Accessible ICT: International Trends and Implications for World Bank Operations

1
Accessible ICT International Trends and
Implications for World Bank Operations

• Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo
• Senior Operations Officer
• The World Bank

2
The CRPD

• It presents a comprehensive and pragmatic
  framework for achieving inclusive development.
• With its inclusive development mandate it stands
  to trigger the social inclusion of people with
  disabilities into mainstream society.
• Today development practices by and large exclude
  people with disabilities.

3
An International Benchmark

• Convention on the Rights of Persons with
  Disabilities
• Art. 4 General obligations
• Art. 9 Accessibility
• Art. 21 Freedom of expression, opinion and access
  to information
• Art. 32 International Cooperation
• 14 out of the 32 non procedural articles are
  linked to ICT applications.

4
The CRPD

• Entered into force on the 3 May
• 41 ratifications
• 136 signatories
• It presents a panoply of civil, political,
  cultural, economic and social rights.
• And codifies these Human Rights norms using a
  disability lens.

5
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD)

• CRPD in force May 3, 2008 signed by 136
  countries, ratified by 41countries
• Ratified CRPD and protocol
• Ratified CRPD
• Signed CRPD and protocol
• Signed CRPD
• Not Signed
• Source
  http//www.un.org/disabilities/documents/maps/enab
  lemap.jpgas of August 20, 2008

6
Accessibility

• It both a vehicle as well as an objective of the
  CRPD.
• It is also increasingly an issue in law review
  and reform.
• It is both a principle and a right in the CRPD.
• Is an essential tool for the inclusion of people
  with disabilities.

7
At a national level

• There are as few as 39 UN Member States that have
  adopted non-discrimination or equal opportunity
  legislation that is disability specific.
• And even fewer have put in place any guidelines
  or regulatory frameworks to promote accessible
  ICT.
• Often implementation is patchy.

8
Way forward.

• National coordination
• Standardization for accessible ICT
• Address the issue of Affordability
• Identify low hanging fruit.

9
Conclusion

• Accessible ICT is a gateway to other rights in
  the CRPD.
• Accessible ICT is not a luxury it is a right for
  people with disabilities.