17 September 2012
Issue 60
17 September 2012
Issue 60
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The EOC will advocate for the advancement of equal rights in the 8th session of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to be convened from 17 to 28 September 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland. The EOC will present its observations concerning the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Hong Kong and propose alternative views on enhancing the full realization of their rights and social integration. By presenting its views to the United Nations Committee, the EOC hopes to urge the Hong Kong Government to take concrete action to ensure that people with disability have equal rights and opportunities to pursue their aspirations.
Read the press release
Read the EOC’s Submission to the UN Committee
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Members of the EOC met on 13 September 2012 (Thursday) at the 98th EOC Meeting and discussed various matters related to the Commission’s business, including the follow-up actions on the Formal Investigation on Accessibility, the work of the EOC in the first six months of 2012, and the preparation for the upcoming EOC Forum. Members were pleased to note that the Commission had upgraded its operational efficiency and effectiveness, while also identifying social and political issues and responding quickly to discriminatory acts. The EOC also proactively identified systemic issues that bore implications on equal opportunities and provided policy inputs to the legislature.
The EOC Forum 2012 will be organised on 29 September 2012, from 2:30-5:00pm at the Auditorium of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building (9/F, 21 Pak Fuk Road, near Quarry Bay MTR station). The Forum is part of the EOC’s ongoing initiative to enable stakeholders and members of the public to better understand the EOC’s work as well as to promote the EOC’s transparency and accountability. Please call the EOC hotline at 2511 8211 for further details.
Read the press release
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10 September of every year is World Suicide Prevention Day. Over recent years, there have been media reports of those who have taken their own lives in Hong Kong because they were stigmatized, discriminated or harassed over factors like their disability and gender. In his regular contribution to the column “On Second Thought” of the South China Morning Post on 10 September 2012, Mr. LAM Woon-kwong, the EOC Chairperson, reflected on what society can do to instil hope and avert such tragedies. He urged readers to introduce equal opportunity values to children from a young age and shed stereotypical thinking about others based on factors such as gender, race, and disability. “By giving someone the opportunity to participate as equals, prove their mettle and build a life of dignity, we can indeed instil hope,” wrote Mr. Lam.
Read the article
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The EOC congratulates the Hong Kong Paralympics Team for their success at the 2012 London Paralympic Games, which shows the Games’ power to break down stereotypes about people with disability. We urge the community to carry the spirit of social inclusion embodied in the Games forward into their everyday life, and be proactive in ensuring the equal participation of all people irrespective of disability.
The EOC would like to give a special mention for gold medallist wheelchair fencer, Yu Chui-yee, who was a guest mentor in 2007 in the EOC’s annual youth mentorship programme, Career Challenge. The initiative underlines the importance of breaking down stereotypes that often limit young people’s life choices. At her sharing session, Ms Yu talked to the students about the importance of persistence: “All I can do is to try my best. I believe that skills and abilities can be trained. With time, one can improve.”
Check out the link below to Career Challenge 2012/13, with many inspiring mentors including Ms Sarah LEE, the London 2012 Olympic Games Bronze Medalist in Cycling! The EOC is proud of our guest mentors’ achievements!
View details about Career Challenge 2012/13
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Starting from 1 September 2012, a Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) bus route no. 32M, running from Kwai Fong Railway Station Bus Terminus to Tsuen Wan, will carry the EOC advertisement in the bus body to promote the values of inclusion and equal opportunity for all.
Stay updated on the EOC's work and positions by referring to our press releases, speeches, media interviews, and calendar training on our website. Also, stay tuned on other equal opportunities issues and community initiatives by visiting our community resources and community events pages for information from our community partners, including publications, survey reports, publicity campaigns, and upcoming conferences.