Participants
City District Government Karachi
Mrs. Nasreen Jalil - City Naib Nazim Karachi
World Federation of the Deaf RSA/P
Mr. Ichiro Miyamoto - Director, WFD RSA/P
Pakistan Association of the Deaf
Mr. Irfan Mumtaz - President
Mr. Mansoor Majeed - Vice President + International Sign Language Interpreter
Ms. Fazila Shamim - Sign Language Interpreter (Pakistan Sign Language)
Mr. Aqeel-ur-Rehman - Sign Language Interpreter (Pakistan Sign Language)
Background and Agenda
Pakistan Association of the Deaf is a member of World Federation of the Deaf. World Federation of the Deaf holds World Congress after every four years. In 2007, 17th World Congress of the WFD was held in Spain. The title of congress was “Human Rights through Sign Language”. Delegates, deaf youth and interpreters from all over the world participated in that meeting. Next meeting is scheduled in South Africa in 2011.
World Federation of the Deaf has five regional secretariats. Pakistan works under WFD Asia Pacific Region. Director of WFD RSA/P is Mr. Ichiro Miyamoto. WFD Asia Pacific Regional secretariat organize meeting of member countries every year. These meetings provide a platform to deaf associations around the world where they share their experiences, culture, problems, their solutions and future programs for the deaf community etc.
20th WFD RSA/P meeting was held in Pokhara, Nepal during 10 to 12 December 2008. The meeting was on CRPD (Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities). 7 countries as well as Macau (Special Administrative Region of the people’s republic of China) participated in the event.
21st WFD RSA/P meeting will be held in Pakistan. Hopefully, 20 countries (around 100 delegats) of Asia Pacific region will attend this meeting. Mr. Ichiro Miyamoto, Director
WFD RSA/P arrived in Pakistan on December 30, 2008. The reason was to meet government officials regarding the support and recognition for future meeting. He also discussed and planned the activities for 2009 meeting with PAD.
Meeting Details
Mr. Nasreen Jalil thanked the delegation and assured of City government support. The delegation informed the Naib Nazim that the Asia Pacific Regional meeting is expected to take place in Karachi in November 2009 which will be attended by about 100 participants from all over the world. It was also informed that the objective of the meeting is to seek equal rights for special people and to take positive steps in this regard.
Honourable Naib Nazim said that the successful holding of WFD RSA/P meeting will build up world image of Pakistan. Mrs. Nasreen Jalil said that she would speak to authorities at all levels for ensuring successful holding of this meeting.
Mrs. Nasreen Jalil also helped the delegation in getting appointment with Mrs. Nurgis N.D. Khan, Minister for social welfare, Sindh.
Mr. Ichiro, Mrs. Nasreen Jalil, Mr. Irfan Mumtaz and Mr. Mansoor Majeed
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