DPI International Conference

7-11 January 2002

Prime Minister Hun Sen Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen was the major speaker for the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian DPI Conference held in Phnom Penh this year. Disabled People International is one of the largest and most organized disability groups in the world.

Charlie and conference participants I was not attending the conference as a participant but went to the opening ceremony today to show support and to make contacts with some of the important people in the world of disabilities in Asia. Here I am with Boun Mao (my right), the head of the national blind association in Cambodia, and with the head of DPI's Asia-Pacific Region, Venus Ilagan (my left).

DPI conference banner The Cambodian Disabled People's Organization was asked to be the local host and organizer for this year's conference, and it was a mighty undertaking for them. The majority of CDPO's time and attention was focused on the DPI conference, but the results proved worthy of the effort.

Four deaf girls from CDPO Three of the young deaf women and one of the CDPO office staff were dressed alike as part of the welcoming ceremony staff.

Group photo of DPI delegates At the end of the session for welcoming speeches, and after everyone had a chance to visit the DPI exhibition set up in another room of the Sunway Hotel, the delegates returned to the ballroom for a group photo.

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	Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen was the major speaker for the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian DPI Conference held in Phnom Penh this year. Disabled People International is one of the largest and most organized disability groups in the world.
	I was not attending the conference as a participant but went to the opening ceremony today to show support and to make contacts with some of the important people in the world of disabilities in Asia. Here I am with Boun Mao (my right), the head of the national blind association in Cambodia, and with the head of DPI's Asia-Pacific Region, Venus Ilagan (my left).
	The Cambodian Disabled People's Organization was asked to be the local host and organizer for this year's conference, and it was a mighty undertaking for them. The majority of CDPO's time and attention was focused on the DPI conference, but the results proved worthy of the effort.
	Three of the young deaf women and one of the CDPO office staff were dressed alike as part of the welcoming ceremony staff.
	At the end of the session for welcoming speeches, and after everyone had a chance to visit the DPI exhibition set up in another room of the Sunway Hotel, the delegates returned to the ballroom for a group photo.