First Australia-Indonesia Conference on Islam and Disability Rights

Press Release: 21 May 2015

Australia and Indonesia have teamed up to support the first ever International Conference on the Rights of Disabled Persons, Inclusive Education and Islamic Educational Institutions in Indonesia.

The conference is a joint initiative of the State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga and the Australian Catholic University on 21-22 May 2015 at the State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga, Yogyakarta and brings together scholars, officials and disability rights campaigners from different countries and different faiths.

Dr Bradley Armstrong, Head of the Australian Embassys Political and Economic Branch, said: Islamic values involve a high regard for humanity and equality, so they have the potential to support increased fulfilment of rights for people with disabilities in Indonesia.

Co-operation between Australia and Indonesia in this area is a tangible example of our joint commitment to the rights of people with disabilities, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which both our countries have ratified, he added.

The conference is funded by the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Justice, a bilateral co-operation program between the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Indonesian Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), aimed at assisting Indonesian people to access justice and combat corruption.