Events

UNESCO webinar to launch joint research report and commemorate the 2022 International Day of Persons with Disabilities

UNESCO Bangkok and Leonard Cheshire, together with the Disability-Inclusive Education in Asia-Pacific Working Group, UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office and the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Special Educational Needs will jointly host a webinar to launch the report, ‘Disability-inclusive Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Asia and the Pacific: an assessment of teacher needs’, on 2 December 2022, 14.00–15.30, Bangkok time (GMT+7). 

Background

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed every year on 3 December to draw attention to the stigma, exclusion and discrimination commonly experienced by people with disabilities. The day represents a major global annual landmark to bring attention to a host of concerning situations often faced by people with disabilities, and to call upon support from policy and decision-makers to implement change.
 
People with disabilities deserve equal access to high-quality education, including comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). However, misconception and stigma about disability and poor access to sexual and reproductive health services hinder young people from obtaining high-quality CSE, even in the context of formal education systems. To further explore these issues, UNESCO Bangkok and Leonard Cheshire, together with the Disability-Inclusive Education in Asia-Pacific Working Group, carried out a needs assessment in Asia-Pacific focusing on the experiences and professional learning and development needs of regional teachers of students with disabilities, specifically in relation to teaching CSE.
 
To commemorate the 2022 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, UNESCO and partners (named above) will launch this milestone report, which highlights findings from countries across the Asia-Pacific region, including three ‘deep-dive’ countries – Mongolia, Nepal and the Philippines. The webinar will feature additional country and partner examples in delivering CSE to learners with disabilities.

Objectives

The objectives of the launch event are to: 

1. Showcase and disseminate the findings and recommendations of the research report, with its suite of companion knowledge and advocacy products;
2. Raise awareness of the importance of CSE that is inclusive of especially vulnerable learners, such as students with disabilities; and
3. Highlight examples of disability-inclusive CSE initiatives being implemented in formal and non-formal education settings in Asia and the Pacific, and reflect on these experiences in the context of the research recommendations.

Participants

 
The launch webinar is free and open to the public and will expressly invite participation by diverse stakeholders involved in CSE and disability-inclusive education in Asia and the Pacific, including:

• Ministries of education and related ministries, especially from the 3 ‘deep dive’ study countries of Mongolia, Nepal and the Philippines
• Youth-led or youth-serving networks and civil-society organizations  
• Researchers, teachers, parents, school principals 
• Individual CSE experts and advocates
• Representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities

Date and time : 2 December 2022, 14.00 – 15.30, Bangkok time (GMT+7)

Type of event: Zoom webinar

Language

English with simultaneous interpretation in Filipino, Mongolian, Nepalese, Thai and international sign language

Register now

https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HOLTyxArQ1iZ4heo0HgiMw

After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email. 

URL:

https://bangkok.unesco.org/content/disability-inclusive-comprehensive-sexuality-education-cse-asia-pacific-assessment-teacher