International Cooperation

1
International Cooperation

• UN Convention Article 32

Lisa Adams
2
Cooperation for implementation

• International cooperation is integral to the
  implementation of the Convention

3
International cooperation

• States Parties recognize the importance of
  international cooperation and its promotion and
• Take effective measures in partnership with
  relevant international and regional organizations
  and civil society, in particular organizations of
  persons with disabilities

4
International cooperation

• International cooperation, including
  international development programmes, is
  inclusive of and accessible to persons with
  disabilities
• Supports capacity-building
• Facilitates cooperation in research including
  scientific and technical knowledge
• Provides, as appropriate, technical and economic
  assistance, including facilitating access to and
  sharing of accessible and assistive technologies,
  and through the transfer of technologies.

5
International cooperation

• The provisions of this article are without
• prejudice to the obligations of each State Party
• to fulfil its obligations under the present
• Convention.

6
Disability and development

• People with disabilities are not only the most
  deprived human beings in the developing world,
  they are also the most neglected. It is important
  to acknowledge that more than 600 million people
  in the world live with some form of disability.
  More than 400 million of them live in developing
  countries often amid poverty, isolation and
  despair
• Amartya Sen, Professor Harvard University 1998
• Nobel prize Laureate in economic Science

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Disability and development

• Of the estimated over 650 million persons with
  disabilities worldwide, 70 live in developing
  countries, and according to UN statistics, 82
  live below the poverty line.
• The World Bank estimates that persons with
  disabilities comprise about 20 of the poorest of
  the poor.
• According to UN statistics, only 1-2 of children
  with disabilities in developing countries receive
  an education.

8
Disability and development

• 90Persons with disabilities are not being
  reached by development activities (UN)
• The special needs of persons with disabilities
  are often overlooked in relief operations. (UK
  DFID)

9
Disability and development

• Unless Disabled People are brought into the
  Development mainstream we will not achieve the
  MDGs by 2015 James Wolfensohn. Pres. World Bank
  30/11/04

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Significance of this article

• It ensures that all funds spent on development or
  cooperation do not create more barriers for
  people with disabilities and that disability is
  included in development planning
• Example Humanitarian relief programmes and
  development strategies include people with
  disabilities
• Example New schools being built with
  international funds are accessible
• Example Disaster relief has evacuation planning
  for people with disabilities
• Example Disability is a part of poverty
  reduction strategies

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Significance of the article

• But also that a portion of international funds
  for development are spent on disability-specific
  initiatives such as inclusive education or
  awareness raising
• Example Within the development of education,
  there is specific funding on inclusive education
  programs
• Example Specific international funding
  dedicated to awareness raising around the
  Convention

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The importance of inclusion

• Inclusive developmentEnsures all participate in
  development policies and practices, acknowledges
  diversity, respects rights for all and aims at
  eradicating poverty
• Organisations of people with disabilities must be
  involved in the development discussion
• Nothing about us without us