population, and 5) technology for the Deaf.
Dr. Kauppinen explained that WFD was established in Rome by 17 countries, and has now grown to 120 member countries. The WFD secretariat was located in Rome for over 30 years, and was transferred to Finland in 1987. As the number of WFD member countries increased, the human and financial resources needed to support the Secretariat grew accordingly. The secretariat was then relocated to the International Disability Center in France that was established from the funds of the "U.N. Decade of Disabled Persons." However, funding was soon discontinued, which left WFD no choice but to relocate the secretariat again. The Sweden Association of the Deaf accepted to set up and fund the WFD secretariat in its own offices, with further support from other countries. Currently, the WFD secretariat is located in Finland.
WFD publishes WFD News, which is sent out to countries all over the world. Another task of the Secretariat is the compilation of a manual on organizations of the Deaf, which was first published in 1993. Currently, the secretariat is working on a revised version of this manual that will include information on managing an organization, establishing links with other countries, Sign Language interpreter services, Sign Language education, and education for the Deaf. The manual will also be useful for acquiring funding from governments. The revised manual will be posted on the WFD website shortly, and will be distributed at the World Congress in Canada in six different languages.
Of the eight regions of the world, six are widely represented in WFD. The regions are Asia/Pacific, Central America and the Caribbean, East and South Africa, East Europe and Central Asia, South America, and Europe. The Arab region has also been requesting to become an affiliate with WFD, but the region's administrative officers are mostly hearing persons. Arab has 22 states, and there are still few Deaf leaders that could lead the future Deaf community. WFD has given the Arab region a chance to become a WFD member as an interim Regional Secretariat. Furthermore, one of the new WFD Board members is from Kuwait. The regions most strongly represented in the Assembly are Asia/Pacific and Europe. Canada, America, and Mexico are planning to establish a region. Sweden, Finland, and Denmark have been providing support to the African region, allowing a regional meeting to be held in regular intervals. In some countries in Africa, there are well-trained Deaf leaders who play a strong role in their Deaf community in spite of their countries poor conditions.
Dr. Kauppinen has been meeting with other international disability organizations as a member of the International Disability Alliance, together with Mr. Takada. The two are also members of the U.N. Panel of Experts for the Special Rapporteur on Disability. While various countries are working to follow the U.N. Standard Rules, there are many countries that try to completely ignore them. The U.N. has been working to decrease the number of these countries, and disability organizations must also pressure their governments to follow the U.N. Standard Rules. It is written in the Standard Rules that the disabled must be directly involved in the planning process of programs that are related to them. For the Deaf, one of the main problems is the low recognition of Sign Language, so it is necessary to urge the government to recognize its importance. The Deaf cannot effectively participate in meetings if information is not provided in Sign Language. Cooperation between different disability organizations is a must. WFD is doing its best to promote the Standard Rules, and the member countries of the Asia/Pacific region must do the same.
According to the statistics released by the U.N., the population in Asia is rapidly growing, while the population in Europe is descending. Problems with increased demand for water, food, and energy are expected in the near future. All developing countries are facing problems with their health and socioecomic situations. Poor Deaf persons have fewer opportunities than wealthy Deaf persons, and this makes them even more vulnerable to discrimination. The U.N. programs are working to relieve these problems.
The fifth subject is technology. Development of technology to enable Deaf persons to hear through medical treatment is progressing, and results are expected by 2002. One such treatment is gene therapy, which is being experimented by doctors now. It is expected that beyond 2002, many doctors will take interest in medical treatment for the Deaf.
The birth rate of Deaf babies will decrease, but the overall population of Deaf persons (60 million) is not expected to change in the near future. It is possible that genetic treatment could be provided in the future, but cochlear implants are an issue we are facing today. WFD has a policy for dealing with this issue, and we must cooperate with our governments and the U.N. as working alone is not enough.
* Question from Singapore: I understand the issue with cochlear implants, but could you tell us the name of the genetic treatment?
* Dr. Kauppinen: It somewhat similar to a transgender treatment, but I am not sure of its formal name. I will inform you when I receive this information. I also do not know if the current results of the experiments are positive. However, it is clear that visual treatment technology has developed far more rapidly.
* Mr. Takada: The most serious problem is that human ethics tend to be forgotten in the process of technology advancement. We need to cooperate widely in regards to the development of medical technology.
* Question from the Philippines: Did Deaf women participate in the conference on women's rights held in China in 1995?
* Dr. Kauppinen: Deaf women from Europe, America, and Africa attended the meeting. In September last year, Deaf women were trained by the U.N. in New York to work as volunteers in Africa, Latin America, and Europe. All organizations of the Deaf should establish programs for Deaf women in order to achieve equality with men. Surveys conducted by the U.N. show that various countries still continue to suppress women's rights and their status in society. Since the WFD General Secretary Ms. Carol-lee Aquiline handles human rights issues, she can provide you more detailed information.
* Question from Nepal: How does WFD feel in regards to the fact that Deaf persons may be eliminated through gene therapy beyond 2002? I believe that WFD should develop a new policy on gene therapy in order to protect the rights of Deaf children.
* Dr. Kauppinen: I agree with your suggestion. However, Deaf children will have the opportunity to choose if they would like to be treated or not. As long as the profit of doctors is not given precedence, there is no possibility that the Deaf community will completely disappear. Even if the population of Deaf persons decreases, WFD will continue to exist in order to support them.
* Mr. Takada: There is no problem with technological advances that would enable all Deaf persons to hear in the future. The real problem lies in how the social standing of Deaf persons in society is kept low, and this is what WFD must work on to resolve.
* India: In our country, it is said that being able to speak is most important, and that cochlear implants are desirable. However, we believe that there is no problem with being Deaf. If a child is born Deaf, the child should be given the right to live as a Deaf person.
8.1. Report from Director of WFD RSA/P (Appendix)
Mr. Takada presented his report. (included in appendix)
8.2. Reports from WFD RSA/P Member Countries
8.2.1 Australia
Absent. The country report from the Australian Association of the Deaf was distributed at the meeting.
8.2.2 Bangladesh
Since the report paper from Bangladesh was not handed out, the report was postponed.
8.2.3 China (Appendix)
Absent. The country report from the China Association of the Deaf had been previously distributed. (included in appendix)
8.2.4 Hong Kong (Appendix)
The Hong Kong Association of the Deaf presented their report. (included in appendix)
* Question from India: How has your relationship with China changed? Are you still recognized as a separate country?
* Mr. Takada: The U.N. still recognizes Hong Kong as an independent country. China should have reported on this issue, but is absent at this meeting.
* Dr. Kauppinen: In your report, I feel uncomfortable with the usage of the term "hearing impaired." WFD has agreed with the World Federation of Hard of Hearing People that we should use the term "Deaf." WHO has also defined the difference between the Deaf and hard of hearing people. The Deaf are classified by spoken language, sign language, and written language, while hard of hearing people are classified by their hearing (decibel) level.
* Question from Japan: Please give us an explanation of item 1.8 in your report, on "Education and Related Support Services."
* Hong Kong: The number of Deaf children is decreasing, which also means that the number of Deaf children receiving education is decreasing accordingly. This causes the education costs per Deaf child to grow, which leads to integration into hearing schools. Integration is a government policy. It is difficult for the Deaf to learn in this type of environment, but the government is considering various ways to provide an equal level of education.
* Mr. Takada: Deaf education is a very important issue for us, and we must continue to carefully consider how to promote it.
8.2.5 India (Appendix)
The India Association of the Deaf presented their report. (included in appendix)
* Question from the Philippines: In item 6 of your report, it is written that the Deaf cannot receive discounts for airfare, but the Blind can. Is this because the Deaf do not receive support from the government?
* India: Physically disabled persons and blind persons receive a 50% discount since they require an assistant. However, a 50% discount is provided to the Deaf for train and bus fares. For the physically disabled and blind, a discount for the assistant is also provided.
* Philippines: Since your government should have a policy on supporting persons with disabilities, I feel that you should firmly appeal to the government for equal support for the Deaf.
8.2.6 Indonesia
Absent. No report submitted.
8.2.7 Iran
Absent. No report submitted.
8.2.8 Japan (Appendix)
The Japanese Federation of the Deaf presented their report (included in appendix). In addition, a document was distributed on financial support to foreign countries by the government of Japan. The representatives of Japan urged the other countries to read the document carefully and to apply to the Japanese embassy for support. The Japanese Federation of the Deaf will cooperate in all ways possible.
* Question from Singapore: Although Japan plays a large role as a leader in the Asia/Pacific region, Japan does not propose strong initiatives such as those of Malaysia. I feel that Japan is not taking the necessary actions as a leader.
* Japan: The Japanese Federation of the Deaf has 47 member associations which widely attend international meetings, learn from them, and bring back new knowledge for promotion in the country. Although we are not making leaps in progress, we are steadily moving forward. Japan is doing its best so that we can propose strong initiatives in the near future.
* Question from Singapore: Deaf youth camps were held in Australia and Malaysia, but there were no participants from Japan. Why don't the Deaf youths from Japan participate, regardless of the great opportunity to increase their capacities as leaders?
* Japan: Some of the Deaf youths in Japan feel that they have enough opportunities, and have not shown interest toward activities of Deaf organizations. However, discrimination does exist, and we believe that training and exchange to become a leader is required. We hope that the Japanese youth continue to be invited to these camps so that they may increase their participation in the future.
* Question from Pakistan: In regards to television, is captioning provided besides Sign Language interpreting?
* Japan: Since both are important for the accessibility for the Deaf, we are working to increase the provision of both services.
* Mr. Takada: In regards to the Deaf youth camp, it was not possible for the Japanese Deaf youths to participate since the announcement for the camp was quite late. Since we need to send out the announcement to all regions of the country, we would appreciate it if you could send the announcement earlier.
8.2.9 Korea (Appendix)
The Korean Association of the Deaf presented their report. (included in appendix)
<<Lunch break>>
The meeting was resumed at 2:00PM
8.2.10 Macau (Appendix)
The Macau Deaf Association presented their report. (included in appendix)
8.2.11 Malaysia (Appendix)
The Malaysia Federation of the Deaf (MFD) presented their report (included in appendix). In addition, the representative reported that five interpretation services paid by the government were approved for 2000 onwards. MFD has also established a regional workshop for the Deaf, which is being developed further. In regards to telecommunication, MFD is negotiating with the Nokia branch in Malaysia for a communication relay service project. Furthermore, the Malaysian government has been considering an information technology plan for the Deaf for the year 2001 onwards. MFD also reported on the Deaf Youth camp held in December 1999 in Malaysia.
* Mr. Takada: I would like to see the Malaysian Sign Language Book mentioned in your report.
* Malaysia: We plan to send a free copy to each member country in the future.
* Question from the Philippines: What kind of equipment or service are you requesting from the Nokia branch in Malaysia?
* Malaysia: It is a relay service for Deaf persons. In regards to mobile phones, the Deaf are able to afford them now since they have become inexpensive.
8.2.12 Mongolia (Appendix)
The Mongolian Association of the Deaf presented their report. (included in appendix)
* Question from the Philippines: How many interpreters do you have in Mongolia?
* Mongolia: Not many. We mostly communicate with writing.
* Dr. Kauppinen: Your report mentions that you have translated and published a book on American Sign Language (ASL). Doesn't your country have an original Sign Language? It is important for all countries to develop an original, standard Sign Language.
* Mongolia: Since we do not have a full original Sign Language, we have been adopting ASL. We hope to establish a standard Mongolian Sign Language in the future, but at present, this is not possible.
8.2.2. Bangladesh (postponed earlier) (Appendix)
Since the report paper had been handed out, the Bangladesh Federation of the Deaf presented their report. (included in appendix)
* Question form Singapore: Your report mentions that you have only 250 Deaf students. That seems like a very small number for a large country like Bangladesh. The education of Deaf children is a matter of great importance to us.
* Bangladesh: We also do feel that this is too small, and are working to expand Deaf education.
* Dr. Kauppinen: WFD has formerly conducted an international survey on education of Deaf children, and looking from the results, I believe that Bangladesh has just started Deaf education. Countries such as Korea and Malaysia have already widely developed educational policies for the Deaf. However, other countries including Bangladesh do not have such comprehensive policies, and for this reason there is a large difference in the level of Deaf education between countries. Cooperation from all countries is required to resolve this difference.
* Question from India: In your report, the term "hearing impaired" is used in addition to "Deaf." Does your organization accept both hard of hearing people and the Deaf?
* Bangladesh: Our association currently accepts and invites both the Deaf and hard of hearing people.
8.2.13 Nepal (Appendix)
The Nepal Federation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing presented their report (included in appendix). In addition, Nepal reported that they were able to send a soccer team to the Asia/Pacific games in Taiwan with financial support from the Government of Nepal.
* Question from Mr. Takada: The Deaf in Nepal are divided into three organizations. Why can't these organizations be unified into one?
* Nepal: Although we adopted a standard set of rules with assistance from Sweden, Mr. Devkota disregarded them and created a new set or rules himself. This is the main cause of the problem. We were once unified, but are now split into three.
* India: It is most important to unify the three organizations.
* Nepal: We agree, and we are doing all we can to become unified again.
8.2.14 New Zealand (Appendix)
The New Zealand Association of the Deaf presented their report (included in appendix). The report emphasized on the cooperation of the white and colored races, in addition to the importance of leadership of the Deaf. New Zealand also reported that they would propose to host the Deaf Youth Camp in New Zealand in 2002.
Mr. Takada expressed his pleasure that the New Zealand Association of the Deaf has developed their cooperation with the Maori people.
8.2.15 Pakistan (Appendix)
The Pakistan Association of the Deaf presented their report. (including in appendix)
* Question from Mr. Takada: In your report, you mention that you teach ASL and International Sign. Why do you include ASL?
* Pakistan: This is because Pakistan does not have enough Sign Language. However, we are trying to gather as much Pakistani Sign Language as possible.
* Dr. Kauppinen: I had a chance to browse a Pakistani Sign Language book, and have noticed that it had a mixture of ASL and Pakistani Sign Language. I feel that this is a problem.
* Pakistan: We are trying to teach and develop Pakistani Sign Language, but at international meetings, we require ASL. We feel no problem with teaching ASL since Pakistan had experienced many problems with insufficient Sign Language, and this has been resolved through the usage of ASL.
* Question from Thailand: Have you considered collecting Pakistani Sign Language and compiling this into a book? Won't the mixture of foreign Sign Languages cause confusion?
* Pakistan: We are only using one foreign Sign Language, so this would not be a problem.
* Takada: WFD emphasizes the importance of each country's original Sign Language, and the need to develop it. There is no problem with International Sign, but it is against WFD's policies to introduce a foreign Sign Language into your country.
8.2.16 Philippines (Appendix)
The Philippine Federation of the Deaf presented their report. (included in appendix)
Mr. Takada expressed his worries on how communication between the Japanese Federation of the Deaf and the Philippine Federation of the Deaf were not progressing smoothly. Both Federations agreed to discuss this issue in addition to the Japanese Federation of the Deaf's Asian Deaf Friendship Fund after the meeting.
<<30 minute break>>
8.2.17 Singapore (Appendix)
The Singapore Association of the Deaf presented their report. (included in appendix)
* Question from Japan: Who teaches Sign Language? Do Deaf teachers receive training from foreign instructors? And does Singapore have a Sign Language interpreter certification system?
* Singapore: The YMCA has its own program to teach ASL. The Singapore Association of the Deaf teaches both ASL and SSL. If financial situations permit, Sign Language interpreters can receive training overseas. Furthermore, the Association has Sign Language classes in 3 levels, and many graduates actively work as volunteer Sign Language interpreters.
* Question from Japan: How do the Deaf receive computer training?
* Singapore: The Singapore Association of the Deaf holds free computer classes for the Deaf, and the government provides the necessary equipment. Singapore has been asked at the World Congress in Brisbane to send used computers to Indonesia and is ready to ship them, but we have not heard from them since.
* Question from the Philippines: Welfare activities and CISS sports activities should be separated. Why do you have them together?
* Singapore: It would be ideal to have separate organizations for these activities, but we do not have enough human resources to achieve this. If we separated them, we would not be able to work at all. We discussed this problem with the CISS President and received his approval. CISS has understood our situation.
* Question from Hong Kong: Why do you teach ASL?
* Singapore: We have teaching programs for both ASL and SSL. We have learned from teaching methods of various countries such as Sweden, and have adopted them into our courses. We would also welcome any information on teaching methods in Hong Kong.
8.2.18 Sri Lanka
Absent. No report submitted.
8.2.19 Thailand (Appendix)
The National Association of the Deaf in Thailand (NADT) presented their report (included in appendix) During the report, NADT showed a video produced for Deaf children, and explained their will to promote education with Sign Language, and to distribute the video to all parts of the nation. Furthermore, NADT reported on support to the Deaf in Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
* Question from Korea: I have been living in Thailand for quite a while, and still do not know how to request a Sign Language interpreter. How could this problem be resolved?
* Thailand: The Sign Language interpreter training programs are about to start. Although interpreting services are not established yet, we are doing our best to achieve this.
8.2.20 Report from Vietnam and Laos (New agenda item)
Mr. Takada explained that Vietnam and Laos are not yet members of WFD. However, they will join WFD after establishing an organization of the Deaf. Although the two countries were observers, they were requested to report on the situation of their countries.
Report from Vietnam: "Vietnam has not established an association of the Deaf. Therefore we do not have a fixed contact address. The Deaf in south Vietnam have been recently gathering and learning together. The Deaf are organizing in the south region, and information collected here is propagated north. Furthermore, a person from France has been carrying out a campaign for the Deaf in south Vietnam. Although we don't have an organization, we are steadily growing our strength."
Report from Laos: The representatives from Laos expressed their pleasure that they were able to participate, and said, "the largest problem in Laos is that there is not enough education. We do not have any support from the government. At places such as hospitals, the Deaf have problems since there are no interpreters and they are unable to communicate. Since we used to have absolutely no education for the Deaf, there are many Deaf persons that have not received any education at all. There is currently one school for persons with Disabilities, which was established in 1992 using Thailand's schools as an example. The Deaf are not allowed to drive motorcycles. We also do not have any opportunities to learn Sign Language, and therefore do not have any means to communicate at meetings. The Deaf in Vietnam must gather more to exchange ideas and opinions. We would like the government to develop a policy for the Deaf, especially regarding education, but we are not sure if the government recognizes us, as we do not have any opportunity to meet them.
* Question from India: Since Thailand is next to Vietnam and Laos, could NADT support them?
* Thailand: We are supporting them. However, we believe that they require support from all Asia/Pacific countries, including India.
* Mr. Takada: Some of the Asia/Pacific countries are very poor, and the Deaf in these countries have very little opportunities. The situation in Vietnam and Laos are particularly serious, and there is very little interpreting and Sign Language, which is a necessity for the welfare of the Deaf. We need to widely support Vietnam and Laos, and actively send them information so that they may participate in future meetings. I would also like Vietnam and Laos to gather much knowledge at this meeting, and use this to promote the movement in their countries.
* Japan: Could we request some advice in regards to developing countries from Dr. Kauppinen?
* Dr. Kauppinen: This is a very complicated but important problem. All U.N. member countries have been notified of the adoption of the U.N. Standard Rules. WFD, in cooperation with the U.N., has been promoting equal opportunities for the Deaf and establishment of Deaf organizations, and has been requesting governments to take their responsibilities regarding the Rules. The Deaf in developed countries have received a high level of education, and are therefore able to contribute to the growth of the Deaf community in developing countries. The JICA training in Japan is one such example. North European countries such as Sweden have been widely supporting African countries. Finland has been supporting countries in central Asia. Similarly, the countries in the Asia/Pacific region must support each other.
9. Policy on WFD RSA/P activities for 2000-2001 (Appendix)
Mr. Takada presented the WFD RSA/P policy for activities in 2000-2001. (included in appendix)
In regards to item #4 of the policy, the representative of Japan pointed out that the Japanese government determines a group of countries qualified for the training, and countries not included in this group cannot apply. Therefore information on how to apply for training should only be sent to countries in the group. Furthermore, in regards to item #5 on standard Sign Language, the representative of Japan stated that since many Sign Languages may exist in one country, the Deaf community must agree on one standard Sign Language.
Mr. Takada reiterated that only countries in the group determined by the Japanese government may apply for JICA training, and countries such as Korea, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand are not included in this group. In regards to standard Sign Language, Mr. Takada stated that countries should carefully discuss and agree on a standard Sign Language, and that when multiple Sign Languages exist, they should not be abruptly forced into one.
Next, Mr. Takada asked the representatives of Japan to provide information on support provided to foreign countries by the Japanese government.
The representative of Japan requested that countries carefully read the documents handed out, and when applying, that they should get in contact with their country's Japanese embassy. Malaysia was able to publish a book through this program. Applying countries must be aware that since this is a short-term support program, they must finish their project within a relatively short timeframe. The representative of Japan requested that countries should carefully plan out their projects before applying, and stated that since all countries that apply are not immediately accepted, countries should repeatedly apply for support.
Mr. Takada advised the countries not to wait to be contacted by their Japanese embassy, but to plan their projects and actively apply for support. Malaysia created a clear and practical project plan before negotiating with the Japanese government, and this allowed them to publish the book. JFD has stated that they will help countries apply for support if required.
The representatives of Mongolia requested that this type of information on support and training should not be sent to their government, but directly to their association of the Deaf, as information sent to their government does not get circulated to their association. Mr. Takada answered that all information from WFD RSA/P and JFD are sent directly to WFD RSA/P member associations.
The representatives of Thailand pointed out that support to countries such as Vietnam and Laos currently cannot be achieved through their governments, and that one way this problem may be resolved is for WFD RSA/P and WFD to propose the establishment of support to the U.N. If they could acquire an official letter from the U.N. that approves and endorses the support, the support could be carried out in an effective manner. Mr. Takada agreed with this suggestion, and stated that in regards to countries with governments that do not approve the establishment of a national organization of the Deaf, they should request a letter of endorsement from the U.N.
Finally, the attending member representatives requested that WFD RSA/P should investigate which countries in the Asia/Pacific region have not become members of WFD, and to add to the policy on activities that WFD RSA/P should promote establishment of organizations and WFD membership to these countries. Mr. Takada agreed to add this item to the policy on activities. The representative of New Zealand stated that they had previously met with the representatives of Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Samoa, and that they did not express interest in joining WFD. The policy on activities for 2001-2002 was unanimously approved.
<<Day 2 (Dec. 9) >>
The second day of the WFD RSA/P Representative Meeting started with a self-introduction by the representative of the Swedish Association of the Deaf, Ms. Kerstin Kjellberg, which joined the meeting from this day. She expressed her happiness to be able to meet the other national representatives, and explained how Sweden has been cooperating with NADT. "NADT has grown into a very strong and stable organization. They have enabled the Deaf to acquire driver's licenses, and continue to actively work for the well being of the Deaf. Sweden is also cooperating with other countries in the Asia/Pacific region, and is very glad to have this strong relationship."
10. Future WFD RSA/P Representative Meetings
10.1. 13th WFD RSA/P Representative Meeting in 2001; Hong Kong
The representative of the Hong Kong Association of the Deaf (HKAD), which will be the host of the 13th Representative Meeting, reported on their preparations toward the event.
The largest difficulty in preparing for the meeting has been fund raising, and HKAD has been negotiating with their government for support. Although the government was reluctant to provide funding since most of it was already allocated elsewhere, HKAD was able to receive 120,000 dollars as a result of their dedication towards their work. HKAD expressed their happiness that all member countries are active in various activities, and stated that they will do their best to make the Representative Meeting in Hong Kong a great opportunity for information exchange. In conclusion, the representative from Hong Kong expressed his wish to be able to welcome as many member countries as possible to Hong Kong.
The representative of New Zealand asked how the presenters for the workshop would be selected, and how the pickups at the airport would be handled since the arrival times of participants differ. The representative of Hong Kong answered that they were planning presenters from several countries, and information on this would be provided at a later date. In regards to pickups at the airport, HKAD will do its best to make this as smooth as possible, using NADT's efforts for this meeting as an ideal example.
The representative of Malaysia expressed his uneasiness about the WFD RSA/P Representative Meeting and workshop sessions being held simultaneously, according to the program in the 1st announcement. HKAD replied that the program has not been finalized, and that they will consider Malaysia's suggestion.
Mr. Takada stated that NADT has supported Vietnam and Laos's participation, and asked if HKAD could do the same for the next Representative Meeting. The representatives of HKAD replied that although they would like to support financially troubled countries as widely as possible, they could not make the decision by themselves, as they must discuss the matter with the HKAD Board.
The representatives of Japan expressed their feeling that the period of stay for the meeting was quite long, and asked if the visits to the school and center could be done on a meeting day. The representatives of HKAD answered that they would consider the option of shortening the program.
In reply to questions regarding the registration fees for the meeting, the representatives of HKAD stated that they are estimating 50 U.S. dollars for delegates, and 250 U.S. dollars for observers. HKAD has not determined whether this fee will include visits to the school and center, and will notify all countries of this in the next announcement.
The representatives of the Philippines requested that the contact address for the Representative Meeting should be unified, since they were confused by requests from both WFD RSA/P and NADT for the 12th meeting. The representatives from India also agreed to this request. Mr. Takada answered that this was done to minimize the chances of miscommunication, but stated that WFD RSA/P would consider this option.
The representative of New Zealand requested that member countries send all meeting reports and related documents before the deadline to avoid confusion with documents handed out at on the meeting day.
The representatives of HKAD requested that all registration fees be sent by the deadline to avoid financial problems. In response to this, the representative of Korea pointed out that overseas bank transfers are very expensive, and that they would prefer paying HKAD directly in Hong Kong. The representatives of HKAD replied that although they strongly prefer to be paid via bank transfer before the meeting, member countries could pay them in Hong Kong if they clearly inform HKAD of their attendance much earlier.
10.1.1. Dates of Meeting (in relation with WFD 50th Anniversary)
Mr. Takada requested that the dates of the meeting be determined so that they do not clash with the WFD 50th Anniversary in Italy.
In regards to the length of the program, 8 countries voted for no change in the program schedule, and 5 countries voted for a shortened schedule. Therefore the length of the program will not be changed.
Before ending the 2nd day of the meeting, Mr. Takada gave a brief explanation on the new WFD RSA/P rules which were to be adopted the next day. In the previous WFD RSA/P Representative Meeting in Australia, five persons were selected for a WFD RSA/P rules drafting committee that would work on the new rules. Although the draft proposed by Japan was adopted in Australia, the discussions in the committee also included the proposals from Malaysia and Macao. As the drafting committee was unable to unify these proposals, the decision to adopt which proposal was deferred to the 12th Representative Meeting, which will be done on the next day. Ms. Low Jarn May from Singapore, as a representative of the drafting committee, gave a briefing on the progress of work done by the drafting committee and requested all delegations to carefully consider each proposal before the meeting on the next day.
<<Day 3 (Dec. 10) >>
10.2. 14th WFD RSA/P Representative Meeting
At the previous Representative Meeting in Australia, the participants agreed to extend the interval of meetings beyond 2001 from one year to two years. This would mean that the 14th Representative Meeting would be held in 2003 in Canada, together with the World Congress of the Deaf.
Dr. Kauppinen expressed her uneasiness about extending intervals between the Representative Meetings into two years, and that this would not be sufficient for effective exchange of information between the countries. In Europe, countries gather annually, which leads to better cooperation and more active movements of the Deaf. Since there are many developing countries in the Asia/Pacific region, halving the number of meetings could greatly slow the development of the Deaf community. She pointed out that 2002 is the final year of the Asian and Pacific Decade for Disabled Persons, and strongly suggested that member countries hold a meeting in 2002 in order to review the Decade.
The representatives of Korea, Thailand, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Nepal, and Japan also expressed their opinions that the Representative Meeting should be held annually. They stated that one meeting every two years would delay the exchange of information and development in the region. The representative of New Zealand suggested that since the decision to extend the intervals between meetings was made to resolve financial problems, the meetings could be held annually if this was financially feasible. The representatives of Japan suggested that the countries could newly propose to change the interval since this decision was made last year.
The representatives of Pakistan informed the meeting participants that the Pakistan Association of the Deaf would like to host the 14th Representative Meeting in Pakistan if it were to be held in 2002. Mr. Takada stated that since the Asia/Pacific Decade will come to an end in 2002, it would not be proper to neglect this important year, especially considering Pakistan's desire to host the meeting. He therefore suggested that the decision to change the interval of Representative Meetings to two years be not changed, and to hold a Representative Meeting in 2002 as an exception since it will mark the end of the Decade.
The representative of Malaysia pointed out that since the large-scale final year events of the Decade will held in Japan, it would be financially difficult for member countries to participate in both the WFD RSA/P Representative Meeting in Pakistan and the Decade events in Japan. Holding the Representative Meeting in Japan together with the Decade events would resolve this problem.
The representative of Pakistan expressed that the Pakistan Association of the Deaf proposed to host the meeting in order to strengthen the Deaf community in Pakistan and contribute to the development of other countries. However, they stated that they would like the venue of the meeting to be decided on through discussion between member countries.
Mr. Takada pointed out that even if a decision were made at this meeting to hold the Representative Meeting in 2002 in Japan, the Japanese Association of the Deaf would not be able to immediately accept this for financial reasons.
Mr. Takada proposed that the decision to hold Representative Meetings every two years kept unchanged, and to hold the meetings annually if a member country offers to host the meeting during the open year. The meeting approved this by a vote of 10 to 4.
After the vote, the representative of New Zealand stated that the New Zealand Association of the Deaf is considering to host the WFD RSA/P Representative Meeting in 2005, and the Representative of Korea stated that the Korean Association of the Deaf was considering to make a bid to host the World Congress of the Deaf in 2007. If the bid is won, the WFD RSA/P Representative Meeting in 2007 would be held in Korea.
<<30 minute break>>
Mr. Takada informed the participants that he has discussed the issue of 2002 with the representatives of Pakistan during the break, and proposed to entrust the decision of this issue to the new Management Committee which will be formed later in the meeting. This was approved by a vote of 10 to 4. Furthermore, it was decided that WFD RSA/P would formally request the Japanese Federation of the Deaf to provide support to member organizations that plan to attend the Asia/Pacific Decade events in Japan.
11. International Meetings/Events 11.1. WFD 50th Anniversary (2001)
Dr. Kauppinen gave a briefing on the event, starting by pointing out that the World Federation of the Deaf has a long history compared to most other disability organizations, and would therefore like to make the 50th anniversary a grand event. The event will be held in Rome, Italy during 28-30 September 2001. As the dates are preliminary, further information will be sent out at a later date. Programs for the event include leadership training, a meeting, a celebration, and an exhibit. Various subjects such as gene therapy and cochlear implants will be discussed at the meeting, including presentations from key persons. The theme of the event is "WFD: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow." The exhibit will show the various activities of WFD, including activities in the Asia/Pacific region, and will also be set up at the CISS World Games in Rome. Dr. Kauppinen expressed her wish that many countries actively participate in the event.
11.2. Deafway II at Gallaudet University
Mr. Osugi, a representative of Japan, gave the briefing as he was well informed of the event. Deafway I, which was held in 1989 and attracted more that 60,000 people, was a great success. Deafway II will be held during 17-21 July 2002 at Gallaudet University (Washington D.C.), and is expected to have about 150,000 participants. The program includes Deaf theaters and various presentations among many others. Detailed information can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.deafway.org/. The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) of U.S.A., a member of WFD, is a sponsor of the event. Mr. Osugi further informed the participants that the event has a discount program for developing countries, although all attending countries must pay for their flights.
11.3. 14th World Congress of the Deaf in Canada
WFD Vice-President Mr. Leonard Mitchell provided information on the 14th World Congress. The dates of the General Assembly have been determined as 19-20 July 2003, and the Congress, 21-27 July. The WFD Board has already approved these dates. The World Congress organizing committee is negotiating with the government for support, and plans to send out the first announcement during 2001.
In reply to a question from the representative of New Zealand concerning the date of the WFD RSA/P Representative Meeting in Canada, Mr. Mitchell answered that the date is to be determined by WFD RSA/P, but should be adjusted so that it would not interfere with the work of WFD Board Members from Asia (Japan and Korea). Mr. Takada added that the dates would be discussed at the next Representative Meeting in Hong Kong.
12. Drafting of new WFD RSA/P Rules/Statutes/Bylaws
Ms. Low Jarn May reported on the progress of the drafting committee which consisted of Mr. Sazali Shaari (Malaysia), Ms. Low Jarn May (Singapore), Mr. Robert Adam (Australia), Mr. An Se-Joon (Korea), and Mr. Eiichi Takada (Japan). Although the draft proposed from Japan was approved at the previous Representative Meeting in Brisbane, the drafting committee also reconsidered the proposals from Malaysia and Macau in addition to the proposal from Japan. As the drafting committee was unable to agree on a unified draft, the meeting decided to hold a vote on the three drafts.
12.1. Proposal from Malaysia (1996) (Appendix)
The representative of Malaysia gave a brief explanation on the draft proposed by Malaysia. The draft was created in accordance to the WFD guidelines, which the representatives of Malaysia felt was a bit far-reaching for the current Secretariat but was a good starting point nonetheless. The responsibilities would be divided into roles such as the President, General Secretary, and five Management Committee members. The Representative of Malaysia also expressed his gratitude towards Ms. Low Jarn May for her excellent work in the drafting committee.
12.2. Proposal from Macau (1998) (Appendix)
The representatives from Macau first pointed out that they could not explain in much detail since their former executive committee submitted the proposal. The main objective of the proposal is similar to that of Malaysia, which is to divide the responsibilities of WFD RSA/P into the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Management Committee, so that WFD RSA/P could be run by a group. The Representative Meetings would be held every two years, and the Management Committee would handle necessary tasks between the Representative Meetings. This was to reduce the burden on financially poor countries.
12.3. Proposal from Director (1998) (Appendix)
The Director, Mr. Takada, withdrew his proposal and stated his support for the proposal from Japan.
12.4. Proposal from Japan (1999) (Appendix)
The representative from Japan explained the objectives of the proposal. "We feel great joy that the number of WFD RSA/P member countries has grown. However, each member organization still faces many problems within their own country and needs to strengthen their national efforts as a first priority, which obviously requires the majority of funding. We need to keep this in mind when deciding on our new WFD RSA/P rules, which can later be developed into an elaborate form similar to those of WFD." Five members would be selected for the Management Committee, and a Director would be chosen from within the Committee. The Secretariat will be placed in the Director's member organization, which would bear the operating costs of the Secretariat. The Management Committee meetings would be held immediately before the Representative Meetings to avoid further expenses. The representative of Japan concluded that although the proposed draft from Malaysia is the ideal form, it would place too much a burden to the Secretariat in its current state.
The representative of Malaysia stated that the proposals from Malaysia, Macau, and Japan are similar in that they all aim to develop the Deaf movement in the Asia/Pacific region. The main point of the proposal from Malaysia is to split the responsibilities currently placed on the Director into several roles, and the roles were proposed in accordance with the WFD guidelines. In regards to financial issues of the Management Committee, the accommodation fees will be born by the hosting country, and the flight fees will be born by the Committee Members, meaning that this would not place any further burden on the Secretariat.
The representative from Korea expressed his gratitude towards JFD for operating and funding the Secretariat since its establishment, and then stated that frequent Management Committee meetings would place a heavy financial burden on the members. He explained that even WFD is having serious financial problems since many ordinary members cannot pay their membership fees, and the same could be said for WFD RSA/P. Furthermore, he stated that the WFD guidelines should be a goal for the WFD RSA/P rules but not a starting point, and suggested that they start with the proposal from Japan and then work to change them into rules similar to those proposed by Malaysia and Macau as they grow.
Mr. Mitchell expressed his feelings that it would not be desirable to simply copy the rules from WFD.
As a result of the discussions on the three proposals including the option to combine them into one, Macau and Malaysia withdrew their proposals, and the proposal from Japan was adopted by a vote of 12 to 2. In accordance to the new bylaws, the representatives were requested to nominate candidates for the Management Committee. Japan nominated Mr. Ogura, but most countries expressed that this request for candidates was too sudden and that they would require more time to consider the issue. In response to this, Mr. Takada stated that this would be a provisional Management Committee with a one-year term, and urged the representatives to nominate their members. The final nominees were Mr. Takeo Ogura (Japan), Mr. Se-Joon An (Korea), Mr. Mohamad Sazali Shaari (Malaysia), Mr. Anthony Walton (New Zealand), Mr. Muneeb Mansoor (Pakistan), Ms. Low Jarn May (Singapore), and Mr. Boonlert Khanapornworakarn (Thailand).
<<Lunch break>>
The results of the vote were as follows:
Mr. Takeo Ogura (Japan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Ms. Low Jarn May (Singapore) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Mr. Se-Joon An (Korea) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Mr. Mohamad Sazali Shaari (Malaysia) . . . . . . . . 10 Mr. Anthony Walton (New Zealand) . . . . . . . . . . 10 Mr. Boonlert Khanapornworakarn (Thailand) . . 5 Mr. Muneeb Mansoor (Pakistan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Since the WFD RSA/P Management Committee will consist of five members, the committee was approved as Mr. Ogura, Ms. Low, Mr. Se-Joon, Mr. Shaari, and Mr. Walton. The new Management Committee left the meeting room to discuss the selection of the new Director of WFD RSA/P. As a result, the Management Committee selected Mr. Ogura of Japan as the new Director. The Management Committee members re-introduced themselves to the meeting participants, expressed their determination towards their new role, and thanked Mr. Takada for serving WFD RSA/P as Director throughout the years.
13. Proposals from Member Countries
13.1 Proposals from Nepal (Appendix)
The representatives of Nepal presented their proposals (included in appendix) on 1) selection methods of JICA trainees, 2) requests to Lions Clubs International, 3) national recognition of Sign Language, 4) establishment and development of national organizations of the Deaf, 5) Development of schools for the Deaf, and 6) a workshop to review the situation of the Deaf and the U.N. Standard Rules.
In regards to proposal 1), the representatives of Nepal explained that although the Nepal National Federation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NFDH) had nominated a trainee for JICA training, the government ignored this request and sent a different trainee to Japan. Japan was requested to change the selection methods so that trainees are selected from WFD member organizations. The representatives of Japan stated that they were aware of this problem and were considering it seriously. The Japanese Federation of the Deaf itself cannot force governments into selecting a particular trainee, but will do everything possible so that trainees are selected from WFD member-related persons.
In regards to proposal 2), the representatives of Nepal informed the other countries on how the Lions Clubs International was supporting the blind and physically disabled but not the Deaf, and asked WFD RSA/P to request equal support to all persons with disabilities. India suggested that they invite the executives of the Lions Clubs International to their community so that they may see the actual situation of the Deaf with their own eyes. The representative of Korea pointed out that the Blind and physically disabled can be persuasive since they can speak, and that the opinions of the Deaf conveyed through interpreters can be slighted. He then suggested that the U.N. Standard Rules could be used to resolve this issue, and that WFD and WFD RSA/P should propose this to the U.N.
Upon further discussion, Mr. Takada requested the new Management Committee to consider the addition of these proposals to the activities of WFD RSA/P.
13.2 Proposals from New Zealand (Appendix)
The representative of New Zealand expressed his gratitude towards Malaysia for hosting the 1st Deaf Youth Camp, and gave a briefing on New Zealand's proposal to host the 2nd Deaf Youth Camp in 2002. The proposed theme for the camp is "DEAFinitely Leader," and it is being organized by the "DEAFinitely Youth Group." The main objective of the camp is to train the Deaf youth to be future leaders, and furthermore to promote their solidarity, exchange, and learning. The camp is scheduled to be held during the third or fourth week of January, and Deaf persons between 18 to 30 years old will be invited. The estimated number of participants including instructors is 100. The "Outdoor Pursuits Center," the venue of the camp, provides facilities for canoeing, mountain biking, rock climbing, white-water rafting, kayaking, mountain climbing, and overnight expeditions. Further information including registration fees is included in the first announcement handed out at the meeting.
New Zealand's proposal to host the 2nd Deaf Youth Camp in 2002 was unanimously approved.
14. WFD RSA/P Logo 14.1. Logo Contest
Proposals for the new WFD RSA/P logo were submitted from Nepal and Hong Kong, and the representatives of both countries introduced their proposals.
In Nepal's proposals, the arrows stand for the movement of the hands in Sign Language, the white and black hands represent white and colored races, and the world map was used in order to express that the whole world should cooperate as one, not only the Asia/Pacific region.
In Hong Kong's proposal, the hands represent the sign "I love you," the A is for Asia, and the three colors represent white, black, and yellow-skinned races. The ear in the letter A represents the Deaf.
Mr. Takada expressed his appreciation towards Nepal and Hong Kong for submitting the proposals, and suggested that the new Management Committee consider them. If the Management Committee cannot decide on a logo, the selection will be made at the next Representative Meeting in Hong Kong. This suggestion was unanimously approved.
15. Closing
In his closing address, Mr. Takada thanked Dr. Kauppinen, Mr. Mitchell, and Mr. Ratanasint for participating as observers, and expressed his gratitude towards the NADT staff which made great efforts to host this meeting. He also thanked all the member countries for cooperating him during his duty as Director, and expressed his happiness that WFD RSA/P will now be led by a group of five, which will in no doubt lead to further growth of the region.
Dr. Kauppinen praised the development of the Deaf community in the Asia/Pacific region and said, "now that the responsibility that Mr. Takada has taken alone will be shared by a group of five, the development of the region will advance even further as development requires organization. WFD would like to continue its strong cooperation with the Asia/Pacific region, and although we shall face many difficulties, I sincerely hope that all member countries will continue their exchanges and work closely together." In conclusion, she thanked NADT for their work in hosting the meeting, and said that she was looking forward to meeting everybody again in the near future.
Mr. Mitchell stated that while all countries have their differences, the discussions and exchange of ideas at the meeting have been magnificent, and expressed his wish that these exchanges would keep growing in the future. He also commended NADT for their excellent work in hosting the meeting, and Mr. Takada for his dedication to his job as Director of WFD RSA/P.
Mr. Ratanasint said that despite a few minor problems with the video cameras, he was very pleased that the Representative Meeting was as a great success. After giving a briefing on the boat trip after the meeting, he ended by thanking everybody for their participation and cooperation during the meeting.
<<End of meeting>>
第１２回世界ろう連盟アジア太平洋地域事務局代表者会議 議事録（英文）
２０００年１２月８〜１０日 タイ、アユタヤ、クルン・シリ・リバー・ホテル