1981, the establishment year of Disabled Peoples' International, was United Nations International Year of Disabled Persons, which aimed to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
On December 3rd 1982, World Program Action Concerning Disabled Persons (WPA) was adopted by United Nations to enhance disability prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities, which pertains to full participation of persons with disabilities in social life and national development. 1983 - 1992 UN Decade of Disabled Persons was launched to set time frames for governments and organizations to implement the activities recommended in the WPA.
At the conclusion of UN decade in 1992, DPI Japan worked closely with DPI China to convince the governments in our region (through UN ESCAP) to announce the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (1993-2002). In 1999 again, DPI Asia-Pacific Region proposed the plan of extending another decade to further address disability issues. 2nd Asian Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (2003-2012) was successfully launched with the action guideline called Biwako Millenium Framework (BMF).
Seven Priority Areas of BMF
DPI Asia-Pacific Regional Development Office conducts activities while promoting the areas mentioned above
