In celebration of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities on December 3, the General Election Network for Disability Access (AGENDA) conducted a series of interviews on the launch of the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. AGENDA, a network of DPOs and election-focused CSOs in Southeast Asia, was founded by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in 2011. The Enabling Masterplan, a regional policy document launched by ASEAN in December 2018, includes action points intended to be implemented by ASEAN sectoral bodies and member states by 2025. An English transcript of the interview with Dr. Dinna Wisnu, Indonesian Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), is available below and has been edited for clarity.
[Transcript begins]
Tolhas: Together with me now is Her Excellency Ms. Dinna Wisnu. She is the representative of AICHR from Indonesia. Ibu Dinna, what’s your impression about today’s event?
Dr. Dinna: It’s very big! It is very big and very elaborate preparation, and this is a very good example of how issues such as persons of disability can touch the hearts of so many ministries, which is exactly the plan, the plan of this ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025. We have to be able to touch and make the move differently, that’s the point.
Tolhas: So, what actually is the meaning for ASEAN to have this Masterplan from your perspective?
Dr. Dinna: ASEAN is very much of a top-down organization. For something to materialize into changes of action, you need the door to be opened at the higher ups. So, this Enabling Masterplan is a really a very good avenue and tool for us to knock on the doors of every ministry and not get rejected anymore.
Tolhas: Do you want to say something for our listeners?
Dr. Dinna: So, this is just the beginning. I think we need more commitments from more stakeholders, including civil society groups, so that what we imagine would be happening better for the persons with disabilities will happen. And as AICHR, hopefully we can do much more mainstreaming of the rights of persons with disabilities [throughout] our programs and activities.
Tolhas: OK, thank you very much Ibu Dinna Wisnu. Congratulations also to the AICHR for this wonderful achievement.
[Transcript ends]