Apologies for cross posting
Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD)
Round Table discussion
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities-
Mainstreaming Disability in Development -who will do what?
8 February 2007
3.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.
Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations
866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 222
New York, N.Y. 10017, U.S.A
DRAFT SUMMARY REPORT
(Emitted 28 February 2008)
1. A Round Table Discussion on Disability and Development took place in New York, USA, on 8 February 2008 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. The objective of the Meeting was to exchange information and discuss possible cooperation modalities among stakeholders for mainstreaming disability matters in development
2. The Meeting was open to all stakeholders?entities and individuals committed to and involved in disability and development ?and was attended by 30 participants, including: 14 representatives from Civil Society, 13 representatives from UN agencies and international cooperation organizations, 1 from research institutes, 1 from the private sector (funders) and 1 from a UN Member State . A complete list of participants is to be found in Annex I. The Meeting took place on the occasion of the 46th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development.
3. The Meeting was convened by the GPDD and hosted by the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations. It was opened by Ms. Kirsti Lintonen, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations, and coordinated by Ms. Maria Reina, GPDD Executive Director.
4. Ms. Lintonen opened the Meeting by recalling the new Development Policy Program of Finland 2007 and the involvement of Finland in the GPDD. She then noted that strength of multi-stakeholder partnerships, such as GPDD, is in the vision of promoting one clear goal and interest jointly and coherently. The part takers do not participate in order to promote their own or their organization's interest but they participate in promoting a higher, more general goal that cannot be achieved by working alone. Every participating organization needs to put some of its own interests slightly to the background while cooperation is highlighted.
5. Subsequently, the Coordinator, Ms. Reina, asked participants to introduce themselves and the work of their respective entities.
6. Following the introductions, the Coordinator gave the floor to Sheikha Hissa Al Thani, UN Special Rapporteur on Disability, who made a statement on mainstreaming disability in the development agenda. Sheikha Hissa underlined that any development activities should have as their aim enabling persons with disabilities to advocate for their rights, to integrate into their communities and societies, and to become self-sufficient and independent. In the context of the Convention, we need to ensure, as activists and advocates, that all development policies, strategies and activities have the issues of persons with disabilities from design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. These inclusive development programs should recognize persons with disabilities as rights-holders, equal members in society, who are as engaged in development as they are targeted by it.
7. After the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability’s statement, Dr. Sabri Rbeihat, President of the South-North Center for Dialogue and Development, gave a presentation on the Global Survey on Government Implementation of the Standard Rules. The Survey covers each of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, taking into account all of the measures that need to be implemented in order to achieve the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities. Out of the 22 Rules, 324 actions were extracted to reflect the different measures needed for implementation by various government levels in order to achieve equalization and equal participation by persons with disabilities in society. The target population was both governments and disabled persons organizations in each of the 191 Member States of the United Nations, all of which had adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. In each country, the Survey was given to one government body most relevant to the implementation of the Standard Rules; and to two disabled people’s organizations. The Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability received back 207 questionnaires, containing information about 114 countries at the rate of a 60% return. Seventy-seven (77) countries did not send any responses. The findings in this report will reveal that some progress has been made with regard to the recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities to equal participation in society generally. For example, most countries have adopted policies, although not all of those who have done so have passed legislations or implemented programs. In many cases, when programs have been planned, no adequate financial resources have been allocated. But none of the responding countries have implemented all U.N. recommended measures to provide equal opportunities. Among the 5 regions, Europe, the Arab region, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the highest implementation rate was 319 and the lowest was 4 out of the 324 actions. Survey results revealed wide discrepancies between the responses of governments and DPOs Europe had the highest rate of implementation, at 66% the Arab region at 61%, the Asia-Pacific region at 50%, Africa at 37% and Latin America at 33%.Some of the limitations of the Survey are that it relies exclusively on self-reporting. The other limitation is the fact that there is no way of verifying the accuracy of the responses. A full report on Results of Phase II of the Global Survey will be published in March 2008 and will be available from the Office of the Special Rapporteur, E-mail: [log in to unmask], Tel: +974 447 7144; or the South-North Center for Dialogue & Development, E-mail: [log in to unmask], Tel: +962 6 552 4684.
8. The second presentation was developed by Ms. Akiko Ito, UN Focal Point on Disability. Ms. Ito discussed about the International Norms and Standards relating to Disability and Development. International norms and standards are constituted by General International Normative Standards, International Normative Standards on Specific Groups, Regional Human Rights Instruments, International Instruments Specifically related to Disability, and Other International Instruments of Specific Relevance and Importance to Persons with Disabilities. This architecture provides for a basis for a comprehensive strategy for "making disability an integral part of international agenda," using the newly adopted international convention on the rights of persons with disabilities as a vehicle. Some examples of using international norms in promoting development are: (1) Other HR Conventions, such as CEDAW and CRC and their intersectionalities; (2) Uganda- enforcement of women‘s property rights -The Ministry of Women in Development; and (3) Innovative use of domestic law- the Constitutional provision on fundamental rights to life and equality to challenge economic and development policies perceived as infringing women‘s and children’s rights. The decision by the Supreme Court led to a constitutional amendment in 2003. The future Implementation of the International Norms and Standards relating to disability has the three disability specific instruments as the pillars. It is needed a trans-disciplinary approach for (1)defining equity both as normatively and strategically as an on-going institutional dynamic;(2)innovation in developing relationships, spaces or structures for on-going institutional dynamic and;(3)collaboration across professional, disciplinary and institutional boundaries. A Trans-disciplinary approach to the rights of persons with disabilities in development will lead to the emergence of a strengthened disability community across professional, disciplinary and institutional boundaries. Monitoring of the implementation of the new Convention- promoting the disability perspective in the current UN human rights regime implies: (1) Monitoring and evaluation of the two disability policy instruments for formulation of strategic options for policies, programs and evaluation measures; (2) Due consideration to be given to the use of indictors to measures and assess progress.(e.g. MDGs‘ reviews should include the disability perspective); and (3) Focus on capacity building of stakeholders and developing innovative partnerships among them. Specific Actions includes: Formulation of legislation and policies, by, for and with the newly emerging disability community of multi-stakeholders; Information Campaign- disability rights and development; Focus on Women with Disabilities and others who suffer from multiple discriminations; Disability -related Data-base; Research Agenda from a strategic approach. Persons with disabilities have to be seen as both, agents and beneficiaries. Mainstreaming disability in all aspects of development is in line with multi-track: Human Rights and Development are two sides of the same coin. HR can bring to development concerns systematic identification of duties and accountability with legislative tools and institutions. Development approach can bring specific value to the concepts of HR and tools for systematic assessment of the socio-economic context in which the rights can be realized. Formulation of strategic options for policies and programs and evaluation measures is fundamental. A newly emerging disability-sensitized community- multi-track - multi-stakeholder processes for moving the disability rights agenda in Development.
9. Successively, Anne Hayes, Disability and Gender Specialist of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) presented about the progress on the Inclusion of people with disabilities in USAID activities. USAID pursues advocacy for and inclusion of people with physical and mental disabilities to maximum extent feasible in the design and implementation of its programs. For USAID it is important to consider the concerns of the disabled within ongoing and future programs. USAID has Standards for Accessibility in USAID-Financed Construction that promotes principals of universal design; also it uses host-country (for example if a country has signed the CRPD) or regional standards and ADA/ABA guidelines. In Contracts, Grants, and Cooperative Agreements USAID requires that contractor/recipient not discriminate against PWDs in the implementation of USAID programs and make every effort to comply with the objectives of USAID Disability Policy; their actions must demonstrate a comprehensive and consistent approach for including men, women, and children with disabilities. Internally, with regard to Institutional and Human Resource Development, USAID is working on its “Self Improvement” through E-Learning Courses for staff, modifying Agency hiring practices, realizing Staff Training, giving HQ Technical Assistance, and providing Resource materials/tools. Externally, working with USAID Partners (contractors, grantees, host governments, local organizations, etc) USAID provides Capacity Building, Training and technical assistance, and Resource materials/tools. USAID has an Agency Disability Team and realized the establishment of a Federal Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities. Recently, USAID asked Missions to develop a Disability Plan and designate a disability focal point. Also, it encouraged the employment of people with disabilities in USAID offices and programs and has Missions and Offices report on their inclusive practices in the field which goes into biannual Disability Reports. In 2006 USAID had disability programs in 11 countries provided through USAID Missions and 4 countries working on improving accessibility of elections.
10. The last presentation was performed by Dr. Kay Nagata, Senior Economic Affairs Officer of the Development Cooperation Policy Branch, Office of ECOSOC Support & Coordination, United Nations DESA, on “The opportunity for and challenge towards disability mainstreaming into development cooperation/operational activities of the United Nations and ODA. Important facts related to general development cooperation activities of the United Nations to be taken into account are: the United Nations Reform; UN is working on creating coherent UN (with over 30 orgs) to “deliver as one” at the country level; 8 pilot country projects of “one UN”; Resident coordinator system and UN country team; the importance of country level action of mainstreaming disability into UNDAF and CCA (UN country level framework for DC and TC); The UN guidelines for operational activities for 2008-2010, TCPR has no reference to disability rights regardless of the Convention; the 2005 World Summit Outcome Report has only one paragraph about human rights of disabled persons; the gap between the 2nd committee of GA and the 3rd committee of GA. Recent trends in ODA environments in general includes: the Paris declaration on aid effectiveness (OECD 2005); from project- base approach to sector- base; “coherence” among various development partners and alignment with national priority; national ownership of the recipient country and direct budget support; some donors, such as DFID, SIDA, FINLAND, USAID, JICA, World Bank, etc. have introduced the “twin- track approach” of empowerment of PWD and mainstreaming disability (e.g. universal design, inclusive education, employment, etc.). Some examples of linking the global agenda (MDG, etc.) and country level priority (e.g. PRSP, country plan, etc.) through the regional framework and cooperation; the African Decade of Disabled Persons (2000-2009) (the secretariat supported by a Scandinavian Aid agency); the Asia-Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (2003-2012) (supported by Japan, and the UN ESCAP); the Arab Decade of Disabled Persons (2004-2013) :The Arab League and AODP Lebanon; the American Decade of Disabled Persons (2006-2015). Now: we have three instruments: The convention, the Standard Rules, and WPA; 2007 Resolution of WPA, and its linking disability cause to MDG and operational activities of the UN; Close working relationship between UN BLD. DC 1 and DC 2; Indeed we have: Inter-agency mechanism: System-wide policy level and actual disability mainstreaming into the work of UN country team and UNDAF (UN Dev. Assistance Framework); UN ? “Delivering as One” at the country level; A new interagency task team was created under UNDG (a group of development agencies of the UN, e.g. UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank, WHO, ILO, etc.) which will prepare a set of guidelines for mainstreaming disability into UNDAF and work of UNCT and/ score card for M & E. (similar to the gender architecture); Ad hoc inter-agency collaboration of UN development organizations, such as the ongoing work by WHO, UNESCO, ILO on preparation of the guidelines for CBR; Inclusion of disability in TCPR 2010 and the agency specific strategic plan to be approved by the Governing body Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review (TCPR) an important instrument for the monitoring and the assessment of the UN operational activities. The main purpose of the TCPR is to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the United Nations development system's support to national efforts of developing countries to pursue their priorities and meet their needs in the context of the UN development agenda that emerged from the Millennium Declaration and other global conferences and summits. Those events highlighted the challenges that the world faces in the new development context influenced by a set of complex factors including globalization and the need for integration of national economies. They called for a renewed commitment of the international community to international development cooperation. The time-bound nature of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) like halving global poverty by the year 2015 imparts urgency and requires concerted action.. Inclusion of disability in TCPR is needed (1) To keep “disability” as a global agenda (Globalization); (2) To set up the international norms and standards (e.g. accessibility guidelines); (3) To establish the global networks with persons with disabilities (e.g. the World Bank global partnership network); (4) To monitor the implementation of the Convention (by the signatories) at the regional and global level; (5) For better partnership with people with disabilities in developing countries; It is also needed for Official development assistance: ODA (Gov. , bilateral donors such as Sida, USAID, NGO, INGO, DPO, United Nations Organizations, and other civil society groups such as academic institutions, media, and private sector). The definition of “development: MDGs” is: Goal 1: Poverty reduction (proportion of people below $ 1 per day); Goal 2: Education (net enrollment ratio in primary education); Goal 3: Reducing gender disparity (ratio of boys and girls enrolled in school); Goal 4: Reducing child mortality rate; Goal 5: Reducing maternal mortality rate; Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; Goal 7: Global partnership (ODA, financial aid, trade, tourism, employment, ICT, investment). For example, The Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF) with 7 priority areas and 21 targets established the following: National Plan of action, a right based approach, statistics and common definitions for planning, strengthening CBR and independent living. Some good practices of the Twin-Track Approach are: JBIC (Japan Bank for Intl. Cooperation) funded a project on renovation of Cairo Egyptian Archeological Museum (accessible and barrier- free design); JBIC funded the project on Bangkok Metropolitan Subway (barrier-free subway) with the supported training of metropolitan transport staff on removing their attitudinal barriers (by another JICA grant, ACPD project); The USAID standards for accessibility for all USAID- funded construction projects (under ADA); The World Bank: Disability-inclusive PRSP in Bangladesh (mainstreaming) plus another project on empowerment of PWD; JICA funded Asia-Pacific Center on Disability (APCD) in Bangkok (empowerment of PWD; APCD (a bilateral ODA project) supported by JICA and UN ESCAP http://www.apcdproject.org/index.php. As a conclusion, Ms. Nagata highlighted that it is very important Partnership & working with disabled and non-disabled persons, “Delivering as One”
11. In between and after presentations, participants had the opportunity to make comments and ask questions to the presenters. The themes that emerged in the discussion included: a) the importance of the UN Secretariat for the Convention as a focal point for the CRPD implementation (including the development aspect); this Secretariat should function as UNICEF does with respect to the implementation of the Convention on the Right of the Child; b) Good governance at national level is key to mainstreaming disability in the development agenda, disability awareness must occur at national level and it is responsibility of the states; c) Monitoring is a crucial component to make states accountable regarding disability and development; self-reporting is a limited methodology for monitoring; strengthen DPOs to habilitate them to monitor policy implementation in a professional manner seems to be the way to go; also, it is fundamental to facilitate partnerships between academia and DPOs for monitoring; d) Interactions between donors and DPOs are still limited; more forums and other opportunities are needed to foster dialogue between and find a common language for DPOs and donors; d) It is unfortunate that TCPR does not include disability; this happened because DPOs were not aware of the importance of this instrument; DPOs need to continue learning about the UN system and its multiple layers; e) DPO capacity is limited and cannot cover all flanks at the same time; one possible focus to mainstream disability in development can be the implementation of the CRPD, particularly, those articles that have strong social and economic provisions; f) UN efforts to deliver as one regarding disability are ongoing but there are still some challenges to be overcome; internally UN need more staff with disabilities to better include the disability perspective but the number of applicants with disabilities is very low; g) Some currents efforts to advance the agenda of disability rights and development are: IDA is re-organizing the international disability community under its umbrella; the IDA CRPD forum is being organized and will be comprised of all stakeholders committed to the implementation of the Convention under the leadership of DPOs; CBM has adopted a human rights approach in its development work: Inclusive approaches are emphasized, and organizations of people with disabilities and parent groups are being strengthened to act as advocates for human rights and inclusion; most CBR projects use participatory methods in planning and implementation of projects; this involves ground-level meetings with people with disabilities and family members, aimed at finding out what the real needs are; people with disabilities are increasingly working within CBR projects; h) Exchange of information on good practices and examples of mainstreaming disability in development programs, measuring inclusive development , indicators to monitor de CRPD, collection of data for disability indicators, and partnership for global multi-stakeholder initiatives must be strengthened; i) sharing of experience on partnerships would be very useful to stakeholders, as there is increasing evidence of the advantage of partnerships in implementing mainstreamed and disability specific programs; Twin track approach is the key; h) Even though organizations are already working to mainstream disability in the development agenda, the recent passage of the CRPD has given place to many unanswered questions on disability and development and new opportunities still need to be revealed.
12. As a general conclusion and follow up for the round-table, GPDD can contribute to the coordination of the efforts of the different stakeholders in relation to disability and development. As part of a broader institutional strategy, GPDD plans to enhance its outreach activities and will facilitate different projects aiming to seek synergies and opportunities for collaboration.
List of Participants
Last Name
First Name
Organization
Abeysekera
Deepamala
UN DESA
Al Thani
Hissa
UN Special Rapporteur
Amegatcher
Janet
WNUSP
Besozzi
Carlotta
EDF
Edwards
Vanessa
UN DESA- CRPD Secretariat
Fox
Michael
RI
Goller
Charlotta
IDHOH
Hayes
Anne
USAID
Hazan
Daniel
WNUSP
Ilagan
Venus
DPI
Ito
Akiko
UN DESA- CRPD Secretariat
Khalil
Thuraya
UN Special Rapporteur Office
Kumar
Pradeep
Leonard Cheshire
Mandesi
Gideon
DOLASED
Meshesha
Ashebir
CBM
Minkowitz
Tina
WNUSP
Murray
Barbara
ILO
Nagata
Kay
UN Office of ECOSOC Support
Nordstrom
Kicki
WBU
Pruisken
Andreas
CBM
Rbeirhut
Sabri
South North Center
Reina
Maria
GPDD
Rowland
William
WBU
Stephenson
Zoe
DFID
Theunissen
Joop
UN DESA- CRPD Secretariat
Townsend
Catherine
Wellspring Advisors
Vallejos
Beatriz
IDHOH
Wagner
Karin
Light for the World
Wapling
Lorraine
DFID
Wiman
Ronald
Government of Finland
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