Part Two: Report by Article

In March 1993, the Government of Japan formulated the "New Long Term Program for Government Measures for Disabled Persons", in line with the "Asian-Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons" by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Furthermore, in December 1995, the Government formulated the "Government Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities - a 7-Year Normalization Strategy" as an implementation plan for important measures to proceed toward the realization of the Long-Term Program. The Action Plan is a 7-year plan covering FY1996 to FY2002 incorporating concrete targets to be achieved, including numerical targets. In accordance with this, comprehensive measures for women with disabilities as well as for men with disabilities have been promoted to create a society in which every individual can actively participate. As the concrete measures, government authorities have been working toward the achievement of the numerical targets within the planned period in various fields such as: securing residence (group homes, welfare homes); securing places for work (sheltered workshops, welfare factories, designation of employment support centers for people with disabilities); enrichment of family care services (at-home services such as home helpers/short home stay service etc., institutional service such as institutions for disabled persons); and promotion of a barrier-free society.

FY2002 is the final year of the ongoing "Government Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities." By FY2000, among the projects for which numerical targets had been set, rehabilitation facilities for persons with intellectual disabilities have already achieved the targets. In addition, 97% of psychiatric day care facilities, 93% of institutions for physically disabled persons, 83% of training programs for social rehabilitation for people with mental disabilities, and 84% of home nursing helpers projects have achieved 80% of their respective numerical targets. Thus the Government considers that the Plan has been proceeding smoothly.

Since FY1995, the week from December 3 to 9 has been designated as "Disabled Person's Week" to campaign for enhancing the willingness of both men and women with disabilities to be independent and to participate in society, as well as for increasing the level of understanding and recognition by the nation as a whole with regard to disability and disabled people. To help persons with disabilities be independent and promote their participation in society and deepen the understanding and recognition by the nation as a whole about disability and persons with disabilities, the Government conducts public relations and education activities through the mass media such as television and newspapers. At the same time, the "Disabled Person's Day, Gathering for Anniversary" takes place every year on December 9, the day designated as the "Main Event in Disabled Person's Week" and "Disabled Person's Day."

In addition to these government efforts, various exchange projects and hands-on activities are conducted sponsored by local governments and persons with disabilities-related organizations.

As described in Article 11.2 (3).