Pacific Disability ForumPacific Disability Forum

DSABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE PACIFIC

““A partnership of Pacific Organizations of and for People with A partnership of Pacific Organizations of and for People with Disabilities”Disabilities”

•Persons with disabilities in Pacific island countries are Persons with disabilities in Pacific island countries are among the poorest and most marginalised members of their among the poorest and most marginalised members of their communities. communities.

•The struggling economies of PICs inhibit government The struggling economies of PICs inhibit government attention to the presence, needs and concerns of Persons attention to the presence, needs and concerns of Persons with Disabilities - minority group and needs are outweighed with Disabilities - minority group and needs are outweighed by national priority and agenda. by national priority and agenda.

•Establishment of Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) Establishment of Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) increased world-wide since United Nations proclaimed IYDP increased world-wide since United Nations proclaimed IYDP in 1981 – Theme “Full participation and equal opportunities in 1981 – Theme “Full participation and equal opportunities for Persons With Disabilities” for Persons With Disabilities”

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND

Background cont’dBackground cont’d

•UNESCAP spearheading regional efforts over two UNESCAP spearheading regional efforts over two consecutive regional disability decades to forge a paradigm consecutive regional disability decades to forge a paradigm shift from a welfare to a human rights-based approach to shift from a welfare to a human rights-based approach to disability.disability.

•The first Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons The first Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons started in 1993 and concluded in 2002.started in 1993 and concluded in 2002.

•The second Decade runs from 2003 to 2012. The Biwako The second Decade runs from 2003 to 2012. The Biwako Millennium Framework for Action (BMF) towards an Inclusive, Millennium Framework for Action (BMF) towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific and its supplement, the Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific and its supplement, the Biwako Plus Five, are the Decade’s policy guidelines on Biwako Plus Five, are the Decade’s policy guidelines on disability to facilitate national policy formulation and disability to facilitate national policy formulation and implementation on disability.implementation on disability.

Background con’t

• Positive Development emerged in the Pacific in the Positive Development emerged in the Pacific in the 1990s due to UNESCAP Decade of Disabled Persons, 1990s due to UNESCAP Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993 – 20021993 – 2002

• Goals – “Promotion of the Full Participation and Equality Goals – “Promotion of the Full Participation and Equality of people with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific of people with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific Region.”Region.”

Background cont’dBackground cont’d

•Assessment of achievements made by PICs during Assessment of achievements made by PICs during the first Decade showed that PICs lagged behind in the first Decade showed that PICs lagged behind in the implementation of the Decade’s Agenda for the implementation of the Decade’s Agenda for Action.Action.

•Lack of progress due to lack of information; Lack of progress due to lack of information; distance and cost of travel; poorly performing distance and cost of travel; poorly performing economies; lack of commitment by governments; economies; lack of commitment by governments; lack of engagement with NGOs and DPOs ; and the lack of engagement with NGOs and DPOs ; and the overall lack of voice of persons with disabilities.overall lack of voice of persons with disabilities.

Convention on the Rights of Convention on the Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesPersons with Disabilities

Purpose of Convention (Article 1)Purpose of Convention (Article 1)

To To promote, protect and ensurepromote, protect and ensure the the full and equal enjoyment of all full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignityfor their inherent dignity

What is unique about the What is unique about the Convention?Convention?

• Both a development and Human Both a development and Human Rights instrumentRights instrument

• A policy instrument which is cross-A policy instrument which is cross-disability and cross-sectoraldisability and cross-sectoral

• Legally bindingLegally binding

A Paradigm ShiftA Paradigm Shift

• The Convention marks a ‘paradigm shift’ in The Convention marks a ‘paradigm shift’ in attitudes and approaches to persons with attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities. disabilities.

• Persons with disabilities are not viewed as Persons with disabilities are not viewed as "objects" of charity, medical treatment and social "objects" of charity, medical treatment and social protection; rather as "subjects" with rights, who protection; rather as "subjects" with rights, who are capable of claiming those rights and making are capable of claiming those rights and making decisions for their lives based on their free and decisions for their lives based on their free and informed consent as well as being active informed consent as well as being active members of society. members of society.

• The Convention gives universal recognition to the The Convention gives universal recognition to the dignity of persons with disabilities. dignity of persons with disabilities.

2. Disability & Pacific Island 2. Disability & Pacific Island Governments Governments

•Disability was not on the Forum agenda until 2002 when the Honourable Prime Minister of Vanuatu raised the issue at the 2002 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.•Prompted by the recommendations adopted by the UNESCAP 7 Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries Meeting in Bangkok in May 2002.•Disability included in PIF Leaders Communique in 2003 and Pacific Plan.•Pacific offices of UN agencies also address disability issues in the region.

cont’dcont’d• 2008: Regional Meeting of Government Focal 2008: Regional Meeting of Government Focal

Points on DisabilityPoints on Disability• 2009: Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting, 2009: Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting,

Cairns, Australia – Disability included in Forum Cairns, Australia – Disability included in Forum CommuniquéCommuniqué

• 2009: Pacific Islands Forum Disability Ministers 2009: Pacific Islands Forum Disability Ministers Meeting, Cook Islands, October, 2009.Meeting, Cook Islands, October, 2009.

• 2010: Pacific Island Forum Leaders endorsed 2010: Pacific Island Forum Leaders endorsed the Pacific Regional Strategy on Disability, 2010-the Pacific Regional Strategy on Disability, 2010-2015.2015.

3. Disability Movement and Service Provision in the Pacific

•The primary catalysts for developing responses The primary catalysts for developing responses to disability issues in PICs in the last four to disability issues in PICs in the last four decades have been local, national and decades have been local, national and international NGOs.international NGOs.•Governments like Australia, Canada, Japan, Governments like Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom provided New Zealand and the United Kingdom provided financial assistance to support the efforts of financial assistance to support the efforts of these NGOs which mainly target the education these NGOs which mainly target the education and rehabilitation needs of children and adults and rehabilitation needs of children and adults with disabilities in the Pacific.with disabilities in the Pacific.•e.g the Red Cross Centres in Cook Islands, e.g the Red Cross Centres in Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Tonga; the Able Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Tonga; the Able Disable Centre in Nauru; the parents’ support Disable Centre in Nauru; the parents’ support group in Kiribati; Vanuatu Society for Disabled group in Kiribati; Vanuatu Society for Disabled People; Prevention, Rehabilitation and Education People; Prevention, Rehabilitation and Education of Blind Persons and Loto Taumafai of Samoa, of Blind Persons and Loto Taumafai of Samoa, service providers in Fiji and Papua New Guinea.service providers in Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Cont’dCont’d•Single and cross-disability NGOs were established in PICs, focused on service delivery and managed by able-bodied persons.

• Persons with disabilities were cared for, spoon-fed, protected and segregated.

•Regarded as recipients of goodwill, unable to make their own choices or determine their own destiny.

•Strong extended family system encouraged family members to look after their less fortunate relatives.

•Association of a disabling condition with ancestral curse, parental misdeeds, witchcraft, shame and fear kept persons with disabilities isolated, neglected, dependent and poor.

Cont’dCont’d•The international disability rights movement caught the The international disability rights movement caught the attention of leaders of DPOs in Australia, Fiji, New attention of leaders of DPOs in Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Solomon Islands in the 1990s.Zealand and Solomon Islands in the 1990s.

•Their efforts gained momentum as other Pacific Island Their efforts gained momentum as other Pacific Island countries established their own national DPOs to be the countries established their own national DPOs to be the voice and representative of persons with disabilities voice and representative of persons with disabilities living in their countries.living in their countries.

•The disability rights movement is about persons with The disability rights movement is about persons with disabilities controlling their own lives with the support disabilities controlling their own lives with the support they need, and uphold the value that disability must not they need, and uphold the value that disability must not be looked at in parts but in totality.be looked at in parts but in totality.

Cont’dCont’d• In March 2000, several DPOs in PICs which are In March 2000, several DPOs in PICs which are members of Disabled People International (DPI) members of Disabled People International (DPI) established a sub-regional office in Fiji to strengthen their established a sub-regional office in Fiji to strengthen their self-help initiatives at the national level through leadership self-help initiatives at the national level through leadership training and information sharing.training and information sharing.•National DPOs were established in Cook Islands, Kiribati, National DPOs were established in Cook Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu between Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu between 2000 and 2004.2000 and 2004.•Inclusion International Asia/Pacific Region established Inclusion International Asia/Pacific Region established Pacific Disability Development Network in 2001 with Pacific Disability Development Network in 2001 with organisations of and for people with disabilities. organisations of and for people with disabilities. •Disability surveys were conducted in Cook Islands, Disability surveys were conducted in Cook Islands, Samoa and Kiribati.Samoa and Kiribati.

•About 5% were children and adults with profound, severe About 5% were children and adults with profound, severe or moderate disabilities.or moderate disabilities.

4. The Birth of PDF4. The Birth of PDF•National DPOs and disability service providers in PICs met in Fiji in December 2002 to discuss a Pacific-based regional organisation on disability.•This meeting saw the birth of the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF).•NZAID) reviewed its funding support to disability programme in the Pacific region in 2005.•NZAID Pacific Regional Health Programme received clear, strategic direction for assistance in the area of disability development in the Pacific region for the next five years. •PDF well placed as a partner to NZAID and secured funding agreement until June 2011.

Establishment of PDFEstablishment of PDF

• PDF Council and Executive Committee elected in PDF Council and Executive Committee elected in 2004 inaugural meeting – Constitution and Plan 2004 inaugural meeting – Constitution and Plan adoptedadopted

• NZAID Funding for PDF 2006 – 2011NZAID Funding for PDF 2006 – 2011

• Staff appointed and Secretariat established in Staff appointed and Secretariat established in 20072007

• PDF General Forum and Pacific Regional PDF General Forum and Pacific Regional Conference on Disability held every 2 years – Conference on Disability held every 2 years – 2013 in New Caledonia2013 in New Caledonia

VisionVision

• An inclusive Pacific society that is responsive, An inclusive Pacific society that is responsive, culture sensitive, gender equitable and ensures culture sensitive, gender equitable and ensures the promotion and protection of the rights of the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilitiespersons with disabilities

MissionMission

• To improve the situations of persons with To improve the situations of persons with disabilities in Pacific Island Countries & disabilities in Pacific Island Countries & Territories by developing and strengthening the Territories by developing and strengthening the capacity of member disabled persons capacity of member disabled persons organisations (DPOs) through advocacy and organisations (DPOs) through advocacy and collaboration with relevant stakeholders. collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

KRA 1 - KRA 1 - Support PDF members to become Support PDF members to become stronger organisations. stronger organisations.

• Advocate for and advance the rights of persons with disabilities in Advocate for and advance the rights of persons with disabilities in the Pacificthe Pacific

• Strengthen the capacity of NDPOs in PICs to be self reliant and Strengthen the capacity of NDPOs in PICs to be self reliant and sustainable by 2016:sustainable by 2016:

• Ensuring NDPOs have good and capable leadersEnsuring NDPOs have good and capable leaders

• Enhance gender equality& Youth ParticipationEnhance gender equality& Youth Participation

• Ensure access to relevant and timely information on issues and Ensure access to relevant and timely information on issues and concerns to DPOs in the Pacific.concerns to DPOs in the Pacific.

• Increase the membership of the PDFIncrease the membership of the PDF

KRA 2 - Establish stronger relationships KRA 2 - Establish stronger relationships with Development Partners, Donor Agencies with Development Partners, Donor Agencies and National Governments. and National Governments.

• Establish & support partnership between Establish & support partnership between NDPOs& development partners, donor NDPOs& development partners, donor agencies and national governmentsagencies and national governments

• Strengthen existing and develop new Strengthen existing and develop new partnerships with relevant development partnerships with relevant development partners, donor agencies and national partners, donor agencies and national governments.governments.

KRA 3 - Influence Policies and Emerging KRA 3 - Influence Policies and Emerging Issues to be disability inclusive. Issues to be disability inclusive.

• PDF is responsive to emerging issuesPDF is responsive to emerging issues

• Promote disability inclusive Promote disability inclusive development in the Pacific through development in the Pacific through CRPD, MDGs, PRSDCRPD, MDGs, PRSD

KRA 4 - KRA 4 - Reviewing and Strengthen Reviewing and Strengthen Governance and Operations of the Governance and Operations of the

PDF.PDF.  • Ensure the effective governance of PDFEnsure the effective governance of PDF

• Ensure an effective management and operations Ensure an effective management and operations of the PDFof the PDF

• To develop a responsive Regional organisationTo develop a responsive Regional organisation

• Ensure effective monitoring and Evaluation of Ensure effective monitoring and Evaluation of PDF activitiesPDF activities

• Ensure financial sustainability for the PDFEnsure financial sustainability for the PDF

Organisational and Management StructuresOrganisational and Management Structures

Membership of the Pacific Disability Forum

(General Forum)

Membership of the Pacific Disability Forum

(General Forum)

PDF Board

9 Members (including 2 Co-chairs male/female)

PDF Board

9 Members (including 2 Co-chairs male/female)

Committee

• Womens

•Youth

•Pacific DPO Fund

Committee

• Womens

•Youth

•Pacific DPO Fund

CEOCEO

Programme ManagerProgramme Manager Finance & Office ManagerFinance & Office Manager

Administrative Officer

Administrative Officer

Office Assistant

Office Assistant

Information Officer

Information Officer

DPO Development Officer

DPO Development Officer

Gender & Youth Officer

Gender & Youth Officer

MEMBERSHIP

• PDF Membership – 38 organisations in 15 PDF Membership – 38 organisations in 15 countries and territory (Australia, Cook Is, FSM, countries and territory (Australia, Cook Is, FSM, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Is, Zealand, Palau, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Is, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu)Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu)

• 26 Full Members - DPOs26 Full Members - DPOs

• 19 Associate Members19 Associate Members with 7 Individuals , 12 with 7 Individuals , 12 OrganisationsOrganisations

Thank You!Thank You!

Pacific Disability Forum Pacific Disability Forum

24 Des Voeux Road24 Des Voeux Road

G.P.O 18458G.P.O 18458

Suva, Fiji.Suva, Fiji.

Tel : +679 3307530Tel : +679 3307530

Fax : +679 3310469Fax : +679 3310469

E- mail : pdfsec@connect.com.fjE- mail : pdfsec@connect.com.fj