Biwako Plus Five

Draft adopted by EGM

27-28 February 2007

A. Preamble

B. Targets and Actions in the BMF Priority Areas

1. Self-help organizations of persons with disabilities (SHOs) and related family and parent associations
2. Women with disabilities
3. Early detection, early intervention and education
4. Training and employment, including self-employment
5. Access to built environments and public transport
6. Access to information and communications, including information, communications and assistive technologies
7. Poverty alleviation through capacity-building, social security and sustainable livelihood programmes

C. Key Strategies

1. Promoting a rights-based approach for all
2. Improving understanding of the concept of disability
3. Strengthening and enabling an effective mechanism and environment
4. Improving the availability and quality of disability data and other information for policy formulation and implementation
5. Further promotion of disability-inclusive development

D. Enhancing Cooperation and Support in pursuance of the BMF

E. Enhancing effective monitoring and review

A. Preamble

1. In pursuance of the resolution 58/4 of 22 May 2002, representatives of members and associate members of ESCAP decided on the extension of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons for another decade, from 2003 to 2012. The Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society in Asia and the Pacific (BMF) was adopted as its definitive policy guideline at the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting to Conclude the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, held in Shiga, Japan in 2002 [**Reference to Proclamation here or in para 3. Reference to Agenda for Action] The BMF emphasizes the paradigm shift from a charity-based approach to a rights-based approach to the development of persons with disabilities, promotes a barrier-free, inclusive and rights-based society, which embraces the diversity of human beings, enables and advances the socio-economic contribution of its members, and ensures realization of rights by persons with disabilities. The BMF identifies seven priority areas and four major strategic areas, in which 21 targets and 17 strategies were set out, respectively. Through its resolution 59/3 of 4 September 2003, Governments, in collaboration with other stakeholders such as UN agencies, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and civil society organizations reaffirm their commitment to the implementation of the BMF. In pursuance of the resolution 61/8 of 18 May 2005, in which it requests the organization of the high-level intergovernmental meeting on the mid-point review of the Decade in 2007, ESCAP reviewed the BMF implementation during the first five years from 2003 to 2007.

2. One of the most significant normative developments during the first five years of the Decade has been the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol on 13 December 2006, marking the beginning of a new era in the global efforts to promote and safeguard the civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of persons with disabilities, and the promotion of disability-inclusive development and international cooperation. The General Assembly resolution 61/106 of that day calls upon States to consider signing and ratifying the Convention and the Optional Protocol as a matter of priority. The BMF and the Convention are complementary, in that they both pursue the common goal of achieving a barrier-free, inclusive and rights-based society. The Convention represents the latest thinking of the members of the United Nations about what is required to ensure that persons with disabilities fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The effective implementation of the BMF will contribute significantly to the implementation of the Convention; conversely, the steps taken by States which ratify the Convention to implement it will contribute to their implementation of the BMF.

3. The first five years of the Decade also witnessed other significant developments, for example in relation to community-based approaches: a Strategy for Rehabilitation, Equalization of Opportunities, Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities adopted in 2004 revealed the rights-based approach to community-based approaches. The World Summit for Information Society (WSIS) adopted its declaration and principles in 2005; these address the importance of universal design and assistive technologies. WHO resolution 58/23 of 25 May 2005 addresses the need for research on the situation of persons with disabilities in the world, from prevention and rehabilitation perspectives. The Hyogo Framework for Action was adopted in 2005, calling on Governments to develop policy and to coordinate with other stakeholders in the field of disaster preparedness and management.

4. The mid-point review shows that the implementation of the BMF has resulted in some positive developments. Many Governments have also taken steps to incorporate the concepts of rights of persons with disabilities in their constitutions, legislation, national plans of action, and policies and programs. Persons with diverse disabilities in the region have proved their capabilities in addressing their needs and engaging in policy discourse in the drafting process of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and have been increasingly active in the decision-making processes at the regional and national levels. The review also reveals that increasing number of international aid or cooperation agencies have started to explore and develop "disability-inclusive development" in which the perspective of the rights of persons with disabilities is mainstreamed in general development policy-making and operations.

5. Despite the progress, the challenges and obstacles remain. The lack of availability and quality of disability demographic data and socio-economic indicators data continues to be one of the major problems. During the last five years, the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was reviewed. While the goals relating to poverty and education were translated into the targets of two of the seven priority areas of the BMF, and the rights of persons with disabilities were recognized in the 2005 World Summit Outcome, the attention given in the implementation of the MDGs from a disability perspective has not been adequate. Natural disasters and conflicts in the region have led to physical, institutional, attitudinal and information barriers for all people, but in particular persons with different types of disabilities; this underlines the need for better disability-inclusive disaster and conflict management.

6. In taking forward the BMF, representatives of members and associate members of ESCAP discussed and finalized the present document entitled "Biwako Plus Five" at the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Mid-point Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, held from 19 to 21 September 2007 at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok Thailand. The Biwako Plus Five draws upon the findings of the five-year review, taking into consideration global normative developments, the emerging disability needs of the region, and the challenges and obstacles which need to be overcome. It will supplement the BMF and make a significant contribution to its enhanced implementation for the remaining five years of the Decade (2008-2012), contributing to the creation of an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society.

B. Targets and actions in the BMF priority areas

In the BMF, there are 21 targets and 17 strategies. While target dates for the achievement of 8 targets and 4 strategies were set before 2007, Governments and other stakeholders will need to continue their efforts to achieve them, where that has not already been done.

1. Self-help organizations of persons with disabilities (SHOs) and related family and parent associations

SHOs, related family and parent organizations at all levels, with support from Government and other stakeholders, should:

1. further develop organizations of persons with disabilities at the local and national level, and promote their networking at the regional level.
2. facilitate the participation of individuals with disabilities in the political process (i.e., voting, representation), as well as in the development of economic and social policies and programmes.
3. foster the development of young men and women with disabilities as leaders.
4. support the formation of SHOs of persons with intellectual disabilities, psycho-social disabilities, and multiple disabilities.
5. Encourage cooperation between the urban-based self-help groups/organizations and rural-based self-help groups/organizations of persons with disabilities.

2. Women with disabilities

1. Governments should ensure:
   1. the inclusion of gender perspectives, as appropriate, in any disability-relevant policy, programmes, plans, or legislation;
   2. the inclusion of the perspectives of women with disabilities in the development of gender-relevant policies, programmes, plans or legislation.
   3. the participation of women with disabilities and organizations of women with disabilities in the processes of developing both gender-releant and disability-related policies, programmes, plans and legislationse processes
2. Governments, together with SHOs, to support the empowerment of women, in particular through assertiveness training
3. SHOs should also ensure that they take gender perspectives into account, and ensure the participation of women with disabilities in all their activities.

3. Early detection, early intervention and education

1. Community-based detection and intervention shall be comprehensive, including rehabilitation, counseling and other appropriate services and support
2. Governments should ensure the access of persons with disabilities to education (including the acquisition of literacy skills), and to adult education and life-long learning
3. Governments should ensure that the education of all children, including those who are blind, deaf or deaf blind, is delivered in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication.
4. Governments should take appropriate measures to employ teachers, including teachers with disabilities, who are qualified in sign language and/or Braille, and to train professionals and staff who work at all levels of education.

4. Training and employment, including self-employment

1. Governments, with support from NGOs, should develop partnerships with employers, national and multinational, which include the development of hiring and retention incentives, the promotion of positive awareness and the operation of joint training and employment programmes to increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in the formal sector.
2. Governments should include persons with disabilities in mainstream public employment services and provide support and services to persons with disabilities and employers to assist with recruitment, job placement and retention. Further, they should maintain rosters of job-ready persons with disabilities for referral to employers.
3. Governments need to adopt policies and practices related to vocational rehabilitation, job-readiness training, and/or skills redevelopment or retraining for adults with disabilities who lack employment experience or whose skills are obsolete or who can no longer return to their former jobs due to disability.
4. Governments should develop innovative strategies that address barriers to employment of persons with disabilities in remote, rural, agricultural, and economically depressed areas that include new developments in community-based approaches, social enterprises, innovative self-employment and credit schemes and on-the-job and peer training.

5. Access to built environments and public transport

1. Governments, in collaboration with SHOs and other stakeholders, and where appropriate, with the assistance of international organizations or agencies, should develop technical guidelines for accessibility, which should cover built environment, transportation, information and services. Particular emphasis should be placed on the development of accessibility guidelines applicable in rural areas.
2. Governments should mainstream accessible tourism in overall tourism development policy and action plans and should promote accessible tourism. Accessible tourism includes the removal of physical, attitudinal and institutional and informational barriers in society, and encompasses an accessible environment, transportation, information and communications and services that consequently benefit not only persons with different disabilities, but also older persons, families with young children and all other travellers.
3. Governments, in collaboration with other stakeholders, should ensure all services which are open or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for persons with disabilities

6. Access to information and communications, including information, communications and assistive technologies

1.  Governments should actively promote accessibility in respect of information and communication, including information and communication technology, in order to ensure the full enjoyment of their rights by persons with disabilities and, in doing so, shall have due regard to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society.
2. Governments should disseminate any public information in accessible language and format, including via accessible technologies.
3. Governments should take appropriate measures to ensure that facilities and services open or provided to the public, and all other official interactions, accept and facilitate the use of sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative communication, and all other accessible means, modes and formats of communication chosen by persons with disabilities. Governments should recognize that "language" includes spoken and signed languages and other forms of non-spoken language, and that communication may involve the use of languages, display of text, Braille, tactile communication, large print, accessible multimedia as well as written, audio, plain-language, human-reader and augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, including accessible information and communication technology.
4. Governments, in collaboration with the private sector, should enhance the access by persons with disabilities to banking and other services provided electronically.
5. Governments, together with other stakeholders, should promote research and development, and procurement of information and assistive technologies, following universal design concept and internationally recognized accessibility standards.

7. Poverty alleviation through capacity-building, social security and sustainable livelihood programmes

1. Governments should take appropriate measures to integrate the concerns of persons with disabilities in national economic and social development programmes.
2. Governments, in collaboration with international and regional financial institutions and DPOs, should ensure the incorporation of disability perspectives in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) and other national development frameworks.

C. Key strategies

The following strategies build on and expand the strategies set out in the BMF. They reflect the lessons learnt from the efforts already undertaken to implement the BMF, and the need to address new issues and concerns which have emerged since the adoption of the BMF.

1. Promoting a rights-based approach for all

1. In order to reinforce the rights-based approach enshrined in the BMF Governments should reexamine existing laws to ensure that they comply with United Nations standards on human rights and disabilities, and take steps to repeal or amend inconsistent laws, as well as to adopt laws which will ensure and promote the rights of persons with disabilities on the basis of equality with others. This process of review and reform should be undertaken with the effective participation of persons with different disabilities.
2. Where this has not already been done, Governments should develop anti-discrimination legislation which effectively promotes and protects rights of persons with disabilities, including groups of persons with disabilities who suffer from multiple discrimination. Successful case studies of the enforcement of such law in the region should be disseminated. Particular attention should be paid to gender perspective.
3. Governments should consider the establishment of an independent statutory independent mechanism or the designation of an existing mechanism to assist in the implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities and monitoring the extent to which persons with disabilities enjoy those rights in practice. Persons with disabilities should be represented in such bodies and should participate in their activities.
4. Governments should promote and protect the right of persons with disabilities to enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as understood in the light of the rights guaranteed in the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
5. Governments should consider signing and ratification of, or accession to, the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol as a matter of priority.
6. Governments should promote equality between men and women and respect for the rights of children with disabilities.
7. Persons with disabilities are entitled to participate fully in all aspects of social life on the basis of equality with others, and Governments should take all necessary measures to ensure that this entitlement is enjoyed in practice.

2. Improving understanding of the concept of disability

1. Governments should recognize the evolving nature of the concept of disability and in particular that disability is the result of the interaction between persons with impairments and physical, institutional, attitudinal and information barriers in society, which hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.
2. Governments should incorporate this understanding of disability into their existing and new policies. Particular attention should be paid to the limitations on full participation and enjoyment of rights which result from the shortcomings of social environment, rather than an emphasis on disability as an individual pathology. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) should be considered as a useful reference-point for this purpose.

3. Strengthening and enabling an effective mechanism and environment

1. Governments should, if they have not already done so, establish or designate an institutional mechanism to coordinate and monitor policies and programmes concerning disability; this should ensure both the effective and regular participation of representatives of all ministries, as well as the participation of persons with different types of disabilities. Local government should be an integral part of this mechanism as well.
2. Governments should adequately and on sustainable basis finance the implementation of relevant policies and programmes, data collection, capacity building of government officials, experts and persons with disabilities as well as the operation of a disability coordination mechanism.
3. Awareness-raising of disability as a rights-issue and inclusive development-issue should be promoted through the effective networking and collaboration with media, research institutions, legal professionals, donor and development agencies and private sector.
4. Governments and other stakeholders should ensure that the BMF and this document are disseminated to local-level government authorities and communities in accessible formats.

4. Improving the availability and quality of disability data and other information for policy formulation and implementation

1. The importance of disability data collection should be stressed and advocated within the UN system, among decision-makers at all levels, academic institutions and other civil society organizations, within a discourse on development and human rights policy development, including MDG-related programmes.
2. Governments should ensure the development and adoption of policies or laws to mandate disability data collection, as well as the allocation of the requisite resources. Such policies and laws should ensure confidentiality and respect for the privacy of persons with disabilities.
3. As far as possible, data should be classified by socio-economic status of persons with disabilities including the type of impairment, gender, age, education, employment and income.
4. Governments, in collaboration with international organizations and SHOs, should build data collection capacity for incorporating disability into their population censuses and surveys.
5. Governments should develop innovative methods of data collection to reach out to persons with disabilities who are illiterate or who live in remote areas.
6. ESCAP and other United Nations agencies should assist Governments in enhancing their policy development capacity, by such means as policy analysis, publications, accessible web-based knowledge management, technical support, training, and methodology development, where necessary.
7. Governments should undertake regular assessments of the impact of policies and programmes which are intended to improve the situation of persons with disabilities to ensure the full enjoyment by them of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. The results of these evaluations should be made available to the public in accessible formats.

5. Further promotion of disability-inclusive development

1. Governments should incorporate disability perspectives in their promotion and monitoring of the implementation of the MDGs.
2. International and regional development organizations and agencies, including UN development organizations and agencies, should adopt a disability-inclusive approach in the development of policies and programmes, as well as in their operations; they should develop specific guidelines and criteria in order to ensure that this is done in an effective manner that can be evaluated.
3. Governments and civil society, in collaboration with the UN development organizations and agencies, should develop effective disability indicators for the MDGs
4. Governments should mainstream disability perspectives in all of their development plans, in particular those relating to the issues of poverty, education, information technology and gender.
5. Governments and disabled people organizations (DPOs) should develop and enhance networking with the private sector in their efforts to reduce poverty and other development activities concerning persons with disabilities.
6. Disability-inclusive disaster management should be promoted. Disability perspectives should be duly included in the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015, an international framework to promote the commitment of Governments to disaster management.

D. Enhancing Cooperation and Support in pursuance of the BMF

1. An inter-agency coordination mechanism, involving UNDP, OHCHR, ILO, UNESCO, FAO, UNICEF, and other relevant bodies should be established to effectively implement the BMF and the Biwako Plus Five.
2. Governments and international organizations should enhance sub-regional cooperation and collaboration through sub-regional governmental organizations such as ASEAN, SAARC, the Pacific Islands Forum, and CAREF, as well as through other forms of collaboration such as APCD projects. Other groupings of countries with shared interests (eg. the Mekong countries) should utilize or develop networking mechanisms for these purposes.
3. All stakeholders should disseminate case studies and other information about good practices in support of effective implementation of BMF and capacity-building

E. Enhancing effective monitoring and review

1. A review of the BMF and BMF plus Five implementation review should be conducted at the end of the Decade at regional, subregional and national levels.

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