On 25 and 26 October 2024, East Asia Disability Studies Forum met in Taipei, Taiwan. The overarching theme of the event was “CRPD after and beyond: Interpretation, Implementation, and Implication of the Convention”. The Taipei Forum was organized by the league For Persons with Disabilities, R.O.C (Taiwan), National Human Rights Commission, Taiwan, Taiwan Society for Disability Studies (TSDS), and Department of Sociology, Soochow University, and co-organized by Human Rights Program and Chang Fo-chuan Center for the Study of Human Rights, Soochow University, Eden Social Welfare Foundation, and Syin-Lu Social Welfare Foundation. Most of overseas participants were from Korean Society for Disability Studies, Wuhan East Lake Institute for Social Advancement, Institute of Ars Vivendi, and Japan Society for Disability Studies, that have been working with TSDS for this East Asian forum on disability studies. The Forum coincided with Taiwan’s Rainbow Parade, which is considered one of the largest pride events in Asia.
Members of the Institute of Ars Vivendi delivered three oral presentations and showcased 13 poster presentations. Please visit http://www.arsvi.com/a/20241025-26.htm for the programme and presentations.
This year’s Forum was held in person with simultaneous translation of Chinese, Korean, English and Japanese, and live stream for participants who use Chinese. Unfortunately, members from China were unable to attend in person and gave pre-recorded oral presentations. Compared to 2010, when this Forum started as a small exchange between Korea and Japan, tensions in international relations have escalated significantly. The situations have made in-person gatherings more challenging, yet even more important that we meet together every year. Notably, this year we were delighted to welcome a participant from Singapore.
We, Institute of Ars Vivendi, will host the next Forum in fall 2025. The theme will be “Nothing about Us without Us: Voice, Participation and Community Building”. Inspired by one of the most significant slogans of the disability rights movement, we would like to have discussions the past and future of disability studies and the disability rights movement.