UN Special Rapporteur on Disability

Strategy & Work Programme

by the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability Hissa Al Thani

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Strategic Plan
- Started with the formulation of a vision
- From which a mission was derived
- And an action plan encompassing the responsibilities of the mandate set out by the Standard Rules
Vision
that Guides the Work A world free of all forms of discrimination, obstacles and barriers; which enables its members to fully realize their potentials. A world that allows all its member to participate equally in the enjoyment of its resources and to contribute to its advancement
Mission
To promote and monitor the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities, and to advance the status of persons with disabilities throughout the world.
Functions of the Office
- Monitoring
- Advocacy
- Awareness Raising
- Networking & Exchange
- Inter-regional Cooperation (Regional Consultations & Country Visits)
- Surveys and Research
Objectives
- To promote the implementation of the Standard Rules world wide
  Focusing on developing countries where over 80% of persons with disabilities live
- To further the effective implementation of the Standard Rules
  In countries where they are already being implemented to a certain degree
- To help states in assessing their level of implementation of the Standard Rules
- To assist states in measuring their progress in the implementation
- To assist states in overcoming barriers to implementation
- To provide advisory services to states and organizations working in the field.
- To facilitate the exchange of information and experiences between and among states and organizations of peoples with disabilities
- To involve the Panel of Experts in reviewing, advising and providing feedback on the best way to promote, implement and monitor the rules
- To coordinate the efforts and resources of international, regional, governmental and non-governmental organizations, channel them toward the implementation of the Standard Rules.
Taking into consideration throughout this process:
the economic, social and cultural features and characteristics of each individual state
Activities : Monitoring
Survey
- A Global Survey on Government Actions on the Implementation of the Standard Rules
- Sent to 191 UN Member States
- Returns from 112 countries
- Results currently being analyzed
- Initial findings to be reported in February 2006 to the Commission for Social Development
- 47 questions
- Two questions on each one of the Standard Rules
- Inspired by Agenda 22
- Inquired about
  - Policies
  - Legislations
  –Programmes
  –Budget allocations
  –Accessibility
  –Awareness raising
  –Training of personnel
  –Involvement of DPOs
  For each one of the Rules
Activities
In-house Research
– Producing a “disability” country profiles on each of the Member States
Research collaboration
– Developing indicators & generating data on inclusion in education with UNESCO
– Cooperating with ILO/Gladnet on research, indicators, data on employment
Activities : Regional Consultations & Country Visits
Activities:
- Country visits: 24 countries per year; 4/region
  Government officials
  DPOs
  Media
- Initiate dialogue between DPOs & government; e.g. Guatemala
- Encourage government to take on leadership roles on implementation in their region; e.g. Lebanon
- Provide encouragement, make networking connections, provide a space for DPOs to discuss difficulties, challenges, needs; e.g. Guinea
- Provide ideas & initiate government actions on equalization of opportunities; e.g. Tunisia (Tourism)
- Explore best practices and innovations to transfer knowledge and experiences; e.g. Mexico (family involvement)
Some countries visited
- Latin America
  Mexico (October 2004)
  Guatemala (October 2004)
  Panama (January 2006)
- North Africa
  Morocco (June 2005)
  Tunisia (June 2005)
- West Africa
  Guinea (June 2005)
- Europe
  Germany (November 2004)
  Sweden (September 2005)
  Finland(September 2005)
- Southern Africa
  South Africa (November 2005)
  Tanzania (November 2005)
- Middle East
  Egypt (April 2004)
  Lebanon (August 2004)
  Saudi Arabia (April 2005)
  | UAE(May 2005)
  Syria (September 2005)
  Bahrain (November 2005)
- Asia
  India (September 2005)
  China (May 2006)
Activities •
- Inter-regional Cooperation
- Legislating the equalization of opportunities
- 14 symposia (2005-2008) for Arab MPs
- Involvement of the Council of Europe, Parliamentarians from Africa, Asia, Latin America…etc.
- Amman, "Overview" (March 2005),
- Beirut "Education & Employment"(December 2005),
- Yemen "Accessibility" (March 2006),
- Tunisia Family Life (March 2006)
- Conducting study & exchange visits by Parliamentarians
Activities
• Advocacy
– Injecting disability issues onto human
rights & development agenda on every
possible occasion
• Meeting with international/regional
development organizations (Guatemala,
Guinea)
• Lobbying for and succeeding in the inclusion
of disability in the final document of the
MDG Summit that took place in September
15, 2005
Launching Initiatives
• Aimed at:
– Addressing global needs (World Bank
Initiative)
– Responding to special situations
(Support for the Arab Decade)
– Mainstreaming disability on the
international agenda (MDG Summit)
– Raising awareness among international
development agencies (Survey & holding
meetings with them)
In addition:
The constant need to raise funds for all these activities
Funding Situation
- Office is not funded by the United Nations
- Funding comes from Voluntary Fund for Disability
- Funding so far has only trickled in & from non-traditional funders in developing countries
- Noticeable lack of funding from traditional funding countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway)
- Issue discussed with SIDA & Social Affairs Ministry with positive responses