In a significant milestone for disability advocacy in Papua New Guinea, 25-year-old Ruth Luania Javati from Kainantu, Eastern Highlands, is set to travel to Tokyo, Japan to participate in a two-month training program on intellectual disability, The National reports.
Javati, who became a paraplegic in 2007 after contracting meningitis while studying rural health at Divine Word University in Madang, is being supported fully by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) along with the PNG National Board for Disabled Persons.
She will be accompanied to Japan by her mother and plans to return to Papua New Guinea equipped with new knowledge and strategies to broaden public understanding about intellectual disability.
I am thankful to JICA and the PNG National Board for Disabled Persons for giving me the opportunity.
Javati
Javati’s involvement with the Young Voices campaign—facilitated by the Cheshire Disability Services PNG and aligned with the Leonard Cheshire Disability Global Alliance—demonstrates her commitment to ensuring young persons with disabilities (aged 16–25) in PNG are given equal opportunities in all walks of life.
The training program in Japan is expected to enhance her skills in advocacy, community engagement and establishing support systems for intellectual disabilities. On her return, Javati has expressed her intention to support awareness-raising efforts and drive full participation for persons with disabilities in PNG society.
This opportunity arrives at a critical time, as PNG continues to strengthen its frameworks supporting disability rights following its ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Why this matters
- Javati’s training abroad represents a boost to PNG’s capacity for disability inclusion and leadership in the sector.
- Her role as a young disabled person turned advocate provides a powerful example for others in similar situations.
- It reflects the growing international collaboration (e.g., via JICA) in supporting Pacific nations to meet global disability rights standards.
What to watch next
Upon Javati’s return from Japan, stakeholders in PNG—government agencies, non-profits and community groups—will be looking to embed her knowledge into local programs and policies. Key indicators will include new advocacy initiatives, inclusive education efforts, and strengthened networks for persons with intellectual disabilities.