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DRPI Asia Pacific Regional Disability Rights Monitoring Training Report

The Global Picture of Disability

  • There are more than 665 million persons with disabilities in the world. In some countries they make up more than 15% of the population. Persons with disabilities are the world’s largest minority group.
  • 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing countries (UN Development Programme).
  • 20% of the world's poorest people have some kind of disability and tend to be regarded in their own communities as the most disadvantaged. Persons with disabilities are often the “poorest of the poor” (World Bank).
  • 80% of persons with disabilities live in rural areas (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Factsheet).
  • Women and girls with disabilities are recognized as having multiple disadvantages. They experience exclusion because of both their gender and their disability. They are particularly vulnerable to abuse (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Factsheet).
  • 30% of youth who live rough (that is, live on the streets) have some kind of disability (UNICEF).
  • Death rates for children with disabilities may be as high as 80% in some countries (United Kingdom Department for International Development).
  • In countries with life expectancies over 70 years, people spend an average of 8 years living with disabilities (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Factsheet).
  • Only 45 countries have anti-discrimination or other disability-specific laws (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Factsheet).
  • By June, 2011, 101 countries had ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and 90 countries had ratified its Optional Protocol (UN Enable website, Department of Economic & Social Affairs).

The global picture of disability speaks an aching truth that in spite of the ratification of 101 countries of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) all across the globe, it has a very far different impact like lightning and thunder does to our lives. Its ratification effect hasn’t been felt nor seen by most of our fellows especially in the grass roots level and did not give total crash to our evolving and crucial society.

Disability Rights Promotion International (DRPI) with its partner Disabled Peoples’ International-Asia Pacific (DPI/AP) conducted the DRPI Asia Pacific Regional Disability Rights Monitoring Training last July 03-10, 2011 at Prince Palace Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. The training involved the five countries in Asia Pacific region namely, Bangladesh which was represented by Bangladesh Protibandhi Kallyan Somity (BPKS), Cambodia which was represented by The Cambodian Disabled Peoples' Organization (CDPO), Lao which was represented by Lao Disabled People's Association (LDPA), Nepal which was represented by National Federation of the Disabled- Nepal (NFDN) and Thailand which was represented by Council of the Disabled People of Thailand (CDPT). The chief facilitator of the training was DRPI co-director and York University Professor, Ms. Marcia Rioux and was co-facilitated by Mr. Christopher Lytle of Canada (DRPI Research Associate), Mr. Nathan Bond of New Zealand (National Executive Committee member of Disabled Persons Assembly) and Mr. Lauro Purcil of the Philippines (Chairperson, National Committee on the UN Conventions of Katipunan ng May Kapansanan sa Pilipinas, Inc.).

We designed our first day to be a relaxing and enjoyable one. We toured the out of the country participants around Bangkok and let them discover its hidden beauty. July 3rd, 2011 was a very special day for Thai people in Thailand as it was the day that marked another history in Thailand, the Election Day. On that same day, everyone enjoyed the splendor of Bangkok as we witnessed its historic episode at Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall, uncovered every inch of its remarkable spots at Grand Palace, bargained happy moments at MBK Center and dined to unwind at Prince Palace hotel in the evening.

July 4th finally came which gave way to our opening ceremony headed by Ms. Marcia Rioux, co-director of DRPI and Ms. Saowalak Thongkuay, Regional Development Officer of DPI/AP. The participants were welcomed with inspiring thoughts to ponder from our honored guests Mr. Patrick Anderson, Chief, Social Integration Section, Social Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) of Bangkok, Thailand and Ms. Kingkaew Inwang, Secretary-General of National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Bangkok, Thailand. The training had been moved to start and set forth for a new beginning towards disability rights monitoring in Asia Pacific region.

During the training workshop, participants learned about DRPI’s tools and methods for monitoring in the first two focus areas (individual experiences of persons with disabilities and systems).  The training also addressed how the information collected can be analysed and reported as well as how to organize and coordinate a disability rights monitoring project.

Disability rights monitoring involves collecting information about the whether or not persons with disabilities are able to enjoy their human rights. Credible and accurate information about the human rights situation of people with disabilities can persuade governments that abuses are occurring and that action is needed to fulfill human rights obligations. Recording information about the experiences of individual persons with disabilities can uncover a pattern of discrimination affecting large numbers of people. Data outlining the extent of disability discrimination can:

  • promote greater awareness of the need for social change,
  • provide facts and figures useful for lobbying and other advocacy, and
  • supply governments with credible documentation to support the creation of more inclusive social policies and laws. 

The DRPI project has developed a holistic approach to monitoring disability rights, focusing on finding the facts in three key areas:

  1. Individual experiences of persons with disabilities (through face to face interviews);
  2. Systemic measures taken to protect and promote disability rights (laws, policies, programs);
  3. Societal attitudes toward disability (by looking at depictions and coverage of disability in the media).

The training involved lectures, general and small group discussions, role play and brainstorming. The workshop was dynamic and interactive learning experienced to all participants who actively participated in all sessions.

On the 10th day of July 2011, we ended up with a very fruitful and promising workshop along with our so called agents of change, the participants. Indeed, a strong determination and commitment of Disability Rights Promotion International (DRPI), Disabled Peoples’ International-Asia Pacific (DPI/AP), and participants from the five countries strengthened our endeavors as we lit the fire and aimed high in winning at the battle field using human rights as our weapon upon taking the roadway to the individual experiences of persons with disabilities, examining the existing laws, policies and programs, and coming across the societal attitudes of other people toward disability.

Having a law is a good start. However, to have real progress, laws must be enforced and rights of persons with disabilities must be explicitly respected, protected and fulfilled.

Mr. Patrick Anderson, Chief, Social Integration Section, Social Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Thailand

South to South cooperation is the key to promoting the human rights of persons with disabilities in developing countries, because we can easily share common experiences and good practices with each other.

Ms. Kingkaew Inwang, Secretary-General of National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (NEP), The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Thailand

Human Rights are common sense; therefore, Dignity, Autonomy, Participation, Inclusion & Accessibility, Non-Discrimination & Equality, and Respect for Difference are common sense.

Mr. Lauro Purcil, Chairperson, National Committee on the UN Conventions of Katipunan ng May Kapansanan sa Pilipinas, Inc. (KAMPI), Philippines