Breaking Barriers: Disability Rights and Inclusion in ASEAN

Viet Nam is firmly committed to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, with over 6.2 million people, or 7.06 per cent of its population, living with disabilities. At the regional level, Viet Nam’s leadership role in promoting disability rights and disability inclusion is notably demonstrated, alongside Thailand, based on the mid-term review of the implementation of the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025 is a game changer for persons with disabilities in ASEAN. It is the first rights-based initiative to mainstream their rights in the ASEAN Community 2025.

On the bustling streets of cities like Bangkok, amidst the vibrant markets and towering skyscrapers, lies a hidden crisis: human trafficking. Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights that affects millions across the ASEAN region. Within this already vulnerable population exists an even more marginalised subset: persons with disabilities (PWDs) who are victims of human trafficking.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2023, persons with disabilities— including physical, intellectual, and mental disabilities—represent 16 per cent of the world’s population. This is equivalent to 1.3 billion people, 80 per cent of whom acquired their disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64. Data from the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in 2021 indicates that 472 million of these individuals are of working age, including women, youth, and

Highlights of the Policy Brief The empowerment of persons with disabilities (PWDs) holds immense potential for ASEAN’s economic and social development. Yet, significant challenges often leave them confined to informal, low-wage employment with no job security or financial safety nets. Specifically, women with disabilities remain among the most marginalised groups, facing overlapping layers of discrimination, societal bias, and limited access to education and vocational training. Reports from the

In a significant move that underscores Southeast Asia’s commitment to sustainable tourism, the ASEAN Ecotourism Standard (AECOS) has been officially endorsed at the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits under the leadership of Lao PDR, chaired by Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Lao PDR. The endorsement of AECOS reflects a broader regional effort to elevate sustainable tourism practices. This Standard aims to redefine how ecotourism is approached across Southeast Asia. The initiative was spearheaded

Malaysia takes centre stage as it assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, marking a pivotal year for regional leadership and collaboration. The much-anticipated ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2025 is one of the year’s flagship events, scheduled from 15 to 20 January 2025 in Johor Bahru, Johor. With the theme “Unity in Motion, Shaping ASEAN Tourism Tomorrow,” the ATF serves a critical platform for advancing sustainable and inclusive tourism throughout Southeast Asia.

MALAYSIA ASEAN CHAIRMANSHIP 2025 INCLUSIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY On 1 January 2025, Malaysia assumed the Chairmanship of ASEAN for the fifth time, marking a decade since its last leadership role. Coincidentally, this year marks the end of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, launched at the 27th ASEAN Summit during Malaysia’s 2015 Chairmanship. History repeats itself. In 2025, ASEAN will commemorate the tenth anniversary of the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community guided by the 2025 Vision and

Dadan Mochamad Rhamdan, or Damar (35), is an Indonesian Language and Literature teacher at SMP Negeri [Public Junior High School] 20 Bandung, Indonesia. He was born with cerebral palsy, which affected the development of his hands. The condition also impacts the left side of his body, limiting its mobility compared to his right. He abbreviated his name to Damar because it means “lantern.” True to its meaning, he hopes to bring warmth and light to those around him while creating a safe space for d

Dr. Nantanoot Suwannawut, fondly known as Apple, began advocating for disability rights in middle school. Now, she is the Director of the International Cooperation Section in the Thai Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. She also serves as Vice President of the Thailand Association of the Blind and actively organises the ASEAN Community Blind Forum. Speaking with The ASEAN, Apple shares her journey and the progress made towards inclusivity in Thailand and across the region.

Disability is not a barrier to excelling in one’s job. Caravan Food Group, Inc. (CFGI) founder Francis G. Reyes realised this as a young boy. When he once stepped into a clothing store, the only help he received came from a staff member wearing a nameplate that said “Deaf.” The professionalism and quality of customer service left a lasting impression on him. So, when Francis built his business in 2017, he was determined to hire persons with disabilities (PWDs). They now comprise more than 50 per

Singapore is a trailblazer in many fields, including its commitment to the inclusion and well-being of persons with disabilities. In 2015, Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development together with SG Enable, Singapore’s focal agency for disability, launched Enabling Village. This is a first-of-its-kind community space that caters to people with physical, sensory, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. Through this village, SG Enable aims to facilitate the integration of persons

Nguyễn Văn Cử is the Deputy Director of Disability Research and Capacity Development Center (DRD) and Director of Doi Rat Dep Social Enterprise. Doi Rat Dep, or “Life is Beautiful” in Vietnamese, is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to promoting the inclusion and empowerment of people with disabilities. DRD has built a network of over 100 companies, including multinational corporations and Vietnamese enterprises, committed to hiring people with disabilities. Having been with the organisat

Since its inception in 2007, Maya Dance Theatre (MDT) has been faithful to its philosophy: bridging the space between audience and artist to provoke thought and dialogue about pressing social issues. In 2018, MDT’s artistic director and co-founder, Kavitha Krishnan, founded the Diverse Abilities Dance Collective (DADC). Kavitha, a trained occupational therapist, has provided arts education services to schools in Singapore for almost two decades. A question from one of her students with Down Synd