The ASEAN Programme Evaluation and Planning Conference for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) opened in Quezon city in the Philippines on April 2, aiming to improve the delivery of social services for PWDs.

The three-day function discussed strategies and programmes for the target group, shared best practices and auxiliary services for the disabled as part of efforts in enforcing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of PWDs.

Participants also underlined the importance of providing support services such as health care, financial support, education, jobs and assistance devices.

Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development Parisya Taradji said around 650 million people, or 10 percent of the global population, are PWDs, and 80 percent of them live in developing countries.

Apart from the host country’s representatives, the event attracted delegates from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA