Roles of civil society organizations and international cooperation for implementation of the New Decade

Joseph Kwok

2012 Asia Pacific Disability Forum Conference: Action to Make the Right Real
27 October 2012, Saturday
Panel discussion (14:00-18:00) 27 October
Incheon, Republic of Korea

Introduction

I am deeply honoured to have been granted this excellent opportunity to address such an outstanding audience, and a distinguished panel of experts. I am asked to talk about the roles of CSO and international cooperation in implementing the New Decade. I have to admit that I feel rather nervous in talking about this subject. The language of the given title is easy to understand, and the subject matter seems to be common sense to most of us involved in disability movements in the Region. However, our experiences and observations since the launch of the first Asia and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002 have been far from conclusive; especially the Region has witnessed unprecedented changes in almost all dimensions since the new Millennium.

Therefore I shall try to first highlight some key challenges that the Region is facing, to follow by a discussion on the modes of international cooperation and the changing roles of CSOs in realizing their common mission while dealing with increasing limitations and new challenges.

The Asia and Pacific Region

Asia and Pacific is a vast region. It has about 60% of the world population. In Asia, you can find some of the oldest civilizations and religions; some of the most advanced as well as poorest economies, and many Asians living in rural and mountainous areas. Diversities and differences among governments and peoples of Asia are the norm rather than the exception.

Poverty situation of people with disabilities in Asia: People with disabilities in the Region are facing critical and severe situations. About 80% of Asian people with disabilities live in rural or remote areas. Among the 900 million very poor people in the Region, the disabled are among the most discriminated against and the most impoverished. Although comprehensive figures are hard to come by, there may be between 250 million and 300 million people with disabilities in the region, and close to 200 million have severe or moderate disabilities that need special services or assistance. It is estimated that 238 million people with disabilities in the region are of working age. They are grossly under-represented in the workforce. At the same time, people with disabilities often lack access to the very services and experiences that could lead to successful participation in the economic mainstream - such as vocational training, job opportunities or credit for self-employment. It is therefore not surprised that the unemployment rates of people with disabilities in many countries are about 40% to 80%.

The Region is facing further challenges that are impeding governmental efforts in dealing with disability challenges.

Man-made and natural disasters: Severe man-made disasters include massive racial confrontations have been reported in several countries since 1998. Severe natural disasters have been reported in many countries, including earthquake, Tsunami, massive flooding, severe cyclones. A great deal of efforts on a long term basis will be needed from both government and society to support and empower the large number of people who are disaster victims and have become disabled.

Financial upheavals: The Region experiences the first severe financial turmoil in modern history in 1997, followed by another crisis in 2003 caused by the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Most countries have recovered, though with different speed, from the crises, and some with rapid growth until 2008 when the subprime mortgage crises and liquidity crunches in USA exploded, and more recently European financial crisis. The Region's future economy is becoming even more uncertain, and returning to a path of steady growth seems to be beyond reach in the foreseeable future.

Geopolitical conflicts: In recent years, there has been an escalation of geopolitical conflicts and the trend seems to be getting worse. The Region is clouded by severe diplomatic arguments and military gestures. With dark clouds hanging over our skies, it is certainly a significant challenge in building strong bonding and mutual trusts among governments, which are vital to bring about concerted and effective regional actions to deal with existing and emerging challenges concerning disability. In this regard, CSOs would have to play a more active role in promoting universal humanitarian values as mutually binding values for humanitarian action beyond all human and social differences.

A review of the disability movements in the Region

The disability movements over the past decades have witnessed a strong sense of brotherhood and sisterhood as well as examples of deep collaboration among governments and peoples in Asia. Immediately upon the close of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons 1983-1992, ESCAP with the unanimous approval of all its member governments, proclaimed the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1993-2002 (A/P Decade), a demonstration of a rather exceptional Asian solidarity and consensus political will. In 2002, ESCAP again with unanimous approval of its members, proclaimed the extension of the Decade to 2003-2012, and the proclamation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for compliance of its member governments.

The implementation of the A/P Decade has been supported by civil society organizations. In fact a new CSO, the Regional NGO Network for the Promotion of the Asian and Pacific Decade was founded in 1993, and reorganized in 2002 as Asia Pacific Disability Forum with a primary purpose to support the A/P Decade. Over the past two decades, APDF has organized annual and biannual campaigns for the A/P Decade, and working collaboratively with other CSOs as well as ESCAP in policy advocacy and monitoring of the implementation of the A/P Decade. One major involvement of APDF and other CSOs was the active campaign for the CRPD since 2000, contributing significantly to the Bangkok Recommendations 2003 for the UN Ad Hoc Committee on the Drafting of the CRPD, until its adoption in 2006.

The coming of the new Asian and Pacific Make the Right Real Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013 to 2022, and ESCAP's expectation of CSO's participation

Since the BMF+5, uncertainties had arisen as to future direction of the regional disability movement. Governments in the Region were not too enthusiastic in pursuing a new and common commitment for post-BMF strategy as they already had full political agenda and faced dwindling resources. CSOs however were very concerned that without a common regional strategy, the regional disability movement would be severely weakened. During all the regional platforms held prior to 2010, CSO collaborated with one mind and cried out with one voice, which was for the launch of a New Decade. With support from ESCAP and some governments, the ESCAP Commission finally resolved in May 2010 to organize the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting now and here in Incheon for the purpose of adopting the Incheon Strategy for the new Asian and Pacific Make the Right Real Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013 to 2022. We have good reasons to be optimistic that the Incheon Strategy to be adopted in the next couple of days would reflect our common aspirations and desires, as we have been offering very generous and wise inputs individually and collectively over the past years in the drafting of the Incheon Strategy. However no matter how appealing or desirable the Incheon Strategy is, it is still no better than words on papers. What we need are actions that would transform words into realities. CSOs are expected to continue to play an active role. In fact, the Incheon Strategy has called upon CSOs to participate in Decade implementation and promotion, and also invites the collaboration of the private sector. The Incheon Strategy has included CSO in the membership of a ESCAP Regional Working Group on the Asian and Pacific Make the Right Real Decade of Persons with Disabilities to provide technical advice and support to the ESCAP secretariat, and to promote the full and effective implementation of the Decade, 2013-2022. The Working Group is to advise the ESCAP secretariat on the following: (a) progress tracking of Decade progress, (b) regional and sub-regional cooperation to advance implementation of the Ministerial Declaration and the Incheon Strategy; (c) research on the evolving situation of persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region; (d) outreach to diverse disability groups at national and local levels, and networking.

Strengths and limitations faced by CSOs in fostering effective regional cooperation and in support of the New Decade

In most sub-regional and regional joint intergovernmental and CSO platforms, CSO representatives have obvious advantages and strengths over their governmental counterparts in being more knowledgeable in disability related technical issues; more accurate in reflecting the wishes, desires and needs of persons with disabilities; more experiences in dealing with disability related issues as they have long term and focused involvement whereas most governmental representatives have only time bound and short term appointments.

However, CSOs in the region are facing certain common constraints, including lack of adequate funding to participate in sub-regional and/or regional forums, and lack of successive leadership planning to deal with challenges of the future. Furthermore, the Region is vast and most populous among all the regions in the world, and CSOs engaging in sub-regional and regional networking would require continuous and substantial human and financial resources.

Given the strengths and weaknesses discussed above about CSOs and regional networking, it would be advisable for CSOs to be more strategic, focused, and efficient in building and maintaining effective regional networks in support of the implementation of the New Decade.

Strategic roles of CSOs in regional networking for the implementation of the New Decade:

1. In the ESCAP Regional Working Group for the New Decade, CSOs members have to be more proactive and strategic in policy advocacy, in offering technical assistance, and in representing the large population of persons with disabilities. In this regard, CSO working group members have to develop an efficient system in collecting and crystalizing inputs from all other sub regional and regional CSO networks. To achieve this purpose, the establishment of a joint Secretariat among the CSO Working Members would be an efficient and necessary mechanism. APDF played a similar and ad hoc role in March and August 2012 to support CSO joint input to ESCAP's drafting of the Incheon Strategy. CSOs would need to work out a long term and sustainable joint secretariat.
2. In order to reach out to the large number of sub-regional and regional CSO networks, the use of modern web based platform is the most efficient method. The joint secretariat of the CSO Working Group members should raise and / or contribute funds to support such a web based platform. Regular web-based exchanges among sub regional and regional CSOs relating to the deliberations of the Regional Working Group should be organized, and CSOs should get familiar with the web culture in exchanging opinions and achieving consensus in bringing about common policy statements. The web-based platform would also serve as data banks on good practices concerning the implementation of the New Decade, and data collection on selected subjects for the review of the New Decade.
3. CSOs should be proactive in identifying emerging issues and corresponding action agenda during the New Decade implementation, and bring such action agenda items to the deliberations of the ESCAP Regional Working Group, and through the Working Group, to all governments in the Region.
4. CSOs should be strategic and proactive in mobilizing resources from development agencies, such as World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UN specialized systems to support the implementation of the New Decade, and such advocacy activities should best be carried out in and through the ESCAP Regional Working Group.
5. CSO regional networks should joint hands to organize New Decade country based campaigns, particularly those in less and least developed countries. APDF held Decade campaigns over the past two decades in many countries, and have found such campaigns very successful in raising government awareness and action. For example, The Asia Pacific Disability Forum held a regional conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh in February 2008, and the local host succeeded at the Conference in getting Government's open commitment to support the implementation of the Convention and other key disability concerned policies and programmes. However it is important that such campaigns have to be organized on a low cost basis, so that more number of persons with disabilities in the Region can afford to participate. Such campaigns should encourage governments to develop high-level intra-governmental mechanism and action plans, supported with appropriate resources, for the implementation and review of the Incheon Strategy.
6. CSOs should reach out and get connected with the private sector networks supporting disability issues through disability inclusive corporate social responsibility strategies. Disability is one of the key items and also one that is less understood by private corporations. CSO regional networks will find it beneficial to reach out to such corporations' networks, to enhance cross network relationship, and to help sharing of good practices among corporations. On this strategy, I wish to share with you the impact of a great model. Community Business in Hong Kong is a unique, not for profit organization of, and funded by, the private sector. A great majority of its members are multi-national corporations. Its mission is to lead, inspire and support businesses to continually improve their positive impact on people and communities, and one of its strategic action programmes is on diversity in work place. Its Conventions on diversity and inclusion in workplace are among the largest and most significant events in Asia. The disability sector in Hong Kong was invited as plenary chairpersons and speakers on topics related to disability issues, alongside speakers from private sector all over the world and UN experts. In September 2012 it held a conference on "Inclusive Recruitment - Shaping Best Practice in Internship Programmes for Students with Disabilities" for its member business corporations, and I was invited as a panel facilitator. Community Business is going to hold its annual convention on diversity and inclusion this November, as well as mobilizing its business members to take part in the celebration of the International Day of Disabled Persons in December 2012.
7. CSOs to coupling with mainstream campaigns: Olympics have become media favorites all over the world, and its coupling with Paralympics have created an excellent opportunities in disability awareness among governments and peoples, as well as contributing very significantly to the creation of barrier free environments for athletes, tourists and society in general. Abilympics offers another excellent example. The first International Abilympics was held in Japan in 1981, the UN International Year of Disabled Persons, and sponsored by RI. In 2007, the International Abilympics Federation succeeded to bring together the 7th International Abilympics (IA2007) and the 39th World Skills Competitions (WSC) under one grand programme, namely, the International Skills Festival for All, Japan 2007 (ISF2007). A total of 1,172 IA and WSC competitors from 55 countries/regions around the world showcased their brilliant skills in a range of vocational areas. A more recent example was the Accessible Tourism held in Bangkok in December 2007 in conjunction with an International Conference on Tourism. Coupling of disability focused campaigns with mainstream campaigns proves to be an effective strategy to raise society's awareness and mobilize support from government and people.
8. CSO networks partnering with Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD): APCD was created under the joint collaboration of the Government of Thailand and the Government of Japan in 2003 to support BMF. By 2008, it has transformed into a fully-fledged international non-governmental organization. Its overall goal is to promote the empowerment of people with disabilities and a barrier-free society and has been collaborating with most developing countries in the Region. The APCD has low budget meeting and accommodation facilities in Bangkok, close to ESCAP, and would be available for networking activities among Regional CSOs for the promotion of the New Decade.

The role of CSOs in promoting the New Decade at the national level

At the national level, CSOs play multi-roles, which include those of advocate, service provider, fund raiser, and monitor of Decade implementations. CSOs have to work in collaboration with national and local governments in implementing the Incheon Strategy, which is composed of 10 interrelated goals, a number of targets and indicators, and the timeframe for achieving the goals and targets is the Decade, 2013 to 2022. In this regard, CSOs at local and national levels are expected to play a number of key roles, including:

1. CSOs should further and continue to strengthened themselves as consultants concerning monitoring and tracking of Decade progresses, so that they should be well positioned to educate all major stakeholders, particularly those in specialized and mainstream government departments about the concepts of goals, targets and indicators. Goals describe the desired end-results to be achieved. Targets are aimed to be achieved within a given time frame. Indicators measure and verify that the targets have been achieved.
2. CSOs should continue to advocate for allocation of appropriate resources to support Decade implementation programmes at both national and local levels, and for least developed economies to also mobilize resources from development agencies and developed economies.
3. CSOs should take a proactive role in sharing their good practices through the internet, so that mutual support and reinforcements among CSOs would bring about better Decade implementation.

Conclusion

The beginning year 2013 of Make the Rights Real Decade will face continuing uncertainties and severe challenges in regional economies and geopolitical relations, as well as heavy competition for scarce resources from other social agenda, such as population aging, youth unemployment, gender equality and arms race. CSOs of the disability sector, in order to maximum the impact of the New Decade at both national and regional levels, have no other alternatives, but to fully collaborate with and support each other, to reduce overlapping intervention, and to achieve efficiency gains; so that more can participate and with lower cost, and more can contribute with less resources inputs.

Let us all join hands to realize our common vision of a rights based, inclusive and barrier-free society for all.

Thank you.