Congratulating Cambodia on hosting the 5th Asia Pacific Community-Based Inclusive Development (AP-CBID) Congress
On 15-17 March 2023, the fifth AP-CBID Congress was hosted in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, under the theme: Strengthening social and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic through CBID. The AP-CBID community meets every four years to share its voice, culminate best practices, document innovations, form new directions, construct strategic alliances and formulate innovative disability -related services.
The 5th AP-CBID Congress was successfully organised by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY), and the Asia Pacific Community Based Rehabilitation Network, with approximately 290 participants in attendance. It received technical and financial support from the Government of Australia through its Australia- Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS). During plenary and parallel sessions, discussions have spanned across strengthening and promoting collaborations and partnerships among stakeholders; social wellbeing, social protection and economic inclusion for persons with disabilities; and good practices, evidence, and innovations in CBID during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through the ACCESS Program, Australia has supported effective collaboration between the Royal Government of Cambodia, international and local NGOs, the Organisation of Persons with Disabilities, and the private sector and assist in implementing the National Disability Strategic Plan.
