Programme : Presentation on 25 September 2003

Biwako Millennium Framework towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities & Developments on a Thematic Convention on Disability

Text version of a Powerpoint Presentation
Presented on 25 September 2003, 1:30pm

Slide 1

BIWAKO MILLENNIUM FRAMEWORK

Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific

Preamble

Beijing, 1992
Launch of Agenda for Action, Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002

Resolution 58/4 (May 2002)
Promoting an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for people with disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region in the twenty-first century (2003 - 2012)

Paradigm shift
From charity-based approach to inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based

Principles and policy directions

Enact and enforce legislation and policies
Disability issues as part of all national development policies and plans
National coordination committees
Development of persons with disabilities and their organizations and include them in national policy decision-making

Principles and policy directions

Integral part of Millennium Development Goals
Data collection and analysis
Early intervention, education, health and rehabilitation
Strengthen community-based approaches
Universal and inclusive design for all persons

Seven priority areas for action

Self-help organizations of persons with disabilities and related family and parent associations;
Women with disabilities;
Early detection, early intervention and education;
Training and employment;
Access to built environments and public transport;
Access to information and communications, including ICT;
Poverty alleviation .

1. Self-help organizations (SHOs)

Critical issues:

SHOs - best informed and most motivated
Rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) for self-representation

Targets:

By 2004 - Govt. funding and NGO policies to support SHOs
By 2005 - Govt. and civil society fully include PWDs in decision-making

Actions required:

increase the level of consultations with SHOs
set up a Government policy review panel
increase the representation of PWDs
improve the capacity-building process
engage rural persons with disabilities
give priority to SHOs, by international agencies and NGOs

2. Women with disabilities (WWD)

Critical issues:

WWD are marginalized and discriminated against
SHOs and gender movement have not met needs
Govt. responsibility to rectify imbalances

Targets:

By 2005 - anti-discrimination measures
By 2005 - SHO policies to promote WWDs
By 2005 - WWDs in mainstream women's associations

Actions required:

Equal access, non-discrimination
Public awareness and information
Representation
Training, leadership, self-help, capacity-building

3. Early detection, early intervention and education

Critical issues:

<10% of CWDs have access to education
Barriers to early intervention
Need for inclusive education

Targets:

By 2010 - 75% of CWDs receive full primary education
By 2015 - CWDs integral to MDG on primary education
By 2012 - early intervention for all children
Ensure early detection of CWD at a very early stage

Actions required:

Legislation to mandate EFA
Policies, plans, budget for EFA CWD
Data collection, target setting
Early detection and intervention services
Accessible schools and school transport by 2012
Improve the quality of education for all children
Regional cooperation

4. Training and employment, including self-employment

Critical issues:

PWDs have right to decent work
Goal is full participation of PWDs in community life
Lack of trained staff and other capacity

Targets:

By 2012 - 30% signatories ratify ILO Convention, 1983
By 2012 - 30% of vocational training include PWDs
By 2010 - reliable data on employment of PWDs

Actions required:

Examine, ratify and implement ILO Convention, 1983
Employer incentives, Govt. as model employer
Improve training capacity and access
Build social partnerships, increase funding
PWDs in entrepreneurship and credit programmes
Data collection and dissemination

5. Access to built environments and public transport

Critical issues:

Inaccessibility is the major barrier to participation
Design for all benefits many population groups
Inclusive design reduces accidents

Targets:

Adopt and enforce accessibility standards
By 2012 - existing and new transport fully accessible
Inclusive design in loan/grant criteria

Actions required:

Exchange information on accessible environments
Inclusive design principles in professional educ.
Innovative techniques to enhance accessibility
Appraisal mechanisms on standards
Include accessibility needs in rural and agricultural development programmes
Create access officer posts at various levels
SHOs to present their needs collectively

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

Critical issues:

Digital divide Great potential for PWDs
Poverty and isolation are barriers
Information and communication are basic rights

Targets:

By 2005 - equal access to Internet
By 2004 - int'l ICT standards & accessibility
By 2005 -national ICT standards & accessibility
Develop a standardized sign language, finger Braille etc.,
Establish a system of employable sign language interpreters, Braille transcribers etc.,

Actions required:

Govt. laws, policies and programmes
Accessibility units, awareness raising, capacity building, incentives, participation
Consumer networks
Universal, open, non-proprietary standards
Standard character encoding and modelling
Donor agencies include ICT accessibility in award criteria
Establish a regional working group to develop ICT standards

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

Critical issues:

40% of PWDs live in poverty
Data on reasons for low level of social services
Integrated approach needed

Target:

Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of persons with disabilities living on less than $1 / day

Actions required:

Include PWDs in poverty alleviation programmes
Data collection, poverty mapping, funding
Mainstream disability issues in development
Build strategic alliances among stakeholders
Prevention and rehabilitation strategy
Self-help groups

Strategies to achieve the BMF targets

Disability issues should have:

National plan of action
A rights-based approach
Statistics and common definitions for planning
Strengthened community-based approaches to prevention of causes, rehabilitation and empowerment of PWD

Cooperation and support for the BMF

Sub-regional cooperation and collaboration
Regional collaboration
- Asia-Pacific Development Centre on disability
- Networking among centres of excellence
Interregional collaboration

Monitoring and review

Organization of regional and sub-regional meetings
Regional working group to coordinate and monitor the BMF
Mid-point review of the BMF

Thank you for your attention

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