Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific
United Nations
ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific)
Bangkok, November 2012
Contents
- Introduction
- Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022
- Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific
- A. Background
- B. Key principles and policy direction
- C. Incheon goals and targets
- Goal 1:Reduce poverty and enhance work and employment prospects
- Goal 2:Promote participation in political processes and in decision-making
- Goal 3:Enhance access to the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge, information and communication
- Goal 4:Strengthen social protection
- Goal 5:Expand early intervention and education of children with disabilities
- Goal 6:Ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment
- Goal 7:Ensure disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction and management
- Goal 8:Improve the reliability and comparability of disability data
- Goal 9:Accelerate the ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the harmonization of national legislation with the Convention
- Goal 10:Advance subregional, regional and interregional cooperation
- D. Modalities for effective implementation:national, subregional and regional levels
- Annex Terms of reference of the Working Group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities
Introduction
Governments of the ESCAP region gathered in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 29 October to 2 November 2012 to chart the course of the new Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities for the period 2013 to 2022. They were joined by representatives of civil society organizations, including organizations of and for persons with disabilities. Also in attendance were representatives of intergovernmental organizations, development cooperation agencies and the United Nations system.
The High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, was organized by ESCAP and hosted by the Government of the Republic of Korea. The Meeting marked the conclusion of the second Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, and launched the new Decade.
The Governments at the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting adopted the Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, and the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific.
The Incheon Strategy provides the Asian and Pacific region, and the world, with the first set of regionally agreed disability-inclusive development goals.
Developed over more than two years of consultations with governments and civil society stakeholders, the Incheon Strategy comprises 10 goals, 27 targets and 62 indicators.
The Incheon Strategy builds on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action and Biwako Plus Five towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific.
The Incheon Strategy will enable the Asian and Pacific region to track progress towards improving the quality of life, and the fulfilment of the rights, of the region’s 650 million persons with disabilities, most of whom live in poverty. The ESCAP secretariat is mandated to report every three years until the end of the Decade in 2022, on progress in the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration and the Incheon Strategy.
Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022
We, the ministers and representatives of members and associate members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) assembled at the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, held at Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 29 October to 2 November 2012,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, in which the Assembly adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, 1 and resolution 48/96 of 20 December 1993, in which the Assembly adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, in which persons with disabilities are recognized as both development agents and beneficiaries in all aspects of development,
Also recalling General Assembly resolution 61/106 of 13 December 2006, in which the Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, which entered into force on 3 May 2008,
Further recalling General Assembly resolution 65/1 of 22 September 2010, entitled “Keeping the promise: united to achieve the Millennium Development Goals”, in which the Assembly, inter alia, recognized that policies and actions must focus on the poor and those living in the most vulnerable situations, including persons with disabilities, so that they benefit from progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals,
Welcoming the decision of the General Assembly to hold the High-level Meeting on the Realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other Internationally Agreed Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities, at the level of heads of State and Government, on 23 September 2013, with the overarching theme “The way forward: a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond”, 2
Recalling General Assembly resolution 66/290 of 10 September 2012, which stipulates an agreed common understanding of human security, which, inter alia, states that all individuals, in particular vulnerable people, are entitled to freedom from fear and freedom from want, with an equal opportunity to enjoy all their rights and fully develop their human potential,
Also recalling Commission resolution 48/3 of 23 April 1992 on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, in which the Commission proclaimed the first such regional decade in the world,
Further recalling Commission resolution 58/4 of 22 May 2002 on promoting an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for people with disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region in the twenty-first century, in which the Commission proclaimed the extension of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons for another decade, from 2003 to 2012,
Recalling Commission resolution 59/3 of 4 September 2003 on the regional implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific during the Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, in which the Commission, inter alia, requested members and associate members to support the implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action,
Also recalling Commission resolution 64/8 of 30 April 2008 on regional implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action and Biwako Plus Five towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, in which the Commission mandated the convening of a high-level intergovernmental meeting to review the implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action and Biwako Plus Five in 2012, the concluding year of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012,
Further recalling Commission resolution 66/11 of 19 May 2010 on regional preparations for the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, in which the Commission encouraged the participation of all key stakeholders, including organizations of persons with disabilities from Asia and the Pacific, in the preparatory process leading up to the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting,
Recalling Commission resolution 68/7 of 23 May 2012, in which the Commission proclaimed the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, and urged all members and associate members to participate actively in the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting and to consider and adopt a strategic framework to guide the implementation of the Decade that is based on the general principles and obligations stipulated in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
Noting that the World Report on Disability estimates that 15 per cent of the population experience some form of disability, which in the Asian and Pacific region equates to 650 million persons with disabilities, with 80 per cent living in developing countries, 3
Welcoming the progress that has been achieved over the course of two Asian and Pacific Decades, spanning the period 1993 to 2012, by ESCAP members and associate members in establishing the foundation for a rights-based approach, with a focus on the dignity of persons with disabilities, to inclusive development, particularly through policy and institutional commitments, as well as new strides in legislation and empowerment,
Noting with appreciation the contributions of civil society, particularly organizations of and for persons with disabilities, to the progress achieved, including through continuous awareness-raising of the rights of persons with diverse disabilities, innovation of good practices, and engagement in policy dialogue,
Bearing in mind that Pacific Leaders at the Forty-first Pacific Islands Forum, held in Port Vila, reaffirmed, through their Communique of 5 August 2010, 4their strong support for the Pacific Regional Strategy on Disability 2010-2015 5 to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities, to provide a framework for coordination in building a disability-inclusive Pacific, and to strengthen stakeholder commitment towards the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other disability-related human rights instruments,
Noting with appreciation the Bali Declaration on the Enhancement of the Role and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in the ASEAN Community, 6 adopted on 17 November 2011 by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at its nineteenth summit, held in Bali, Indonesia, in which ASEAN, inter alia, proclaimed the period 2011 to 2020 as the ASEAN Decade of Persons with Disabilities, towards ensuring the effective participation of persons with disabilities and mainstreaming disability perspectives in ASEAN policies and programmes across the economic, political security and socio-cultural pillars of the ASEAN Community,
Welcoming the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, 7 adopted on 1 December 2011 by the Fourth High-level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, Busan, Republic of Korea, which, inter alia, recognized the importance of international commitments on disability for forming the foundation of cooperation for effective development,
Also welcoming the Beijing Declaration on Disability-Inclusive Development, 8 adopted on 8 June 2012 by the Beijing Forum with the theme “removing barriers, promoting integration”, which, inter alia, recognized the significance of accelerating the ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and incorporating the disability dimension in the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015 in diverse sectors,
Noting the Community-based Rehabilitation Guidelines, 9 a joint document of the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Disability and Development Consortium, which provides a comprehensive, multisectoral poverty reduction strategy for implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
Recalling the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”, 10 which was adopted by the Conference on 22 June 2012, and which, inter alia, identified persons with disabilities and recognized their right to inclusion in measures that accelerate the implementation of sustainable development commitments,
Noting with concern that there are still many challenges to be addressed to ensure that persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific have the right to equitable access to economic and social opportunities and political participation and all other aspects of life,
Underscoring the need to address the disability dimensions of the long-term consequences of the rapid population ageing that is under way in Asia and the Pacific,
Noting with serious concern the disproportionate impact of disasters on persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, which in the past three decades has been the region that has suffered the largest number of disasters,
Also noting with serious concern that negative stereotyping and discriminatory behaviour towards persons with disabilities still prevail,
Mindful that there are increasing opportunities for promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, including through the use of new technologies for enhancing the accessibility of the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge, information and communication,
1. Adopt the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, as attached, to catalyse action that shall accelerate, during the new Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, the achievement of the regional vision of an inclusive society that ensures, promotes and upholds the rights of all persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific;
2. Recognize the central role of government in ensuring, promoting and upholding the rights of persons with disabilities and in promoting the inclusion of disability dimensions in the development agenda beyond 2015 in diverse sectors;
3. Commit to implement the present Declaration and the Incheon Strategy by promoting action to reach the Incheon goals and targets by 2022;
4 Invite all concerned stakeholders, including the following, to join in a region-wide partnership to contribute to the implementation of the present Declaration and the Incheon Strategy:
a. Subregional intergovernmental entities, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Pacific Islands Forum and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, to promote and strengthen subregional cooperation for disability- inclusive development, in coordination with ESCAP;
b. Development cooperation agencies, to strengthen the disability- inclusiveness of their policies, plans and programmes;
c. The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, to harness their technical and financial resources for promoting disability- inclusive development in Asia and the Pacific;
d. The United Nations system, including programmes, funds and specialized agencies and ESCAP, to jointly deliver disability- inclusive development in Asia and the Pacific, including through effective use of existing mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels, such as the United Nations Development Group and United Nations country teams,
e. Civil society organizations, particularly organizations of and for persons with disabilities, to participate effectively in the monitoring and evaluation of the Decade to foster continuous responsiveness on the aspirations and needs of persons with disabilities, including through outreach to diverse disability groups, and contributing to policy and programme development and implementation;
f. Organizations of and for persons with disabilities, to participate actively in decision-making processes concerning the Incheon Strategy;
g The private sector, to promote disability-inclusive business practices;
5. Request the Executive Secretary of ESCAP:
a. To accord priority to supporting members and associate members in the full and effective implementation of the present Declaration and the Incheon Strategy, in cooperation with other concerned entities;
b. To engage with stakeholders and encourage their participation in the implementation of the present Declaration and the Incheon Strategy;
c. To submit the outcome of this High-level Intergovernmental Meeting to the Commission at its sixty-ninth session for endorsement;
d. To submit the outcome of this High-level Intergovernmental Meeting to the High-level Meeting on the Realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other Internationally Agreed Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities, to be convened on 23 September 2013, through the President of the General Assembly;
d To report to the Commission triennially thereafter until the end of the Decade on the progress in the implementation of the present Declaration and the Incheon Strategy;
f. To develop a roadmap for the implementation of the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities, including reporting requirements, for submission to the Commission at its seventieth session;
6. Recommend that the Commission at its sixty-ninth session decide to convene a high-level intergovernmental meeting to review the progress of the Decade at the midpoint of the Decade (2017), and to mark the conclusion of the Decade (2022).
Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific
A. Background
1.The development of the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific was derived from the experiences in the implementation of two consecutive Asian and Pacific Decades of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002 and 2003-2012, as well as the historic adoption by the General Assembly, in 2006, of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 1
2. The development of the Incheon Strategy benefited from the contributions of governments, organizations of and for persons with disabilities, and other key stakeholders. It drew from the observations, feedback and insights obtained through the following regional consultations: the Expert Group Meeting-cum-Stakeholder Consultation to Review the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012: The Biwako Millennium Framework for Action (Bangkok, 23-25 June 2010); the Committee on Social Development, second session (Bangkok, 19-21 October 2010); the Regional Stakeholder Consultation for the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012 (Bangkok, 14-16 December 2011); and the Regional Preparatory Meeting for the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012 (Bangkok, 14-16 March 2012).
3. The responses of governments and organizations of and for persons with disabilities to the ESCAP Disability Survey 2011-2012 on the final review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, provided a rich evidence base for developing the Incheon Strategy.
4. The Incheon Strategy is not intended to replicate the comprehensive coverage of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action and Biwako Plus Five towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which will all continue to serve as overarching policy frameworks for regional work in the field of disability.
5.Similar to the Millennium Development Goals, 2 the Incheon goals and targets are time-bound for accelerating implementation by focusing particular attention on the achievement of a set of priority goals and targets during the course of the new Decade, 2013-2022, as well as facilitating the measurement of progress to be attained by countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region.
B. Key principles and policy direction
The Incheon Strategy is based on the principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
a. Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy, including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons;
b. Non-discrimination;
c. Full and effective participation and inclusion in society;
d. Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity;
e. Equality of opportunity;
f. Accessibility;
g. Equality between men and women;
h. Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.
7. In order to realize and protect the rights of persons with disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region, the Incheon Strategy underscores the following policy direction:
a. Legislative, administrative and other measures supportive of rights fulfilment are adopted, implemented, reviewed and strengthened so that disability-based discrimination is eliminated;
b. Development policies and programmes are disability-inclusive and gender-sensitive and harness the potential of combining universal design with technological advancements for enabling persons with disabilities to fulfil their rights;
c. Development policies and programmes address the basic needs of persons with disabilities and their families who live in poverty;
d. Effective and timely collection and analysis of sex-disaggregated disability data are pursued for evidence-based policymaking;
e. National, subnational and local policies and programmes are based on plans that are explicitly inclusive of persons with disabilities and that also prioritize the active participation of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, in relevant decision-making processes;
f. The necessary budgetary support is provided at all levels for disability-inclusive development and tax policies facilitate the inclusion of persons with disabilities;
g. All national, subregional, regional and international entities concerned with development include disability dimensions in their policies and programmes;
h. National, subnational and local coordination, with subregional and regional linkages, ensure that disability inclusion in development policies and programmes is strengthened through intensification of multisectoral consultation and collaboration, to expedite and review Decade implementation and share related good practices;
i. Community- and family-based inclusive development is promoted in order to ensure that all persons with disabilities, irrespective of socioeconomic status, religious affiliation, ethnicity and location, are able, on an equal basis with others, to contribute to and benefit from development initiatives, particularly poverty reduction programmes;
j. Persons with disabilities are included in mainstream community life and are supported with life choices equal to those of others, including the option to live independently;
k. Persons with disabilities have access to the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge, information and communication, in a usable manner, through universal design and assistive technologies with reasonable accommodation provided, and taking into consideration the need to accommodate economic, geographic, linguistic and other aspects of cultural diversity, which altogether constitute a critical bridge to fulfilling their rights;
l. Diverse disability groups are empowered that include but are not limited to the following underrepresented groups: girls and boys with disabilities, young persons with disabilities, women with disabilities, persons with intellectual, learning and developmental disabilities, persons with autism, persons with psychosocial disabilities, persons who are deaf, hard of hearing and deafened, persons who are deafblind, persons with multiple disabilities, persons with extensive disabilities, older persons with disabilities, persons with disabilities living with HIV, persons with disabilities arising from non-communicable diseases, persons with disabilities affected by leprosy, persons with disabilities caused by medical conditions and intractable epilepsy, persons with disabilities caused by road traffic crashes, indigenous and ethnic minority persons with disabilities, persons with disabilities who are homeless and inadequately housed, persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies, and the occurrence of natural and human-made disasters, persons with disabilities who are victims of landmines, persons with disabilities who do not have legal status, persons with disabilities who are victims of domestic violence, particularly women and children, and family advocacy groups, as well as particularly marginalized persons with disabilities living in slums, rural and remote areas and atolls;
m. Organizations of and for persons with disabilities, self-help groups and self-advocacy groups, with support, as required by families and caregivers, participate in decision-making, as appropriate, to ensure that the interests of marginalized groups are adequately addressed;
n. Action on awareness-raising is strengthened and continued, including through the provision of adequate budgetary support, in the Asian and Pacific region during the Decade to improve attitudes and behaviour and mobilize effective multi-sectoral engagement in implementation modalities.
C. Incheon goals and targets
8. The Incheon Strategy is composed of 10 interrelated goals, 27 targets and 62 indicators.
9. The time frame for achieving the goals and targets is the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013 to 2022.
10. Goals describe the desired end results. Targets are aimed to be achieved within a given time frame. Indicators measure progress towards the targets and verify that the targets have been achieved. There are two types of indicators: core indicators and supplementary indicators. 3 All indicators should be disaggregated by sex wherever possible.
Goal 1
Reduce poverty and enhance work and employment prospects
11. The Decade must see greater progress in reducing poverty among persons with disabilities and their families. Persons with disabilities experience significant labour market disadvantages, have less economic participation and hence are disproportionately poorer than persons without disabilities. Having a decent job and the necessary education, training and support to keep that job is one of the best means of overcoming poverty. Those who can and want to work must therefore be better supported, protected, and equipped to do so. This requires more accommodating labour markets. Lifting persons with disabilities and their families out of poverty would contribute to the achievement of inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Target 1.A
Eliminate extreme poverty among persons with disabilities
Target 1.B
Increase work and employment for persons of working age with disabilities who can and want to work
Target 1.C
Increase the participation of persons with disabilities in vocational training and other employment-support programmes funded by governments
Indicators for tracking progress
Core indicators
1.1 Proportion of persons with disabilities living below the US$ 1.25 (PPP) per day international poverty line, as updated by the World Bank and compared to the overall population
1.2 Ratio of persons with disabilities in employment to the general population in employment
1.3 Proportion of persons with disabilities who participate in government-funded vocational training and other employment-support programmes as a proportion of all people trained
Supplementary indicators
1.4 Proportion of persons with disabilities living below the national poverty line
Goal 2
Promote participation in political processes and in decision-making
12 The participation of persons with disabilities in the political process and in decision-making is the cornerstone for the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities. Being able to exercise the right to vote and the right to be elected is intrinsic to this goal. The Decade must witness greater and more widespread progress in the participation of diverse groups of persons with disabilities, including women and youth with disabilities, in political processes and in decisionmaking at all levels. Moreover, technological improvements should be harnessed to enable persons with disabilities to participate in public decision-making processes and to exercise their rights and fulfil their responsibilities as full members of society. The improvements include the provision of an enabling environment for persons with disabilities to have equitable access to appointments in the judicial, executive and legislative branches of government, including those of the supreme court, ministries and national legislative body.
Target 2.A
Ensure that persons with disabilities are represented in government decision-making bodies
Target 2.B
Provide reasonable accommodation to enhance the participation of persons with disabilities in the political process
Indicators for tracking progress
Core indicators
2.1 Proportion of seats held by persons with disabilities in the parliament or equivalent national legislative body
2.2 Proportion of members of the national coordination mechanism on disability who represent diverse disability groups
2.3 Proportion of those represented in the national machinery for gender equality and women’s empowerment who are persons with disabilities
2.4 Proportion of polling stations in the national capital that are accessible with processes in place that ensure confidentiality of voters with disabilities
Supplementary indicators
2.5 Proportion of cabinet positions held by persons with disabilities at the national level
2.6 Proportion of supreme court judges who are persons with disabilities
2.7 Availability of legislation that requires the national election authority to conduct the election process in a manner that makes it accessible for persons with diverse disabilities
Goal 3
Enhance access to the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge, information and communication
13 Access to the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge, information and communication is a precondition for persons with disabilities to fulfil their rights in an inclusive society. The accessibility of urban, rural and remote areas based on universal design increases safety and ease of use not only for persons with disabilities, but also for all other members of society. Access audits are an important means of ensuring accessibility and must cover all stages of the process of planning, design, construction, maintenance and monitoring and evaluation. Access to assistive devices and related support services is also a precondition for persons with disabilities to optimize their level of independence in daily life and live in dignity. Ensuring the availability of assistive devices for those living in lowresource settings involves encouraging research, development, production, distribution and maintenance.
Target 3.A
Increase the accessibility of the physical environment in the national capital that is open to the public
Target 3.B
Enhance the accessibility and usability of public transportation
Target 3.C
Enhance the accessibility and usability of information and communications services
Target 3.D
Halve the proportion of persons with disabilities who need but do not have appropriate assistive devices or products
Indicators for tracking progress
Core indicators
3.1 Proportion of accessible government buildings in the national capital
3.2 Proportion of accessible international airports
3.3 Proportion of daily captioning and sign-language interpretation of public television news programmes
3.4 Proportion of accessible and usable public documents and websites that meet internationally recognized accessibility standards
3.5 Proportion of persons with disabilities who need assistive devices or products and have them
Supplementary indicators
3.6 Availability of a government access audit programme that requires the participation of experts with disabilities
3.7 Availability of mandatory technical standards for barrier-free access that govern the approval of all designs for buildings that could be used by members of the public, taking into consideration internationally recognized standards, such as those of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
3.8 Number of sign language interpreters
3.9 Availability of mandatory technical standards for barrier-free access that govern the approval of all ICT-related services, such as websites for the public, taking into consideration internationally recognized standards, such as those of the ISO
Goal 4
Strengthen social protection
14 Social protection coverage in developing countries of Asia and the Pacific is often limited to social insurance programmes and only available to those with regular employment contracts in the formal sector, leaving the vast majority of the population, especially persons with disabilities, without sufficient coverage. It is therefore crucial to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to social protection on an equal basis with others, and to promote further the social protection floor with a focus on health care and basic income protection for all. Furthermore, there is a lack of affordable services, including personal assistance and peer counselling services, which enable persons with disabilities to live independently in the community. For many persons with disabilities, these services are prerequisites for their participation in society.
Target 4.A
Increase access to all health services, including rehabilitation, for all persons with disabilities
Target 4.B
Increase coverage of persons with disabilities within social protection programmes
Target 4.C
Enhance services and programmes, including for personal assistance and peer counselling, that support persons with disabilities, especially those with multiple, extensive and diverse disabilities, in living independently in the community
Indicators for tracking progress
Core indicators
4.1 Proportion of persons with disabilities who use government-supported health-care programmes, as compared to the general population
4.2 Coverage of persons with disabilities within social protection programmes, including social insurance and social assistance programmes
4.3 Availability of government-funded services and programmes, including for personal assistance and peer counselling, that enable persons with disabilities to live independently in the community
Supplementary indicators
4.4 Number of government-supported programmes for care services, including for respite care
4.5 Availability of national community-based rehabilitation programmes
4.6 Availability of health insurance for persons with disabilities
4.7 A decrease in the unmet need for assistance and support services
Goal 5
Expand early intervention and education of children with disabilities
There has been relative neglect of the issue of developmental delays and disabilities among children, many of whom are the children of families living in poverty. In much of the Asia-Pacific region, a disproportionate number of children with disabilities do not have access to early intervention and education programmes. Early detection of delays in reaching developmental milestones is as important as regularly measuring the height and weight of infants and children. Following early detection of delay in reaching developmental milestones, it is necessary to provide prompt and appropriate responses to optimize their all-round development.
Such early intervention responses cover, inter alia, stimulation, nurturing and care, and pre-school education. Investing in early childhood programmes yields higher returns than at subsequent levels of education and training. Government commitment to early childhood programmes would significantly improve their development outcomes. Furthermore, it is essential for governments to ensure that children with disabilities have access, on an equitable basis with others in the communities in which they live, to quality primary and secondary education. This process includes engaging families as partners in providing more effective support for children with disabilities.
Target 5.A
Enhance measures for early detection of, and intervention for, children with disabilities from birth to pre-school age
Target 5.B
Halve the gap between children with disabilities and children without disabilities in enrolment rates for primary and secondary education
Indicators for tracking progress
Core indicators
5.1 Number of children with disabilities receiving early childhood intervention
5.2 Primary education enrolment rate of children with disabilities
5.3 Secondary education enrolment rate of children with disabilities
Supplementary indicators
5.4 Proportion of pre- and antenatal care facilities that provide information and services regarding early detection of disability in children and protection of the rights of children with disabilities
5.5 Proportion of children who are deaf that receive instruction in sign language
5.6 Proportion of students with visual impairments that have educational materials in formats that are readily accessible
5.7 Proportion of students with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, deafblindness, autism and other disabilities who have assistive devices, adapted curricula and appropriate learning materials
Goal 6
Ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment
16 Girls and women with disabilities face multiple forms of discrimination and abuse. Isolation, compounded by dependency on caregivers, renders them extremely vulnerable to many forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, with attendant risks, including of HIV infection, pregnancy and maternal and infant death. Girls and women with disabilities are largely invisible in mainstream gender equality programmes. Information concerning sexual and reproductive health, general health care, and related services is seldom in formats and language that are accessible. The true promise of the Decade will be fully realized only when girls and women with disabilities are active participants in mainstream development.
Target 6.A
Enable girls and women with disabilities to have equitable access to mainstream development opportunities
Target 6.B
Ensure representation of women with disabilities in government decision-making bodies
Target 6.C
Ensure that all girls and women with disabilities have access to sexual and reproductive health services on an equitable basis with girls and women without disabilities
Target 6.D
Increase measures to protect girls and women with disabilities from all forms of violence and abuse
Indicators for tracking progress
Core indicators
6.1 Number of countries that include the promotion of the participation of women and girls with disabilities in their national action plans on gender equality and empowerment of women
6.2 Proportion of seats held by women with disabilities in the parliament or equivalent national legislative body
6.3 Proportion of girls and women with disabilities who access sexual and reproductive health services of government and civil society, compared to women and girls without disabilities
6.4 Number of programmes initiated by government and relevant agencies aimed at eliminating violence, including sexual abuse and exploitation, perpetrated against girls and women with disabilities
6.5 Number of programmes initiated by government and relevant agencies that provide care and support, including rehabilitation, for women and girls with disabilities who are victims of any form of violence and abuse
Goal 7
Ensure disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction and management
17. The Asia-Pacific region is the region that is most adversely affected by disasters, including those caused by climate change. Persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are at higher risk of death, injury and additional impairments, as a result of exclusion from disaster risk reduction policies, plans and programmes. Public service announcements are often issued in formats and language that are not accessible by persons with disabilities. In addition, emergency exits, shelters and facilities tend not to be barrier-free. Regular participation of persons with disabilities in emergency preparedness drills and other disaster risk reduction measures at the local and district levels could prevent or minimize risk and damage when disasters occur. Physical and information infrastructure that incorporates universal design principles would improve the chances of safety and survival.
Target 7.A
Strengthen disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction planning
Target 7.B
Strengthen implementation of measures on providing timely and appropriate support to persons with disabilities in responding to disasters
Indicators for tracking progress
Core indicators
7.1 Availability of disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction plans
7.2 Availability of disability-inclusive training for all relevant service personnel
7.3 Proportion of accessible emergency shelters and disaster relief sites
Supplementary indicators
7.4 Number of persons with disabilities who died or were seriously injured in disasters
7.5 Availability of psychosocial support service personnel that have the capacity to assist persons with disabilities affected by disasters
7.6 Availability of assistive devices and technologies for persons with disabilities in preparing for and responding to disasters
Goal 8
Improve the reliability and comparability of disability data
18 Persons with disabilities tend to be unseen, unheard and uncounted. Increasingly in recent years, when they have been counted, definitions of “disability” and “persons with disabilities” that are used for collecting disability data have varied widely in the Asia-Pacific region. Taken together, data comparisons across countries are frequently unreliable. The Asia-Pacific region needs more accurate statistics on the population of persons with diverse disabilities and on their socioeco32 nomic status. The adequacy of disability statistics would enable policymaking to be evidence-based to support the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities. The Decade is an opportunity to enhance data collection aimed at generating comparable disability statistics over time and across borders. It is crucial that baseline data for the Incheon Strategy indicators are made available to enable effective progress tracking towards the achievement of goals and targets.
Target 8.A
Produce and disseminate reliable and internationally comparable disability statistics in formats that are accessible by persons with disabilities
Target 8.B
Establish reliable disability statistics by the midpoint of the Decade, 2017, as the source for tracking progress towards the achievement of the goals and targets in the Incheon Strategy
Indicators for tracking progress
Core indicators
8.1 Disability prevalence based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) by age, sex, race and socioeconomic status
8.2 Number of Governments in the Asia-Pacific region that have established, by 2017, baseline data for tracking progress towards achievement of the Incheon goals and targets
8.3 Availability of disaggregated data on women and girls with disabilities in mainstream development programmes and government services, including health, and sexual and reproductive health, programmes
Goal 9
Accelerate the ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the harmonization of national legislation with the Convention
19 The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the first disability-specific, international legal instrument that provides a comprehensive approach to respecting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of persons with disabilities. The Convention explicitly empowers persons with disabilities as holders of rights, as distinct from being treated as objects of charity. The ESCAP region played an instrumental and historic role in the initiation and drafting of the Convention. As of 30 October 2012, 126 States globally are parties to the Convention and 154 are signatories, of which, in the Asia-Pacific region, 35 Governments have signed the Convention and 25 have ratified the Convention or acceded to it.
Target 9.A
By the midpoint of the Decade (2017), 10 more Asia-Pacific Governments will have ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and by the end of the Decade (2022) another 10 Asia-Pacific Governments will have ratified or acceded to the Convention
Target 9.B
Enact national laws which include anti-discrimination provisions, technical standards and other measures to uphold and protect the rights of persons with disabilities and amend or nullify national laws that directly or indirectly discriminate against persons with disabilities, with a view to harmonizing national legislation with the Convention
Indicators for tracking progress
Core indicators
9.1 Number of Governments that have ratified or acceded to the Convention
9.2 Availability of national anti-discrimination legislation to uphold and protect the rights of persons with disabilities Supplementary indicators
9.3 Number of Asia-Pacific Governments that have ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
9.4 Number of amended or nullified laws that directly or indirectly discriminate against persons with disabilities
Goal 10
Advance subregional, regional and interregional cooperation
20. The experience of two Asian and Pacific Decades underscores the value of cooperation, at subregional, regional and interregional levels, for facilitating mutual support, including through sharing lessons learned, good practices and innovative solutions. The Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, 4 adopted on 1 December 2011 by the Fourth High-level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (Busan, Republic of Korea) recognized the importance of international commitments on disability to form the foundation of cooperation for effective development. Civil society and the private sector could play important roles in catalysing innovative approaches to reaching the Incheon goals and targets. The Asia-Pacific region still faces long-term challenges. In post-conflict areas, such challenges as landmines and remnants of war continue to exacerbate the occurrence of disability and undermine livelihoods. The Decade provides an opportunity for international cooperation, with multi-sectoral dimensions, to overcome such challenges, and support effective implementation.
Target 10.A Contribute to the Asia-Pacific Multi-donor Trust Fund managed by ESCAP as well as initiatives and programmes to support the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, and the Incheon Strategy
Target 10.B Development cooperation agencies in the Asia-Pacific region strengthen the disability-inclusiveness of their policies and programmes
Target 10.C United Nations regional commissions strengthen interregional exchange of experiences and good practices concerning disability issues and the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Indicators for tracking progress
Core indicators
10.1 Annual voluntary contributions by Governments and other donors to the Asia-Pacific Multi-donor Trust Fund to support the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013- 2022, and the Incheon Strategy
10.2 Number of donors contributing each year to the Asia-Pacific Multi-donor Trust Fund to support the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, and the Incheon Strategy
10.3 Annual voluntary contributions by Governments or other donors to initiatives or programmes to support the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, and the Incheon Strategy
10.4 Number of United Nations entities that have regional cooperation programmes, including for South-South cooperation, that explicitly support the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, and the Incheon Strategy
10.5 Number of subregional intergovernmental bodies that have programmes, including for South-South cooperation, which support the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, and the Incheon Strategy
10.6 Number of regional and subregional projects, including for South-South cooperation, in which organizations of and for persons with disabilities participate in order to support the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, and the Incheon Strategy
10.7 Number of development cooperation agencies operating in Asia and the Pacific that have mandates, policies, action plans and dedicated and appropriately experienced focal points on disability-inclusive development, supportive of ratification and implementation of the Convention and review of follow-up action
10.8 Number of joint activities among the five regional commissions of the United Nations to support the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
10.9 Number of statisticians in the Asia-Pacific region trained in disability statistics, in particular on the ICF approach, by ESCAP and other relevant agencies
10.10 Number of United Nations country or regional-level development assistance frameworks that explicitly reference disability-inclusive development in line with the United Nations Development Group guidance note on including the rights of persons with disabilities in United Nations programming at the country level
D. Modalities for effective implementation:national, subregional and regional levels
21 This section identifies the modalities that together promote and support implementation. In particular, these modalities build data and information and strengthen multi-level cooperation for advancing progress towards realizing the rights of persons with disabilities through the implementation of the Incheon Strategy in the course of the Decade.
1. National level
22 The heart of the implementation of the Incheon Strategy is the national coordination mechanism on disability, with its all-important subnational linkages.
23 Many such mechanisms were established in the course of the past two Asian and Pacific Decades of Disabled Persons. Thus, they would assume primary responsibility for coordinating and catalysing the implementation of the Incheon Strategy at the national and sub- national levels.
24 Under the auspices of the national coordination mechanisms, national statistical offices would assume the role of focal point for establishing baseline data for indicators and tracking progress in the implementation of the Incheon Strategy.
25 National coordination mechanisms on disability should undertake tasks that include but are not limited to the following:
a Mobilize diverse sectoral ministries, departments and government institutions at all levels, civil society, including organizations of and for persons with disabilities and their family support groups, research institutions, and the private sector for multi-sectoral and nation-wide engagement in implementing the Incheon Strategy;
b Develop, monitor and report on the implementation of national action plans on achieving the goals and targets of the Incheon Strategy;
c Translate the Incheon Strategy into national languages and ensure availability of the national language versions in accessible formats for wide dissemination to all sectors and at all administrative levels;
d Undertake national and subnational campaigns, such as the Make the Right Real Campaign, to raise awareness throughout the Decade that fosters positive perceptions of persons with disabilities;
e Promote and support research on the situation of persons with disabilities as a basis for policymaking.
26 The United Nations country teams should support the revitalization and functioning of national coordination mechanisms, as may be required, with particular attention to advocacy, coordination and cooperation directed at implementation, including at subnational levels.
2. Subregional level
27 Subregional intergovernmental entities, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Pacific Islands Forum and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, have an important role in contributing to accelerated implementation of the Ministerial Declaration and the Incheon Strategy by actively promoting disability-inclusive policies and programmes within their respective mandates.
28 The ESCAP secretariat, in its promotion of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, shall support subregional and inter-subregional cooperation, in partnership with subregional intergovernmental bodies. In doing so, it shall harness the active participation of its subregional offices in North and Central Asia, East and North-East Asia, the Pacific, and South and South- West Asia, supported by its regional institutions, 5 in promoting disability- inclusive development.
3. Regional level
29 ESCAP members and associate members should discuss the progress, challenges and good practices in implementing the Ministerial Declaration and the Incheon Strategy in the regular sessions of the Committee on Social Development or its equivalent. Representatives of civil society organizations are encouraged to attend the sessions.
30 A regional working group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, shall be established. The working group shall support full and effective implementation throughout the Decade. Its functions shall focus on the provision of advice and support to the members and associate members, as appropriate, on the regional implementation of the Ministerial Declaration and the Incheon Strategy. The terms of reference of the working group are annexed.
31 The ESCAP secretariat shall contribute to the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration and the Incheon Strategy through its regional convening role, analytical work and technical support to governments. In particular, it shall undertake the following in cooperation with United Nations entities:
a Support governments, as appropriate, in harmonizing legislation with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and in promoting the Make the Right Real Campaign;
b Promote sharing among members and associate members of national experiences and good practices in disability-inclusive development and in protecting and upholding the rights of persons with disabilities, including the sharing of experiences among national legislative and administrative institutions, in order to promote and support the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
c Track progress and support the improvement of disability statistics during the Decade;
d Support members and associate members in capacity-building to promote disability-inclusive development;
e Engage with civil society organizations, in particular organizations of and for persons with disabilities, and provide a regional platform for stakeholder consultations.
32 The Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability, which was established as a legacy of the first Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons to promote the empowerment of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, and a barrier-free and inclusive society, is called upon to continue building the capabilities of persons with disabilities and multi-sectoral collaboration, with special attention to encouraging private sector engagement in disability-inclusive business that promotes disability-friendly products, services, employment opportunities and entrepreneurship development.
33 The Make the Right Real Fund, to be initiated by and based in the Republic of Korea, is invited to support the successful implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, and the Incheon Strategy.
34 Civil society organizations and, in particular, organizations of and for persons with disabilities, are encouraged to participate in the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration and the Incheon Strategy and promote continuous responsiveness to the aspirations and needs of persons with disabilities over the Decade.
Annex Terms of reference of the Working Group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities
Objective
1 The objective of the proposed regional working group on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities is to provide technical advice and support to members and associate members, to promote the full and effective implementation of the Decade, 2013-2022.
Functions
2 In pursuance of the objective stated in paragraph 1 above, the working group shall advise members and associate members on the following:
a Reviews of Decade progress, especially concerning the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, and the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific;
b Regional and subregional 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 the national and local levels, and networking.
Membership
3 The working group shall be composed of representatives of ESCAP members and associate members, as well as civil society organizations operating at the regional and subregional levels in Asia and the Pacific.
4 The tenure of working group members shall be five years, with the possibility of extension for another five years.
5 All ESCAP members and associate members shall be eligible to serve on the working group.
6 The working group should be composed of 30 members, taking into account gender equality: 15 from members and associate members and 15 from civil society organizations. At least half of the seats allocated for civil society organizations should be guaranteed for persons with disabilities and emerging civil society organizations.
7 A civil society entity that meets the following criteria shall be eligible to serve as a member of the working group: (a) operate at the regional and/or subregional levels in Asia and the Pacific; (b) be an organization or network that represents, supports and/or promotes the interests of persons with diverse disabilities; (c) has technical expertise relevant to advancing the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration and the Incheon Strategy.
8 The announcement of interest by individual ESCAP members and associate members, and civil society organizations, in serving as members of the working group shall take place at the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, 29 October - 2 November 2012, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
9 The proposed composition of the working group shall be submitted to the Commission at the session that immediately follows the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting, for a final decision. Thus, the Commission at its sixty-ninth session, in 2013, will make the final decision on the composition of the working group for the first term, spanning the period 2013-2017. The second announcement of interest in serving on the working group shall take place at the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting convened on the occasion of the midpoint of the Decade (2017). The Commission at its seventy- fourth session, in 2018, will make the final decision on the composition of the working group for the second term, spanning the period 2018-2022.
10 ESCAP members and associate members, civil society organizations, in particular, organizations of persons with disabilities, subregional intergovernmental agencies, United Nations agencies, development cooperation agencies and development banks can attend meetings of the working group as observers.
Rules of procedure
11 The working group shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
Secretariat
12 The ESCAP secretariat shall serve as the secretariat of the working group. It shall, inter alia, disseminate working group documentation in accessible formats.
Footnote
Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022
1. A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation 1 (IV).
2. See General Assembly resolution 66/124 of 19 December 2011.
3. World Health Organization/World Bank, World Report on Disability (Geneva: World Health Organization, 2011),p.29.
4. See www.forumsec.org/resources/uploads/attachments/documents/2010_Forum _Communique.pdf.
5. Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, document PIFS(09)FDMM.07 (available from www.forumsec.org.fj).
6. See http://www.asean.org/archive/documents/19th%20summit/Bali_Declaration_on_Disabled_Person.pdf
7. See www.aideffectiveness.org/busanhlf4/images/stories/hlf4/OUTCOME_DOCUMENT_-_FINAL_EN.pdf
8. See E/ESCAP/APDDP(3)/INF/5.
9. See www.who.int/disabilities/cbr/guidelines/en/index.html.
10. See General Assembly resolution 66/288 of 27 July 2012.
Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific
1. General Assembly resolution 61/106, annex I.
2.The Millennium Development Goals comprise eight goals, 21 targets and 60 indicators.
3. Core indicators facilitate intercountry sharing of progress in the course of the new Decade; these are indicators for which data can be generated with some effort. Supplementary indicators may facilitate progress tracking among countries with similar social and economic development conditions and for which data may be less easy to collect.
4. Seewww.aideffectiveness.org/busanhlf4/images/stories/hlf4/OUTCOME_DOCUMENT_-_FINAL_EN.pdf
5. Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (APCICT),Incheon, Republic of Korea; Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT), New Delhi; Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP), Tokyo; Centre for the Alleviation of Poverty through Sustainable Agriculture (CAPSA), Bogor, Indonesia; United Nations Asian and Pacific Centre for Agricultural Engineering and Machinery (UNAPCAEM), Beijing.