‘2023 Busan World Disabled Persons Championship’ Successfully Concluded

Overcoming Heatwaves and Typhoons... Proceeding with the Theme 'Global Great Transformation: Challenges and Opportunities'

3,254 Participants from 51 Countries Including Domestic and International Persons with Disabilities, Over 7,000 Online Partic

Busan City successfully concluded the ‘2023 Busan World Disabled Persons’ Conference’ on the 11th, aimed at guaranteeing the rights of both disabled and non-disabled people in the era of global transformation.

Closing Ceremony of the 2023 Busan World Disabled Games.

Themed ‘Global Transformation: Challenges and Opportunities,’ the ‘2023 Busan World Disabled Persons’ Conference’ was co-hosted by Busan City and the Disabled Peoples’ International Korea (DPI Korea, President Lee Young-seok), and organized by the 2023 Busan World Disabled Persons’ Conference Organizing Committee (Co-Chairs Moon Ae-jun and Oh Jun) from August 7 to 11.

International organizations and groups related to disability participated to explore cooperative measures to address issues faced by disabled people worldwide amid various crises such as the pandemic, natural disasters, wars, and inflation over the five-day event.

This international event in the field of disability welfare, held for the first time in Busan, attracted 3,254 disabled and non-disabled participants from 51 countries across six continents onsite, with over 7,000 joining online.

This holds great significance for building Busan’s disability-friendly image and enhancing South Korea’s international stature.

During the conference, various programs including an international disability-related conference, the World Assembly of Disabled Peoples’ International, exhibitions, cultural and artistic programs, and local explorations were successfully conducted.

Starting with the opening ceremony on the 7th, four core themes?▲new social consensus based on human rights ▲new digital connectivity ▲inclusive development for persons with disabilities ▲implementation and localization of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)?were addressed through keynote speeches, special lectures, and roundtable discussions.

Distinguished figures from the domestic and international disability community, including Gertrude Ofori and Pepoame, Chairpersons of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, participated to recognize new challenges faced by disabled people and to propose a disability-inclusive future and the role of the disabled community.

Additionally, various programs such as exhibitions and cultural and artistic events created a festive atmosphere enjoyed by the general public.

The exhibition showcased disability-friendly artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that recognize people, text, objects, and colors through smartphone cameras and provide audio feedback.

Among the cultural and artistic events, the Busan International Disability Human Rights Film Festival screened barrier-free films, and media art created by persons with developmental disabilities using AI technology attracted significant attention.

Notably, at the closing ceremony on August 10, marking the official end of the event, a ‘Busan Declaration’ was publicly announced on behalf of participating organizations to guarantee the human rights of persons with disabilities and improve awareness.

The closing ceremony was hosted by announcer Ahn Hee-seong of Busan MBC, who was appointed as the promotional ambassador for the 2023 Busan World Disabled Persons’ Conference.

The declaration expressed concern that persons with disabilities are excluded from various policies, plans, and infrastructures aimed at overcoming global crises, and called for ▲guaranteeing participation of all persons with disabilities regardless of gender, nationality, region, race, type, or degree of disability ▲implementation of policies based on international disability frameworks to address challenges and crises faced by disabled people worldwide, with a multidimensional approach considering complex experiences of disabled women, girls, indigenous disabled persons, youth, and elderly disabled persons ▲active participation and benefit assurance for persons with disabilities in sustainable development ▲mainstreaming disability in accessibility to new technologies and promotion of universal design ▲and establishment of employment policies for persons with disabilities through job creation and improvement of working environments.

Busan City demonstrated its capability as a host city for international events by meticulously preparing for the conference in various aspects.

Due to the impact of Typhoon ‘Khanun,’ considering the safety of participants and citizens, from the fourth day of the conference, parallel session programs were live-streamed online, and a metaverse exhibition hall was operated to promptly respond to the typhoon’s approach. After the typhoon passed, remaining schedules such as the closing ceremony and local tours were flexibly conducted with safety in mind.

During the conference, anticipating a shortage of existing disabled restrooms at BEXCO, three additional portable disabled restrooms were installed inside the exhibition hall, and a designated area for guide dogs of visually impaired persons to relieve themselves was carefully prepared.

Wheelchair lift-equipped buses were used as shuttles between the venue, Busan Station, Gimhae Airport, and accommodations to support smooth mobility for disabled participants.

Vladimir Cook, Secretary-General of Disabled Peoples’ International, stated, “The Busan World Disabled Persons’ Conference had perfectly prepared international conference venues and convenience facilities, and especially, the transportation means for persons with disabilities were systematically arranged, making mobility completely comfortable.”

Lee Young-seok, President of Disabled Peoples’ International Korea, said, “The Busan World Disabled Persons’ Conference was a precious opportunity for international disability organizations to resume communication after the disruption caused by COVID-19,” and added, “We will strive to ensure the effective implementation of the ‘Busan Declaration’ announced at the 2023 Busan World Disabled Persons’ Conference.”

Mayor Park Hyung-jun expressed, “Over the past five days, disabled persons, organizations, NGOs, and leaders from around the world gathered in Busan to envision a future for the promotion of human rights and rights of persons with disabilities,” and shared his sentiment, “I believe this conference marks the starting point for Busan to truly become a global disability-friendly city.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.