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II. Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons A. Measures undertaken by the United Nations system B. Cooperation with Governments and
international III. Draft Plan of Action to implement the Long-Term Strategy to further Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond Annex. Towards a society for all: Long-term Strategy to I INTRODUCTION |
III. Draft Plan of Action to implement the Long-Term Strategy to further Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond
48. The draft plan of action, entitled "Towards a society
for all: Long term Strategy to Implement the World Programme of Action
concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond" is
contained in the annex to the present document. It is based upon the
report of the United Nations Expert Meeting on the Long Term Strategy to
Further Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond (Vancouver, Canada, 25 29
April 1992), 5/ the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group to Elaborate
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for People with
Disabilities, 6/ views received from both Governments and non
governmental organizations, and relevant developments during the period
under review.
Notes
1/ WHO/HST/GSP/93.3.
2/ United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.XIII.9.
3/ Ibid., Sales No. E.93.XVII.9.
4/ CES/AC.36/51; EURO/ICP/IIST/157/51.
5/ E/CN.5/1993/4.
6/ E/CN.5/1993/5.
ANNEX: Towards a society for all: Long term Strategy to Implement the
World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000
and Beyond
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The Long term Strategy to Implement the World Programme of Action
concerning Disabled Persons (the "Long term Strategy") was
developed at the end of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons
(1983 1992) through broad based consultations in accordance with General
Assembly resolutions 45/91, 46/96 and 48/99 and Economic and Social
Council resolution 1993/20.
2. The Long-term Strategy provides a framework for collaborative action
in implementing the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled
Persons (the "World Programme") (A/37/351/Add.1 and
Add.1/Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation 1 (IV)), as well as the
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities (the "Standard Rules") (resolution 48/96, annex).
It incorporates those national, regional and global measures which
proved successful and sustainable in the course of the Decade. It
envisages national medium term plans as the leading edge of the
Strategy. The component elements of a national plan are suggested
expecting, however, that these will be adapted to national needs,
resources and aspirations. The Strategy's guiding vision is the concept
of a society for all. Its foundation remains the three themes of the
World Programme prevention of disability, rehabilitation and
equalization of opportunities for disabled persons.
II. PREAMBLE
3. During the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983 1992),
consensus was reached on the need to remove the social and physical
barriers that limit the participation of individuals in society. It
became clear that society creates a handicap when it fails to
accommodate the diversity of all its members.
4. People with disabilities often encounter attitudinal and
environmental barriers that prevent their full, equal and active
participation in society. These barriers impinge particularly on the
well-being of persons with intellectual, mental or multiple
disabilities. They add to the disadvantage customarily experienced by
disabled persons belonging to such populations or social groups as
women, children, the elderly and refugees.
5. In developing countries, where 80 per cent of the disabled population
live, the widespread lack of basic necessities of life such as medical
services, education, training, employment and shelter is acutely
experienced by disabled persons.
6. The achievements of the Decade have been significant. They include a
new level of leadership by organizations of disabled persons; an
increasing willingness by civil society to adjust to the diversity of
its members, including those with disabilities; greater recognition by
the international community of the need to equalize opportunities for
disabled persons, and widespread agreement on the effectiveness of
community based rehabilitation with disabled persons and their families
actively involved in programme design, implementation and evaluation.
7. These and other achievements, as well as operational measures that
proved successful during the past decade, provide the springboard for
the Long term Strategy. The Strategy, however, does not stand alone. It
must be seen as an integral part of the goals and programmes of the
greater society, including in the areas of sustainable development,
technical cooperation, reduction of hunger and malnutrition, protection
of the environment and promotion of peace, human rights, employment,
shelter and functional literacy. It is in this broad context that the
challenges faced by disabled persons need to be continuingly articulated
and ultimately resolved.
III. TOWARDS A SOCIETY FOR ALL
8. In a society for all, the needs of all citizens constitute the basis
for planning and policy. The general system of society is made
accessible to all. By accommodating its structures and functioning to
the needs of all, a society mobilizes the potential of all its citizens
and, consequently, strengthens its developmental potential.
9. People with disabilities are a natural and integral part of society
and, in the interest of society as a whole, should have opportunities to
contribute their experience, talents and capabilities to national and
international development.
10. The concept of a society for all, encompassing human diversity and
the development of all human potential, can be said to embody, in a
single phrase, the human rights instruments of the United Nations.
Defining and translating the human rights of disabled persons into
specific measures and programmes remains a major challenge. The recently
adopted Standard Rules can help guide public policy in the direction of
ensuring the human rights of disabled persons.
11. The Standard Rules focus on the equalization of opportunities for
disabled persons, one of the three main themes of the World Programme of
Action. Rules 5 to 12 directly address eight areas of equal
participation (each area containing a number of specific targets):
accessibility, education, employment, income maintenance and social
security, family life and personal integrity, culture, recreation and
sports, and religion.
12. The concept and scope of rehabilitation, another major theme of the
World Programme, evolved during the Decade so that greater emphasis is
now placed on disabled persons and their families participating in the
design, organization and evaluation of rehabilitation services
concerning them, particularly in community based rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation encompasses counselling, training in self care, provision
of aids and devices, specialized education, vocational rehabilitation
and others.
13. The third major theme of the World Programme, prevention of
disabilities, calls for all encompassing strategies such as those needed
to end war, famine and malnutrition, as well as for quite specific
programmes such as those needed to control certain diseases or make the
roads and workplace safe.
14. The three themes of the World Programme, equalization of
opportunities, rehabilitation and prevention provide the intellectual
foundations of the strategy. During the Decade, efforts to equalize
opportunities for disabled persons gained particular momentum, which
should be maintained in the coming years, with special focus on the
following three areas: human rights of disabled persons; empowerment of
persons with disabilities; and involvement of disabled persons and their
organizations as true partners in the development of programmes,
policies and projects concerning them.
IV. STRATEGIC MEASURES
15. Since not all the necessary changes can be implemented immediately
or simultaneously, a step-by-step approach is proposed, guided by the
long term vision of a society for all.
16. The core element of the Long term Strategy is a series of national
plans supported by regional and global activities.
17. After a lead in period, 1995 1996, a medium term national plan is
proposed for 1997-2002, coinciding with the quinquennial review of the
World Programme. A second plan for the years 2002 2007 would follow.
A. National level
18. A major effort will be required during the lead in period of 1995
1996. Proposed activities for the lead in include establishing a task
force, convening a forum, organizing a national review, issuing a long
term policy statement and adopting medium term targets. The nature and
scope of each of these steps will be shaped by existing human and
material resources, including by drawing on innovation, ingenuity and
the involvement of institutions of civil society.
19. After the lead in period, a five-year plan is proposed from 1997 to
2002, aiming to reach selected targets in that period. Operational
measures that proved effective during the Decade could help to ensure
that the targets are reached. Those measures are discussed below and
include integrating disability issues into national policies, setting
standards, mobilizing resources, decentralizing programme
implementation, establishing partnerships, strengthening organizations
of disabled persons, strengthening national coordinating committees and
monitoring progress.
20. Success of the interim plans and overall Strategy rests upon
government commitment, leadership by disabled persons' organizations,
involvement of civil society and, where possible, permanent structures
for implementation and monitoring. Setting well-defined and feasible
targets will help all players to act towards the same objectives.
Keeping plans simple, flexible and participatory from the outset will
ensure their ongoing effectiveness.
1. Activities for lead in period of 1995 1996
21. The following activities are proposed for the lead in years of 1995
1996:
(a) Establishing a task force. Members of the task force should include
representatives of the Government, of organizations of disabled persons,
of rehabilitation and prevention specialists, and of important segments
of civil society. Their principal task would be to prepare for a broad
based national forum;
(b) Convening a forum. A broad based national forum should be convened
to obtain input and long term commitment to a national disability
strategy. The forum could review the national disability situation,
formulate a long term policy statement and agree on medium term targets.
Participants could include representatives of selected ministries, the
national coordinating committee, organizations of disabled persons,
professionals, citizens groups, communities and families. It could
involve legislators, business persons, donors and representatives of the
United Nations agencies or bodies;
(c) Reviewing the situation. A review of existing policies and
programmes should be made or updated as the basis for determining
priority needs and resources. Needs and resources must be matched and
translated into operational terms in a set of medium term targets;
(d) Formulating or updating a long term policy statement. The policy
statement would form the conceptual framework of the Long term Strategy,
stating overall objectives and essential principles;
(e) Setting medium term targets. Targets are necessary for the medium
term since not all needs can be achieved at once. In setting targets,
the following points may be helpful:
(i)Targets should encompass the important issues raised in the World
Programme human rights, equalization of opportunities, rehabilitation
and prevention. The World Programme and other United Nations instruments
provide a guide for setting rehabilitation and prevention targets. The
Standard Rules provide a source of targets in the area of equalization
of opportunities. Conventions, guidelines and programmes both national
and international are other sources of targets;
(ii)Within these broad areas, some targets may focus directly on
improving the actual living conditions of disabled persons (for example,
the actual removal of physical barriers), while others may focus on
enabling infrastructure or measures (such as legislation leading towards
the eventual removal of physical barriers);
(iii)Targets may also be of a promotional nature, intended to generate
action that would be difficult to measure (for example, changing
attitudes of the general public), while others may lend themselves more
readily to measurement (for example, a precise increase in the numbers
of disabled persons working in the media);
(iv)Once agreement is reached on what is to be achieved, it is important
to clarify who will be responsible, how and when;
(v)Variables and indicators for each target should be clearly identified
to assist in monitoring and evaluation, as discussed below in chapter
IV, section C;
(vi) Possible targets include the following:
a.Institutional/organizational: by 1997, a medium term plan with a menu
of targets for the years 1997 2002 to be formulated;
b.Human rights: by 1998, plans to be formulated for (a) implementing
Convention 159 of the International Labour Organization concerning
employment of disabled persons; and (b) applying the Convention on the
Rights of the Child (resolution 44/25, annex) as it pertains to children
with disabilities (articles 23, 27 and 39);
c.Equalization of opportunities: by 1998, the Standard Rules to be
adopted in principle and certain rules selected for implementation
before 2002;
d.Rehabilitation: by 1999, community based rehabilitation to be
established in __ rural areas (the number to be determined at national
level);
e.Prevention: by 2002, the causes of avoidable impairment that lead to
disability to be reduced by __ per cent (to be determined at the
national level), in keeping with the strategies of the World Health
Organization's Global Strategy of Health for All and those of IMPACT of
the United Nations Development Programme.
2. Measures for the medium term 1997 2002
22. Experience gained during the Decade suggests that certain measures
are particularly effective. These are discussed briefly below:
(a) Designating a lead agency, which could establish high visibility for
the plan and ensure clear division of responsibilities among the many
possible players. The lead agency would, ideally, be a government
ministry or agency at the highest level;
(b) Strengthening national coordinating committees, which were very
effective during the International Year of Disabled Persons (1981). The
national coordinating committees should have a permanent structure with
membership comprising the concerned government ministries, organizations
of disabled persons, business and civil associations. As the name
implies, the Committee's chief function could be coordination, but it
should not preclude setting standards, mobilizing resources, forming
partnerships, implementing programmes and projects, and facilitating
information exchange within and between countries and between
Governments and non governmental organizations;
(c) Strengthening organizations of disabled persons, particularly their
resource base, organizational skills and participation in decision
making. Governments may wish to consider providing those organizations
with facilities, equipment and an operational budget in view of the fact
that they are expected to be at the leading edge of change concerning
the status of disabled persons and the transformation of social values,
attitudes and practices required in achieving a society for all;
(d) Establishing partnerships, including among non traditional partners.
Certain sectors can effect change and produce well defined benefits. For
example, the media can influence values and attitudes. The business
sector can provide opportunities for work. Religious and civil sectors
can facilitate participation. Families and communities can provide a
benign and encouraging atmosphere. Health and social sector personnel
can set up an enabling environment. Sports and leisure organizations can
broaden the experience of participation for all concerned. "South
South" and "North South" partnerships or
"twinning" between organizations could lead to effective
innovations;
(e) Integrating disability issues into national policies pertaining to
the greater society. This should be done in a natural way at the
planning stage of all policies, programmes and projects in all
countries. Such integration is particularly important where resources
are scarce, as in developing countries and those in transition from
central planning;
(f) Setting standards is an ongoing process pertaining to human rights,
life style, services and products. Standards should seek to ensure that
patterns of behaviour and design of services and products are non
harmful over time for all citizens. Standards can be set in legislation
and policy guidelines. Countries that already have comprehensive
legislation may need to focus on reaching the established standards by
educating and persuading the broad public, employers, service providers
and others;
(g) Generating awareness of the lives, experiences, talents and
contributions of disabled persons in an integrated setting is important
for providing disabled persons with highly visible role models and for
changing negative stereotyping of disabled persons by the media where
this happens;
(h) Mobilizing resources, which may go beyond monetary resources to
encompass, for example, such assets as family and community solidarity
and goodwill, teamwork and leadership skills, knowledge and technology
(data banks, manuals, etc.), infrastructure and organization, alliances
and partnerships, add on possibilities to broad based communal
programmes and skills developed within organizations of disabled
persons, including for technical cooperation and fund raising;
(i) Decentralizing programme implementation, including responsibility
and resources, in order to ensure appropriateness of actions and to
build up local capabilities. The final choice of options should rest
with end users with, if necessary, the assistance of a professional or
guardian;
(j) Monitoring and evaluating progress should be undertaken
simultaneously for both the medium term plan and the Long term Strategy,
as discussed below in chapter IV, section C. Monitoring of the medium
term plan could be guided by the targets.
3. Perspective plan for 2002 2007
23. Building on the knowledge, experience and momentum generated during
the first medium term plan and a critique of its achievements, a plan
for the years 2002 to 2007 should aim to achieve more. Its targets could
be bolder, moving closer to the society for all, yet not losing sight of
prevailing realities.
B. Regional and global support
24. Regional and international support can assist countries in becoming
self sufficient, on setting standards, on facilitating exchange of
information and experience and on promoting, where applicable,
participation of disabled persons' organizations in decision making and
of disabled persons in programme implementation.
1. Regional measures
25. Regional organizations are well positioned to facilitate the
adaptation and transfer of global approaches, standards and technology
to the specific needs and options of the region. During the United
Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, some regions were very active,
others less so. Inaction has been attributed to wars, political
instability and economic constraints.
26. Within the Long term Strategy, regional organizations are invited:
(a) To review their socio economic policies, programmes and projects to
determine the extent to which they address the needs, rights and
concerns of people with disabilities;
(b) To develop a disability component in their socio economic policies,
programmes and projects;
(c) To develop or update regional strategies concerning disability, in
consultation with organizations of disabled persons;
(d) To improve exchange of information and experience by organizing
conferences, workshops and task forces to address specific issues of
disability, including adaptation of the Standard Rules;
(e) To consider the feasibility of convening a broad based regional
forum at which to develop or refine a regional long term strategy with
interim five year plans commencing with the years 1997 2002;
(f) To support national plans.
2. Global measures
27. Global organizations can support regional and national initiatives
for reaching the society for all, guided by policies and programmes of
the United Nations system. Global policies should be continually refined
on the basis of regional and national experience. Specifically,
international organizations are invited:
(a) To support regional and national plans;
(b) To consult with organizations of disabled persons when developing or
revising a wide range of socio economic policies, programmes and events
such as international conferences, special anniversaries or observances;
(c) To promote human rights, health, hygiene, food, education,
rehabilitation, employment and shelter for all, in keeping with their
mandates;
(d) To integrate a well-defined disability component into their socio
economic policies and programmes, including technical cooperation and
public information;
(e) To utilize the expertise of disabled persons among their
administrative and project staff;
(f) To improve exchange of information among international organizations
as well as between donors, policy makers and implementing agencies;
(g) To produce instructive materials and information on successful
programmes;
(h) To examine the feasibility of initiating a joint model project with
the aim of assisting a limited number of interested Governments in
designing a comprehensive disability policy that could be tested and, in
time, serve as a practical model for replication or adaptation in other
countries;
(i) To review and revise plans and procedures every five years in order
to integrate in them disability issues and an active participation by
disabled persons.
C. Monitoring and evaluation
28. As is evident from the preceding sections, monitoring and evaluation
of the Long term Strategy needs to be considered from two perspectives:
national data disaggregated in terms of geographical location, gender,
socio-economic characteristics or programmatic activity, and aggregated
national level data in terms of regional or global measures.
29. An essential first task is selection of variables and indicators of
performance in terms of achievements and obstacles encountered.
Indicators should be clear, unambiguous, accurate and explain variations
in performance and results. Monitoring indicators will focus on input
delivery and use; evaluation indicators focus on results attained and
observed changes among intended beneficiaries.
30. Monitoring should occur periodically and reports should coincide
with annual plan and budget reviews. This will provide an empirical
basis for assessing and instituting necessary adjustments in targets and
activities. Monitoring activities of the United Nations system,
including the work of the Special Rapporteur for the Standard Rules,
represent important sources of collateral input to monitoring the Long
term Strategy.
31. Evaluation findings should be produced so that they can coincide
with quinquennial reviews of implementation of the World Programme
scheduled for 1997, 2002 and 2007. This will provide a sound basis for
identification, review and assessment of salient issues, trends and
specific areas of need.
32. Organizations of people with disabilities should be appropriately
involved in identification of suitable measures of progress and
obstacles, analysis of findings and interpretation of results.
33. National level monitoring is the core activity in the monitoring and
evaluation of the Long term Strategy. This can be carried out either by
a specially designated body or organization, such as a national
coordinating committee on disability, or in connection with ongoing
procedures to survey national socio-economic trends. Monitoring reports
should be organized as an integral part of national assessments of
socio-economic performance to ensure that monitoring findings and
recommendations are effectively reflected in decisions taken on
development policies, programmes and projects.
34. Regional level monitoring would build upon national level findings.
A number of regional bodies and organizations are concerned with
disability issues, which include the regional commissions of the United
Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Union, the League of Arab
States, the Organization of African Unity, the Organization of American
States and the Nordic Council. It is necessary to identify measures that
are both consistent among national settings and capable of aggregation
at supranational level.
35. Monitoring of global instruments and conventions in the social and
economic fields can provide important contextual indicators for
monitoring the Long term Strategy. Conversely, that process could also
be used to integrate disability concerns in mainstream development.
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