Interregional Consultative Expert Meeting
on disability-sensitive policy design and evaluation
for sustainable livelihoods for all in the twenty-first century

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Background to the Meeting

3. Selected experience of Governments concerning sustainable livelihoods for persons with disabilities

A number of important initiatives on sustainable livelihoods by Governments were reported in the " third review and appraisal of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons"[21] in 1997 and in subsequent Programme implementation reports.

A "Seminar on Employment and Sustainable Livelihoods of People with Disabilities" organized at the United Nations on 26 April 1999 reviewed and discussed enabling factors and obstacles to promotion of employment opportunities and sustainable livelihoods by, for and with persons with disabilities. Special attention was directed to the role of technology transfer, micro-credit and institutional development. The Seminar had presentations by representatives of the academic and non-governmental communities as well as the private sector on international policy issues and trends and on selected project experiences from Africa and Latin America. Seminar participants noted that the data available suggest that poverty is not gender-neutral, and that women with disabilities face a double burden in their pursuit of employment and sustainable livelihoods. However, the data also indicate that women with disabilities are as capable as men with respect to creating viable employment opportunities. This suggests a need, as an essential part of any employment promotion strategy, to target small-scale credit and technical and managerial training to meet the particular needs, capacities and interests of women with disabilities. [22]

Reports provided the United Nations on experiences of Governments in promoting sustainable livelihoods for persons with disabilities describe a number of innovative measures taken to integrate persons with disabilities in social and economic life. For instance, several countries or areas reported on recently enacted legislation or amendments concerning the employment of persons with disabilities. For example, Austrian policies are based on the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities and their integration into the mainstream labour market. The Federal Republic of Germany reports that persons with disabilities are guaranteed to enjoy a "social right", independent of the cause of their disability, to be secure of their place within the community, particularly in employment. The Parliament of Greece enacted law 2643/98 to promote employment of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors. The law provides innovative ways for persons with disabilities to be part of the mainstream workforce and strengthens opportunities for self-employment through subsidy programmes. In Mexico, a new programme of scholarships was designed for persons with disabilities to facilitate their integration in the labour market during their unemployment. [23]

The experience of private sector policy research suggested that people with disabilities face the same obstacles as do all people in their pursuit of economic opportunities: access to capital, technology, technical skills and managerial abilities in order to design and deliver viable products and services to markets. However, there are particular obstacles that people with disabilities may face in the workplace, including problems of accessible work environments, and transportation and communication, and the associated need for personal assistants, and for personal esteem which is critical to realize one's full potential. New information technologies, such as the Internet, provide persons with disabilities with expanded opportunities to interact with other development actors, to participate in economic decisions and to gain access to non-traditional economic opportunities. The data available suggest that three actions are needed to bring about full and effective integration of people with disabilities in the mainstream economy.

First, there is a need to ensure that people with disabilities have the same access to the factors of production, as do all persons. This includes a need for non-discrimination legislation.

Second, there is a need for regular consultation with organizations of persons with disabilities on plans and programmes that aim to assist them in their economic pursuits and improve their well-being.

Third, there is a need to incorporate the disability dimension in discussions on economic development issues in the concerned bodies of the United Nations. [24]

At the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, held in New York in September 2000, heads of State and Government resolved to "develop and implement strategies that give young people everywhere a real chance to find decent and productive work". Finding appropriate policies for promoting the sustainable livelihoods for young persons with disabilities represents a key issue in the fulfillment of this important mandate.

With regard to social services and safety nets the matter of mainstream social services planning and evaluation from the disability perspective - rather than as a specific social group issue - was considered at an expert "Workshop on Ensuring Access to Social Services of Under-Served Populations (Bangkok, 2-6 November 1998)". The Workshop was organized by the United Nations as follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development in cooperation with the National Institute of Development Administration of Thailand. The Workshop considered the concept of under-served populations in both qualitative and quantitative terms that pertained to all members of society. Recommendations submitted focused on improvements in planning and design of basic social services for all, on means to strengthen involvement by civil society, on improvements in the flow of accessible information, and on measures to promote social inclusion, full participation and accountability. The results of the Workshop are reflected in the agreed conclusions on "social services for all" adopted by the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-seventh session. Among other points, the Commission agreed that universal access by all to social services is a central goal for social and economic development policies (paragraph 4); and that systems for provision of social services must not exclude or discriminate against persons with disabilities. Delivery of social services to people with disabilities should ensure their functional independence for active participation (paragraph 18). [25]

The disability perspective on social services and social safety nets was considered in a Panel Discussion on "Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities" that was held at the United Nations on 3 December 1998 in connection with the observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons. With its focus on the promotion of sustainable and secure livelihoods for all, the Panel considered policy issues and strategies for promoting basic investments in social infrastructure to build national capacities and institutional capabilities. In a contributed presentation on "Planning for Disability", the point was made that disability is normal: it could happen to anyone at any point in the life cycle. Overcoming disabling conditions depended in large measure on the nature of the physical and social environments in which people lived. From the disability perspective, the question of sustainable livelihoods for all thus introduces social and economic accessibility issues, such as access to education, to information and telecommunications technologies, and to opportunities for income and wealth. Disability-sensitive policy design and planning, which is based on universal principles, contribute to sustainable livelihoods for all. [26]

Replies from Governments suggest a growing concern with establishing legal protection and guarantees regarding social safety nets for persons with disabilities. The replies also indicate a focus on medical, social and psychological rehabilitation services to improve the lives and well being of persons with disabilities. For instance, the Government of the Republic of Moldova reports on its development of social networks, involving both governmental and non-governmental bodies and organizations, and the decentralizing of social services for persons with disabilities. The Government of Armenia reports that it has taken a number of measures to guarantee a social safety net for persons with disabilities. [27]

Innovative arrangements by many Governments have been introduced to provide for long-term care through a combination of benefits in cash and in kind. These may be provided as an integral part of social services, such as measures to assist persons with disabilities to participate in community life. Other approaches include legislation and measures to promote social integration of persons with disabilities. In the Republic of Georgia, legislation has been adopted on medical and social expertise concerning persons with disabilities. The Republic of the Philippines promotes policies on access to education, health care, professional training, and information to integrate the concerns of persons with disabilities in various agenda and plans. [28]

The Government of Sweden reports that in many respects, Swedish society has become more accessible to persons with disabilities over the last decade, mainly through the development of the general welfare system, which takes specially directed efforts to advance the status of persons with disabilities. Singapore has initiated several measures based on the principle that the care and welfare of persons with disabilities should be the concern of the family, the community and the Government. [29]

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Notes:

21 Cited in United Nations General Assembly document A/54/388/Add.1.

22 Margaret Snyder, "Issues in gender-sensitive and disability-responsive policy research, training and action"; paper presented to Seminar on employment and sustainable livelihoods of persons with disabilities; issues in technology transfer, microcredit and institutional development (United Nations, 26 April 1999) <http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disrppeg.htm>.

23 United Nations General Assembly document A/56/169.

24 María Cristina Sará Serrano, "Las personas con discapacidad sí puedan intergarse a la economía internaciónal"; paper presented to Seminar on employment and sustainable livelihoods of persons with disabilities; issues in technology transfer, microcredit and institutional development (United Nations, 26 April 1999) <http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disrpa1.htm>.

25 Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement no. 6, op. cit.

26 Robert L. Metts, PhD, "Planning for Disability"; paper presented at Panel discussion on independent living of persons with disabilities (United Nations, 3 December 1998) <http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disid98f.htm>.

27 Cited in United Nations General Assembly document A/54/388.

28 Ibid.

29 Ibid.

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