Indigenous persons with disabilities: achieving rights and inclusion in development. A call to action.

Side event, to the 12th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 22 May 2013, 1:15-2:45 p.m., Trusteeship Council room.

Co-sponsors:

AusAID, UN Division for Social Policy and Development/DESA, International Disability Alliance (IDA), and Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF)

Background:

Over 1 billion people, or approximately 15 percent of the world’s population, have disabilities. While no global data exists regarding indigenous persons with disabilities, available statistics show that indigenous peoples are disproportionately likely to experience disability in comparison to the general population. Indigenous persons with disabilities often experience multiple discrimination and often face barriers to the full enjoyment of their rights, based on their indigenous status and also on disability.

Recognizing the existing lack of attention to the rights of indigenous persons with disabilities, a delegation of indigenous persons with disabilities participated in the 11th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) (in May 2012) with support from Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF) AusAID and other stakeholders. As a result of their participation, the Permanent Forum issued a recommendation, appointing two of its members to prepare a study on the situation of indigenous persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on challenges faced with respect to the full enjoyment of human rights and inclusion in development. The report to be presented at the 12th session of the Permanent Forum has been prepared in consultation with indigenous persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, and with support by the Division for Social Policy and Development of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).

An international expert meeting was held in November 2012 to identify challenges and recommendations of indigenous persons with disabilities. The views of expert participants are well reflected in the UNPFII report, “Study on the situation of indigenous persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on challenges faced with respect to the full enjoyment of human rights and inclusion in development” (E/C.19/2013/6).

Aims and purpose:

This side event will aim to publicize the UNPFII report and make more visible the unique situation and challenges facing indigenous persons with disabilities in relation to human rights and development. In particular, panelists will explore and identify next steps and actions to be taken at this time to improve the situation of indigenous persons with disabilities. In doing so, the panel can also contribute to the mainstreaming of the rights of indigenous persons with disabilities into the broader human rights and development frameworks of the United Nations, particularly the post-2015 development agenda. The panel can also contribute to the General Assembly High-level Meeting on Disability and Development, to be held on 23 September 2013 at UN Headquarters in New York, and the 2014 World Conference on indigenous peoples.

The panel will also bring together stakeholders who can work to increase attention to and enjoyment of the rights of indigenous persons with disabilities, including indigenous persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, States, UN actors, and donors.

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