japanese

Task force on National Coordination

TASK FORCE REPORT ON EVALUATION OF "NATIONAL COORDINATION" AGENDA FOR ACTION FOR THE ASIAN & PACIFIC DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS, 1993-2002

18 September 2002

PREPARED BY

Mr. Ahsan Habib
Assistant Director, CRP, Bangladesh Task Force Coordinator
crp@bangla.net

Ms. Chalermsee Chantaratim
Chief of Goodwill Industries of Thailand Task Force Co-Coordinator
infogit@asiaaccess.net.th chalermsee@yahoo.com

Muhammad Mushfiqul Wara
Research & Evaluation Officer, Task Force Member, Bangladesh&Task Force Members

Ms. Chalermsee Chantaratim Thailand

Phillip Yuen Hong Kong China
agatha.tang@hkcss.org.hk

Hisao Sato Japan
hisao.sato@jcsw.ac.jp

Ahsan Habib Bangladesh Munishwor Pandey
nfdn@mail.com.np

Regional NGO Network for the Asian & Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Regional NGO Network Task Force Report on Evaluation of "National Coordination" Agenda for Action for the Asian & Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002 was an activity involving different levels of stakeholders; The RNN Secretariat, Task Force Coordinators, Task Forces members based in different countries involving the Government Ministries, Departments and agencies, NGOs working for and with the disabled, Disabled people's organizations, Self-help organizations, and Organizations of women with disabilities.

We would like to offer our gratitude to the RNN Research Coordinator, Dr. Hisao Sato, who gracefully took the responsibility of coordinating the evaluation and forwarded us many valuable documents and information from his office. We gratefully thank to Ms. Siriporn Chinaporntham and Ms. Chalermsee Chantaratim for kindly supporting us in this activity by regularly communicating and giving us regular feedback. We also gratefully thank all Task Force Members who gave their valuable time and intellect in this activity including Ms. Chantaratim Thailand, Mr. Phillip Yuen Hong Kong China, Mr. Hisao Sato Japan, Mr. Munishwor Pandey Nepal, and from Bangladesh Mr. Nurun Nabi Talukder, M. Saidur Rahman, Mr. Ahsan Habib, Mr. Muhammad Mushfiqul Wara, Mr. Wasimur Rahman Tonmoy, and Ms. Ashrafun Nahar Misti and many others who worked on Country Reports from the following countries i.e. China, Mongolia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey (not a signatory to the Proclamation), Armenia, Russian Federation (not a signatory to the Proclamation), Uzbekistan, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia (Federal States of), New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Solomon Islands that have been used for analysis in preparation of this report. We thank their authorities to allow them adequate time for the evaluation work.

We especially thank Ms. Valerie A. Taylor, Coordinator and Mr. A K M Momin Director of CRP for their encouragement and allowing time to one of the coordinators and some of CRP's staff members for this evaluation.

Our final and very special thanks go to Mr. Muhammad Mushfiqul Wara who took the work as his responsibility. He gave tireless all out support at the preparatory stage; development of methodology, questionnaire designing and data collection. Finally he gave his time in analyzing the whole reports received: content study, analyzing results, composing report, to dissemination of this report to all concerned people.

With thanks.

Ahsan Habib Task Force Coordinator & Chalermsee Chantaratim Task Force Co-coordinator

TASK FORCE REPORT ON EVALUATION OF "NATIONAL COORDINATION" AGENDA FOR ACTION FOR THE ASIAN & PACIFIC DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS, 1993-2002

FINAL REPORT

SUMMARY

The Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002 will conclude in 2002. The theme and goal of the Decade is the promotion of the full participation and equality of people with disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region.

Forty-one member and associate member countries of the Asian and Pacific region have signed the Proclamation on the Full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region.

The Task Force on "National Coordination" issue conducted this evaluation for the Regional NGO Network. It used the 'Terms of Reference' set by the RNN Research Coordinator as the basis of the current evaluation. A questionnaire was prepared based on the targets of National Coordination for this evaluation. These questionnaires were sent to the Task Forces in the Asian and Pacific countries. Task Force Members worked on collection of data in Japan, Hong Kong China, Thailand, and Bangladesh. The Task Force Coordinator on National Coordination issue based in Bangladesh collated data from the filled in questionnaires for analysis.

The Task Force Coordinator on National Coordination issue also used other related documents of the ESCAP regional review for this evaluation.

The evaluation on National Coordination issue conducted by the RNN National Coordination Task Forces for the Asian & Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002 indicated that all states signing the Proclamation of the Decade Agenda had made some remarkable achievements at the initial level in each component of the target of implementation of National Coordination issue. These included development of structures of National Coordination Committee (NCC) at the national, sub-national levels, or adaptation of NCC to previously established structures to coordinate functions on rehabilitation of disabled persons, development of executive committees by involving a greater number of GO, NGO and organizations of disabled persons, development of policies relating poverty alleviation schemes for disabled persons, and development of database for gathering information on programs, services and provisions for disabled persons.

Areas of major concern include the statutory authority of NCC, the perspective of Governments toward functioning of NCC as an autonomous body, representation of disabled community, lack of adequate data on services and programs, and coordinated efforts to promotion of positive images of disabled persons involving the community.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this evaluation is to review the implementation of National Coordination issues for the Agenda for Action for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (1993-2002). This evaluation has been conducted based on the light of the theme and goal of the Decade, which is the Promotion of the Full Participation and Equality of people with disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region. This evaluation has reviewed the progress made towards achievements in the policy area of National Coordination Agenda for Action, level of implementation, problems encountered in the process of implementation, as well as plan of action for the future.

The aim of the National Coordination will be achieved when the multi-sectoral participation will be ensured at the coordination bodies including the executive structures in the central and sub-national levels. The present participation of community of disabled suggests that states should recognize the right of disabled people to equally participate in the national and sub-national levels. Inclusion of disabled in the decision-making will positively affect their lives. The development of policy, legislation and service provision must be established in full partnership with people with disabilities, their organizations, other concerned agencies and civil society.

ASIAN AND PACIFIC DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS, 1993-2002

Background

The Agenda for Action for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002 (hereinafter referred to as the Decade Agenda) consists of 12 major policy categories. National Coordination is one of these. Through these years, this Agendum of the Decade has become an effective policy tool for governments in the ESCAP region to guide policy-making, planning and implementation of programs concerning people with disabilities.

The Decade will end in December 2002. A High-level intergovernmental Meeting to Conclude the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons will be organized by ESCAP from 25 to 28 October 2002, hosted by the Government of Japan and the Shiga Prefecture Government at Otsu City, Shiga, Japan. The Resolution 58/4, adopted at the fifty-eighth Commission session proclaimed the extension of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, for another decade, 2003-2012.

THE EVALUATION PROCESS TERMS OF REFERENCE

As it was decided at the General Meeting at Hanoi that the Task Force activities to review the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons will be started. Following the RNN organized 13 Task Forces corresponding to the 12 policy areas of the Agenda for Action for the Asian and Pacific Decade including "Women with Disabilities" as a new Agenda for Action for the Decade 1993-2002.

The mission of the Task Forces is to make a RNN Task Force Report for the following:

1. To evaluate the progresses of the Decade in each RNN country / area by NGOs;

2. To identify the issues and problems of each country / area and Asian and Pacific region for the Full Participation and Equality of People with Disability; and,

3. To propose a future Action Plan for the regional cooperation as Post-Decade Actions of both NGOs and GOs.

It was also stated that the Task Force Report would be submitted to the End-Year Campaign in 2002 in Osaka (Osaka Forum), Japan on October 21-23. Also through an NGO input, the report will be presented to the ESCAP High Level Intergovernmental Meeting on Asian and Pacific Decade on October 25-28 in Shiga, Japan.

Therefore, the RNN secretariat asked the National Member of RNN to nominate their Task Force Members, who will prepare country report and evaluations and cooperate with other TFs members for regional review. Those interested in participating in TFs were therefore requested to join as an organization as this research is conducted by RNN.

Accordingly in the area of National Coordination Ms. Siriporn Chinaporntham, who later nominated Ms. Charlermsee Chantaratim as the Co-Coordinator since Mr. Ahsan Habib was nominated as the Coordinator of the Task Force on National Coordination Issue for the Asian & Pacific region. Following Task Force Committees were formed in Hong Kong China, Thailand, Japan, and previously formed TF in Bangladesh. These TFs included the GO and NGO including self-help organizations and organization of women with disabilities.

This current evaluation has been undertaken to incorporate the missions of the Task Forces as spelled out by the secretariat of the Regional NGO Network in the Asian & Pacific Region.

Again in compliance with the arrangements mentioned by the RNN, this report on evaluation of "National Coordination" issue has been prepared.

METHODOLOGY

Following a guideline from the Research Coordinator Mr. Hisao Sato of the RNN secretariat some resource persons from RI, II, and WBA was contacted in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Japan and Task Forces on National Coordination were formed in those countries. Task Force Reports on Coordination were made from Hong Kong, Thailand and Japan. These Task Forces followed the Terms of Reference of the RNN Research Coordinator and kept close contact with the TF Coordinator in Bangladesh. These Task Forces included GO, NGO working with the Disabled, self-help organizations of the disabled and organization of women with disabilities. These RNN country reports were received at the Coordinators office in Bangladesh. The Coordinator and one researcher, who was also a TF member collated, and analyzed all data to prepare the final report.

Task Force Members in the above mentioned countries were sent a questionnaire on National Coordination issue developed following the targets of the Agendum of "National Coordination" for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002 and missions of the RNN TF for the evaluation. The questionnaire included a rating against each activity under the Agendum of National Coordination of the target, narrative statement against each rating, problem / issues of the implementation of the target activity, and suggestions for the future action plan. The questionnaire was developed upon the Agenda for Action on 11 targets of the National Coordination. Further the targets were set to evaluate on a four-point scale as following:

0 = no of few measures have been taken;

1 = slightly implemented;

2 = fairly implemented; and

3 = fully or nearly fully implemented.

In this method, narrative descriptions were asked from the responding organizations against each target activity area along with the rating of level of implementation of the Targets of the Agenda for National Coordination, with anticipation that this would be helpful to form a common understanding among the Task Force Members for this specific study.

These questionnaires were decided to be administered through physical interviews (if possible) and by postage, email and fax. For the other Asian and Pacific countries not being covered by TF National Coordination, were included in the analysis by content analysis of some documents received at the Coordinator's office in Bangladesh. The documents included the Preliminary Draft of the Report on the Asian & Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1993-2002.

The results of this evaluation were collated to provide a general picture according to each of the target activity for the Agenda on National Coordination concerned. Documents received from the RNN Research Coordination were used and suggestions and ideas were shared with the Task Force Members involved in this evaluation.

The Data collated were analyzed and prepared for report following the Preliminary Draft of the Regional Review Paper on the Evaluation of Achievements of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons at the Coordinator's office at CRP, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Due to time constraint not all concerned ministries and departments, as well as NGOs, and organizations of people with disabilities and women with disabilities could not be feasible for interviews with the questionnaire, and also the responding organizations did not find enough time for physical data collection. Information were collected by postage either email, fax etc. This affected adequate data collection for the evaluation.

The questionnaire for this evaluation was developed in English language, which may have limited the expressions of responding people/organizations.

The narrative section was limited to 25 words for ease of analysis within the deadline, which also may have limited the expressions of detailed reasons against the ratings generated for each activity of the target area.

No information was received of the following countries who are signatories to the Proclamation including Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Macao China, Republic of Korea, Brunei Darussalam, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Bhutan, Maldives, Kyrgyzstan, Australia, Guam, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

No information on National Coordination was received from the following non-signatory states including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, American Samoa, French Polynesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, and Tuvalu.

Inadequate data on disability statistics and the implementation of the components of National Coordination issue limited the analytical abilities of the Task Force Coordinator.

FINDINGS

The following countries i.e. Bangladesh, Hong Kong China, Thailand, Nepal and Japan submitted their Task Force report on National Coordination to the coordinator. Information from Research Coordinator was received from the following countries regarding status on National Coordination, which was also used for analysis to prepare this report. These countries include China, Mongolia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey (not a signatory to the Proclamation), Armenia, Russian Federation (not a signatory to the Proclamation), Uzbekistan, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia (Federal States of), New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea (not a signatory to this Proclamation), Samoa, and Solomon Islands.

The findings of the evaluation on National Coordination have been given following the targets as spelled in the APDDP 1993-2002.

REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGENDA FOR ACTION FOR THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS 1993 - 2002

National Coordination

EMERGING ISSUES

There were emerging concerns about the lack of social security, and the need for poverty reduction strategies to improve the situation for people with disabilities. Some governments reported that their initiatives had been limited by the high cost of dealing with the aftermath of war, economic downturns and political unrest.

In the Solomon Islands, any progress in the national coordination was affected by ethnic unrest and lack of government support over a 10 year period. In the result, no action had been taken since signing to the Proclamation.

Some countries still represent only GO organs and administrative bodies as Coordination structure as in Japan and Mongolia. However it is interesting that some of the Government of these states have started to coordinate the activities of NGO for the disabled. The mechanisms of coordination of these structures should incorporate 'facilitating' approach toward these NGOs so that representation is encouraged from different levels.

At the tail of the decade, some countries have stated that they have not made any progress like Solomon Islands, and some countries are discussing members of coordination structures and considering disabled people. Measures need to be taken to ensure balanced representation.

Some achievements made by some governments are really unique, as in Thailand. They have enacted the Workmen's Compensation Act in 1994 to provide protection for employees disabled at work so that they receive compensation for medical expenses, prosthetic devices and equipment, and physical and mental rehabilitation. Special occupational rehabilitation also provided at the Industrial Rehabilitation Center in Bangpoon, Pathum Thani Province. The act also promotes the issue of better safety and health at work places.

CONCLUSION

This report has been prepared on the basis of the states upon which relevant data on National Coordination was available. In many cases the task force team did not have adequate relevant information on a large number of states, for example, in the case of Indonesia the available information stated as "Indonesian community tries hard to solve out the problems and to fulfill the 12 programs of APDDP". In some cases to the point information was not available, as in the case of Malaysia stating "Malaysia's commitment at improving the quality of life among its disabled population was further ensured through the signing of the Proclamation on Full Participation and Equality of People with Disability in the Asia and Pacific Region on May 16, 1994. In addition, through the signing of the Convention on the Rights of Children, which covers all Malaysian children, children with disabilities are ensured and assured of their rights to the full participation of both economic and social development". In the case of Nepal it is stated that "good coordination between planning, monitoring and implementing agency" can not be interpreted for what specific target this information refers to. Therefore the report has only been able to summarize the performance of "National Coordination" activities in the member countries of the Asian & Pacific region in accordance to the Decade Agenda.

It is understood from the findings and the results that in most cases that in many areas the states are behind the targets on the Agenda for Action for the Asian & Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1993-2002, it is quite evident from the findings that there is a positive influence of the targets on the activities carried out in each country on National Coordination. This can be interpreted as an indication of the direct effect of the ESCAP declared decade on many states. Many states in this region have very uneven strengths in economy and therefore bear a lot of limitations in the field of development on disability. However, it was also observed that there is a positive movement from the government and non-government sectors in the areas of disability interventions and development. In 2001 the Interagency Coordinating Team was allocated some fund by the National Congress to hold one day Convention on Disability, which was attended by more than 400 individuals and family members of people with disabilities. It brought to light on disability issues within social justice issues for the poor, elderly population, and those who are dispossessed that this nation has long for years. Cook Islands position for "the move to produce a national disability policy ... on the part of the government, the appointment of a Disability Officer within the Ministry of Internal Affairs in August 2000" is certainly a very encouraging momentum. In Armenia no National Coordination Council for Disabled has been established, however Ministry of Social Security (Department on Issues of Adults and Handicapped) and Social League of NGOs deal with issues of the handicapped. In Kiribati, there is no national coordination on disability however Social Welfare services are delivered through Ministry of Environment and Social Development since late 1990s. Likewise Russian Federation guarantees equal opportunities in realization of civil, economic, political and other rights and freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Standard Rules of Maintenance of Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons accepted by Russia places serious moral and political obligations on the states in maintaining quality of life and equality of the disabled persons. Some problems of disabled people were solved within the program of "Social Support of Disabled Persons" # 59, January 16th, 1995 which was completed in 1999. In Micronesia (Federal States of) has taken more adorable steps as preparation of developing NCC, by creating an office within the levels of government to coordinate programs and services for disabled person, by recognizing NGOs and their inputs into State Implementation Plan for people with disabilities, and by creating National Advisory Council to advice the Executive Director of Special Education program on the issues related to people with disabilities. Papua New Guinea wishes to revive the committees established back in 1998, Samoa wants it not functioning National Council revive as well. Samoan Government has adopted policy for special needs education and is implementing actively through establishment of Special Needs Education Council. This state is also implementing policy on construction works of public buildings with provisions for disabled. These are all positive signs toward development for the equalization and full participation of disabled people. These states sees a brighter future and in the next decade we will take challenges to establish full-fledge NCCs to function in all these countries that have not been able to develop it yet.

This is positive to learn as Myanmar "preparing for formation of national committee on people with disabilities", which reminds us many of the targets have not yet been made and we need to consider a specific future plan for action for the next decade.

Progress had been uneven with some areas still requiring critical attention. While assessing the data for analysis it has been realized that in most states the impetus of the initiatives of developing a National Coordination Council, and an executive committee have been taken from the middle of the decade. About half decade is gone, but strengthening the NCC to become and effective statutory body still remains to be achieved. Government commitment and approach to multi-sector involvement, increasing participation of disabled people, involvement of NGOs and organizations of disabled people needs to be taken seriously in practice.

When recognizing some significant achievements in many of the policy areas of the Agenda for Action, it is necessary to guard against complacency. Lack of data prevents us from knowing what percentage of our regional population of people with disabilities has had their lives impacted and their opportunities extended by the activities of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, but it is clear that further action is needed to achieve full participation and equality. The establishment of national database is essential to provide accurate information on people with disabilities and their situations, without which it is difficult to plan appropriate services and to monitor progress towards the achievement of full participation and equality.

Commitment by the Governments of the region, with full sub-regional and regional cooperation, is needed to ensure that the equal rights of all people with disabilities, including the right to participate in development and decision-making are achieved in our Asian and Pacific communities by 2012.

Reference

1. Towards Equalization, End of the decade: Meeting the targets and the future challenges, Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1993-2002, The Bangladesh Context, Ministry of Social Welfare Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, National Foundation for Development of Disabled Persons and National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD) June 2002.

2. Report of the Regional NGO Network (RNN) Task Force on National Coordination for Equalization of Opportunities for Disabled Persons for the Asian & Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002 National Coordination Task Force Bangladesh, Ahsan Habib, Assistant Director Personnel & Finance Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed and other Task Force Members of Bangladesh, June 2002.

3. Regional Review Paper on the Evaluation of Achievements of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons --- Preliminary Draft, 23 June, ESCAP.

4. Questionnaire Data Summaries including 1 National Coordination Achievements.doc and the 14 Additional Comments.doc, ESCAP.

5. Task Force National Coordination Report Thailand, Ms. Chalermsee Chantaratim and Task Force Members, August 2002.

6. Task Force National Coordination Report Hong Kong China, Phillip Yuen, August 2002.

7. Nepal's NGO Answer, Munishwor Pandey, May 2002.

8. Country Report of Thailand: The Implementation of the Agenda Action, Ms. Chalermsee Chantaratim and Task Force Members, September 2002.

9. Task Force National Coordination Report Japan, Dr. Hisao Sato, September 2002.

10. ESCAP Decade Agenda for Action RNN Report on Public Awareness, Report Developed by RNN Task Force Public Awareness, A H M Noman Khan, September 2002.

APPENDIX -1

ABRREVIATIONS

AP=Asian & the Pacific

APDDP= Asian & Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons

CDPF= China Disabled Persons Federation.

Decade Agenda= Agenda for Action for the Asian & Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002

DPO=Disabled People's Organization

DWA= Disability Welfare Act

ESCAP=Economic and Social Commission for the Asian & the Pacific

FNCDP= Fiji National Council of Disabled Persons

GDC= Government Disability Committee

GO= Government

II=Inclusion International

MCDS= Ministry of Community Development and Sports

MWCSW= Ministry of Children, Women and Social Welfare

NCC= National Coordination Council

NCC=National Coordination Committee

NCCD= National Coordination Council on Disability of Vietnam

NCSS= National Council of Social Services

NFOWD= National Foundation of Organizations Working for the Disabled

NGO=Non-Government Organization

RAC = Rehabilitation Advisory Committee

RI=Rehabilitation International

RNN= Regional NGO Network

SHO=Self-help Organization

TF= Task Force

ToR=Terms of Reference

WBA= World Blind Association

WwD= Women with Disabilities