The First Session of the Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF) Stakeholders' Coordination Meeting
Bangkok, Thailand, 17-19 July 2006

Current level of implementation of Biwako Millennium Framework in Bangladesh

A.H.M. Noman Khan
Executive Director, CDD
&
Secretary General, NFOWD

Introduction:

Being a signatory of the bygone ESCAP Decade of Disabled Person, and an active member country concerned with Millennium Decade of Disabled Person and the Biwako Millennium Framework, Bangladesh has initiated implementing activities towards addressing the inclusive, barrier free and rights based society for persons with disability in this country. Although the activities concerning the Biwako Millennium Framework are still far behind, adequate attention and consideration by the government and NGOs have been established despite multifarious socio-economic limitations.

Development Process of the Report

The report has been developed based on the information available in different reports and documents. Additionally, a day-long workshop was organized with representatives from different disability concerned organizations, disabled persons, and children with disabilities. At the workshop the current level of implementation of Millennium decade of disabled persons following Biwako Millennium Framework was discussed. The findings of the workshop have been incorporated in the report.

Intervention to promote understanding on BMF

Bangladesh has been actively involved in the initiation process of the Millennium Decade of Disabled Person in the region through participating in preparatory meeting organized by UN ESCAP.

Immediate after declaration of the Biwako Millennium Framework, a national level conference was organized with inter-ministerial and NGOs/DPOs representatives along with disabled people through which a thorough introduction has been made on Biwako Millennium Framework.

Training on disability-concerned issues is being provided to the officers of the Social Services Department, which is concerned with implementing and coordinating disability programs nationwide. The content of the Biwako Millennium framework has been included in the disability-concerned training of Social Services Officers.

The program managers of NGOs working with disability issues are being provided with disability program management training in which the Biwako framework has been introduced.

Two posters on Biwako Millennium Framework, one in Bangla and the other in English have been published and circulated to all concerned agencies.

A day long workshop was organized with more then one hundred representatives from different disability concerned organizations, disabled persons, and children with disabilities. At the workshop the current level of implementation of Millennium decade of disabled persons following Biwako Millennium Framework was discussed.

Finally a half day workshop was organized at national level with representatives from different ministries, INGOs, NGOs, DPOs, along with disabled people including children with disabilities where the issues have been shared. The recommendations have been incorporated in the report.

Level of implementation against Suggested Strategies on Biwako Millennium Framework

• A comprehensive national plan of action has been developed involving an inter-ministerial taskforce under National Coordination Council which is yet to be approved by Ministry of Cabinet Affairs.
• In compliance of Disability Welfare Act, the National Coordination Council and the District Councils have been constituted with the provision of members with disabilities
• Active participation was made from NGOs through providing input to the Convention document and participation in Ad Hoc Committee meetings. National level workshop were organized on UN Convention with Government and NGO representatives including children and persons with disabilities.
• A prevalence study on persons with disability was conducted through NGO initiative. Initial work on the identification and registration process has been started.
• Disability definition has been defined and approved through the Disability Act. Necessary amendment has been suggested which are in process.
• Government and NGOs have initiated a joint plan to initiate process of drafting a non-discrimination policy.
• The process has been initiated by NGOs to involve the National Human Rights Institutions to address the issue of protection of disabled people’s rights.
• Community based intervention concerning disability issues exist widely in the country by NGOs intervention but no such policy has yet been adopt at government level
• Besides the National Action Plan, District level Plan of Action has been developed by District Disability Committees in 40 districts out of 68. Plans are not adequately addressed and executed.
• Bangladesh is actively involved in APCD through participating in APCD training and also sharing expertise.
• The Bangladesh Government along with NGOs are actively involved in extending cooperation in the regional context particularly within the network of ESCAP
• There exists a mutual cooperation in regional and international context from both Government and NGOs sectors.

Level of Implementation against Seven Priority Areas and Targets:

1) Self-help organizations of persons with disabilities

• A National Policy for Persons with disabilities has been approved by the government in pursuit of the constitutional provisions dealing with the rights of the people with disability.
• Following the Policy and the international commitments, the Government has enacted the Disabled Welfare Act, 2001. The law has been seen as a step forward towards realizing the various commitments of the Government in protecting the rights of the persons with disabilities.
• The National coordinating council was reformed to undertake and coordinate different activities on disability concern.
• District Coordination Councils also have been formed all over the country with government official and representatives of NGOs working on disability issues.

Implementation beyond target framework:

Self help organizations, based on individual types of disability ie physical, visual, hearing and speech, intellectual, have existed for a long time.

In recent days national level alliance of self help organization have been formed and, National alliance of women with disabilities have also emerged.

A large number of self help groups have emerged with the support of international agencies and national self help organizations.

2) Women with disabilities

• The government is still in planning to initiate systematic approach to address the target at suggested levels. Most of the self help organizations have adopted policies or are in practice to promote representation and participation of women with disabilities.

3) Early intervention and education

• Issues of education for children with disability have been included in Primary Education Development Plan.
• Ministry of Education and Primary and Mass Education has officially announced gradual inclusion of children with disability in mainstream education.
• A good number of NGOs started inclusion of disabled learners in their Non-formal education programs.
• Efforts have been taken at NGO level on early interventions, but these are very negligible in comparison to the country’s needs.

4) Training and employment, including self-employment

• Government through the Ministry of Social Welfare operates two vocational training institutes for people with disabilities.
• The Government had declared a quota for people with disabilities for government jobs. A Government circular recently issued by the Prime Minister emphasized the promotion of quota-based employment for people with disabilities.

Implementation beyond target framework:

Considering disability as a development issue, a good number of development organization initiated inclusion of people with disabilities in their existing and new micro credit scheme.

The government recently declared initiation of special loan provisions for people with disabilities to promote self employment.

Specific Job placement initiatives have been undertaken by few of the self-help organization and organizations working with disability issues.

5) Access to built environment and public transport

• The recent law in the country introduced a building code which indicates accessibility facilities for people with disabilities.
• A new circular was followed by a few decisions taken from the office of the Prime Minister where emphasis has been given to initiate immediate action on accessibility options for PWDs.
• The enactment of law in the country has already incorporated a minimum standard of requirements in what has been referred to as a barrier free movement for PWDs in all the sectors of the ongoing construction devices.

6) Access to information and communication including ICT

• Some NGOs have initiated accessibility features for visually impaired persons in their ICT related facilities particularly in accessing computer and internet services. This is however extremely limited allowing access to only a few students and NGO workers.

7) Poverty alleviation through social security and livelihood programs

• Government has included disability concerned issues in Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper where interventions are suggested.
• Micro credit programmes have been initiated by Social Service Department and some schedule banks to promote economic emancipation of persons with disabilities.
• Provision of allowances have been introduced for old age disabled people for social protection of disabled people

Consideration for further interventions:

National Coordination Council and the District Disability Welfare Committee was formed following the Disability Welfare Act, where the provision for inclusion of representative from NGOs concerning disability issues has been made but there is no such indication of inclusion of self help organization as members.

Process will be initiated to include representative of self help organization in the composition of the National Coordination Committee and the district Disability Welfare Committees and also in the planning and executing authoritative bodies concerned with issues such as infrastructure, education, communication etc.

Ministry of Primary Education has announced gradual inclusion of learners with disabilities. This requires attention to be prepared to systematically include learners with disability with basic required supports and facilities.

The issues of disabled children so far included in the Primary Education Development Plan will be pursued to take immediate action to execute plans.

Govt. health service authorities will be pursued to training their field workers and be made responsible for early intervention activities concerning disability issues.

The vocational training centers operated by government and NGOs will be facilitated to systematically included provision for vocational training for persons with disabilities

The national building code has incorporated access provision for people with disabilities into existing building code. Persuasion will be made to the concerned authority for adding additional features or making infra-structural modifications to allow accessibility for people with disabilities.

Systematic attempt will be made to Include accessibility features for persons with disabilities in national ICT policy.

The National PRSP document has included disability concerned issues which needs to be elaborated to explained interventions for policy implications at various levels. Facilitation will be made to the concerned authorities for such initiative.

Conclusion:

There has been some progress in connection with the Biwako Millennium Framework, but its extent is still inadequate in comparison to the suggested strategies and targets. There is still a long and difficult path that Bangladesh needs to take in its efforts to establish Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. Almost half of the decade has passed and the moment of mid-point review of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action is near. It requires a lot more inputs and resources from government and all other sectors for effective and efficient policies, strategies, programs and action plans to achieve the decade targets. One of the greatest strength that has being achieved so far is the strong commitment of the nation and the bondage between the Government and the NGOs to work in partnership towards equalization.

At this moment, a thorough review of the targets and strategies and develop plans for the second half of the decade is the essential one which will allow the country to take measures to attain the missing areas and set appropriate plans to move ahead strategically.

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