Ⅱ. NATURE AND OVERARCHING PRINCIPLES OF BIWAKO PLUS FIVE

8. Biwako Plus Five supplements the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action. In terms of content, Biwako Plus Five distinguishes itself from the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action by (a) providing additional actions in the 7 priority areas, (b) reconfiguring the 4 strategy areas into 5 areas with 25 additional strategies, and (c) adding 3 strategies under “cooperation and support and monitoring and review”.

9. Biwako Plus Five should be implemented on the basis of the same principles and policy directions delineated in the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action. However, the following three aspects should be amplified:

 (a) First, Governments shall, within the limit of their economic capacity and development, take appropriate measures to devise national strategies and action plans for the implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action and Biwako Plus Five. Governments should recognize the importance of international cooperation and partnership, in support of national efforts, including through the transfer of resources and technologies, as appropriate;

 (b) Second, partnership among different stakeholders, namely, Governments, representatives of disabled people’s organizations, international, regional and national nongovernmental organizations, development organizations and agencies, and the private sector, as appropriate, should be promoted in all relevant activities, including research, data collection, needs assessment, policy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, capacity-building and awareness-raising;

 (c) Third, the diversity of persons with disabilities should be respected not only because they are the targets of policies, programmes and projects but also because they are partners in the decision-making process concerning disability as well as implementers and evaluators of projects and policies.