Strategy & Work Strategy & Work ProgrammeProgramme

Strategy & Work Strategy & Work ProgrammeProgramme

the UN Special Rapporteur on the UN Special Rapporteur on DisabilityDisability

Hissa Al ThaniHissa Al Thani

Strategic Plan• Started with the formulation of a

vision• From which a mission was derived• And an action plan encompassing

the responsibilities of the mandate set out by the Standard Rules

Vision that Guides the Work

A world free of all forms of discrimination, obstacles and barriers;

which enables its members to fully realize their potentials.

A world that allows all its member to participate equally in the enjoyment of

its resources and to contribute to its advancement

Mission

To promote and monitor the implementation of the Standard

Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities, and to advance

the status of persons with disabilities throughout the world.

Functions of the Office• Monitoring• Advocacy• Awareness Raising• Networking & Exchange• Inter-regional Cooperation

(Regional Consultations & Country Visits)

• Surveys and Research

Objectives• To promote the implementation of

the Standard Rules world wide• Focusing on developing countries where

over 80% of persons with disabilities live• To further the effective

implementation of the Standard Rules

• In countries where they are already being implemented to a certain degree

Objectives• To help states in assessing their

level of implementation of the Standard Rules

• To assist states in measuring their progress in the implementation

• To assist states in overcoming barriers to implementation

Objectives• To provide advisory services to

states and organizations working in the field.

• To facilitate the exchange of information and experiences between and among states and organizations of peoples with disabilities

Objectives• To involve the Panel of Experts in

reviewing, advising and providing feedback on the best way to promote, implement and monitor the rules

• To coordinate the efforts and resources of international, regional, governmental and non-governmental organizations, channel them toward the implementation of the Standard Rules.

• Taking into consideration throughout this process: – the economic, social and cultural

features and characteristics of each individual state

Activities

• Survey – A Global Survey on Government Actions on

the Implementation of the Standard Rules – Sent to 191 UN Member States– Returns from 112 countries– Results currently being analyzed– Initial findings to be reported in February

2006 to the Commission for Social Development

Monitoring

• 47 questions• Two questions on each one of the

Standard Rules • Inspired by Agenda 22• Inquired about

• Policies• Legislations• Programmes• Budget allocations• Accessibility• Awareness raising• Training of personnel• Involvement of DPOs

– For each one of the Rules

Activities• In-house Research

– Producing a “disability” country profiles on each of the Member States

• Research collaboration– Developing indicators & generating

data on inclusion in education with UNESCO

– Cooperating with ILO/Gladnet on research, indicators, data on employment

Activities• Regional Consultations

& Country Visits• Activities

– Country visits: 24 countries per year; 4/region• Government officials• DPOs• Media

– Initiate dialogue between DPOs & government; e.g. Guatemala

– Encourage government to take on leadership roles on implementation in their region; e.g. Lebanon

– Provide encouragement, make networking connections, provide a space for DPOs to discuss difficulties, challenges, needs; e.g. Guinea

– Provide ideas & initiate government actions on equalization of opportunities; e.g. Tunisia (Tourism)

– Explore best practices and innovations to transfer knowledge and experiences; e.g. Mexico (family involvement)

Some countries visited• Latin America

– Mexico (October 2004)– Guatemala (October 2004)– Panama (January 2006)

• North Africa– Morocco (June 2005)– Tunisia (June 2005)

• West Africa– Guinea (June 2005)

• Europe– Germany (November 2004)– Sweden (September 2005)– Finland (September 2005)

• Southern Africa– South Africa (November 2005)– Tanzania (November 2005)

• Middle East– Egypt (April 2004)– Lebanon (August 2004)– Saudi Arabia (April 2005)– UAE (May 2005)– Syria (September 2005)– Bahrain (November 2005)

• Asia – India (September 2005) – China (May 2006)

Activities• Inter-regional Cooperation• Legislating the equalization of opportunities

– 14 symposia (2005-2008) for Arab MPs– Involvement of the Council of Europe,

Parliamentarians from Africa, Asia, Latin America…etc.

– Amman, “Overview” (March 2005), – Beirut “Education & Employment”

(December 2005), – Yemen “Accessibility” (March 2006), – Tunisia Family Life (March 2006)– Conducting study & exchange visits by

Parliamentarians

Activities • Advocacy

– Injecting disability issues onto human rights & development agenda on every possible occasion• Meeting with international/regional

development organizations (Guatemala, Guinea)

• Lobbying for and succeeding in the inclusion of disability in the final document of the MDG Summit that took place in September 15, 2005

Launching Initiatives • Aimed at:

– Addressing global needs (World Bank Initiative)

– Responding to special situations (Support for the Arab Decade)

– Mainstreaming disability on the international agenda (MDG Summit)

– Raising awareness among international development agencies (Survey & holding meetings with them)

In addition:

•The constant need to raise funds for all these activities

Funding Situation• Office is not funded by the United

Nations• Funding comes from Voluntary Fund for

Disability• Funding so far has only trickled in &

from non-traditional funders in developing countries

• Noticeable lack of funding from traditional funding countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway)

• Issue discussed with SIDA & Social Affairs Ministry with positive responses