A SET of guidelines and tools to ensure humanitarian efforts in the Pacific were inclusive of persons with disability was one of the main discussion points at a regional workshop in Nadi.

Organised by the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) in partnership with the United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the consultation workshop which began this week gathered civil societies, government stakeholders and humanitarian actors.

PDF chief executive officer Setareki Macanawai said the regional discussion was an important opportunity for persons with disabilities and humanitarian actors in the region. “The next two days is an opportunity for us to tell our stories from the Pacific through this global process, and for us to talk to each other on how we can improve our policies and our process, funding and humanitarian work better and truly, genuinely inclusive of persons with disabilities,” he said.

IASC work group on the inclusion of persons with disabilities co-chair Gopal Mitra said the guideline would encourage humanitarian agencies to plan, design, implement and evaluate humanitarian actions which ensure full participation of persons with disabilities.

“This will also be a set of guidelines that will change practice in humanitarian sectors and make it more inclusive of persons with disabilities,” he said.

While opening the event, UN resident co-ordinator and UNDP resident representative Osnat Lubrani said the regional discussion ensured the Pacific voice was heard.