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<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Pacific Disability Forum
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Press Release<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Young people with Disabilities as COVID 19 combaters<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">12<sup>th</sup> August, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Young people with disabilities across the Pacific face greater challenges brought about by the impacts of Covid-19. They face challenges in accessing essential health services due
to environmental barriers, the risk of remote education through online platforms due to internet connectivity or the unavailability of assistive technology for support, prejudice and stigma. A common challenge is the discrimination that young people with disabilities
cannot contribute to the outbreak response or make their own decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">As we mark International Youth Day in the midst of a global pandemic, we witness how young people with disabilities are continuously making efforts to be educated about COVID-19,
taking advantage of online platforms and the proper safety measures to practice with families, their peers and communities.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The Pacific Disability Forum is encouraging all government stakeholders, partners and first responders to continue to share simple and accessible information, clarify information
so that young people with disabilities are better equipped to take action in containing the virus.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">To reach and engage young people with disabilities during this pandemic, it is important to recognize and uphold their human rights.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The Pacific Disability Forum will continue to work closely with regional agencies in providing support to disabled people’s organization’s youth groups in ensuring that their voices
are heard in decision making processes, and supporting their meaningful participation in issues that matter to them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Let us work together. Let us continue to ensure that young people with disabilities are provided the necessary priorities to reach their full potential!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">HAPPY INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY TO ALL!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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