News and Events

03-09 March 2024, Bangkok

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) secretariat mourns the loss of Monthian Buntan, Senator at the Royal Parliament in Thailand, and former Member of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Senator Monthian passed away on the morning of 2 March 2024 at his home in the suburbs of Bangkok. He was 58, just two months short of his 59th birthday.

Senator Monthian was a giant in the struggle for the human rights of persons with disabilities, a fervent advocate for and change maker on disability rights at all levels: international, regional, national and local.

05-06 June 2022, Bangkok

Regional Consultation on Facilitating Innovative Action on Disability-inclusive and Gender-responsive Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia and the Pacific

The Asia-Pacific region is the most disaster-prone region in the world. The estimated 690 million persons with disability living in the region are disproportionately affected by disasters and excluded from many aspects of services as well as participation at various stages of disaster risk reduction. The impacts of disasters on populations are expected to grow as urbanization continues at a rapid pace along with unsustainable economic practices. 

03 December 2021, Bangkok

Regional Forum on Advancing Disability-inclusive Development: Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world

The Regional Forum organized by ESCAP to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific and present good practices from Governments and organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) for strengthening inclusive and accessible services to support and empowering persons with disabilities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Forum brought together stakeholders from OPDs, governments, UN agencies, and other organisations in order to: