Rights, Inclusion, and Empowerment

1. Achieving the MDGs through the Participation of People with Disabilities Rights, Inclusion, and Empowerment Rachel Garaghty Master of Public Policy Candidate, ‘11 Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs IPID Student Speaker Series – University of Minnesota – April 23, 2010

2. Rights, Inclusion, and Empowerment "People with disabilities are also people with extraordinary talent. Yet they are too often forgotten. When people with disabilities are denied opportunities, they are more likely to fall into poverty – and people living in conditions of poverty are more likely to develop disabilities. As long as societies exclude those with disabilities, they will not reach their full potential and the poor in particular will be denied opportunities that they deserve.” -Former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz

3. Statistics • 10-12% of people living in developing countries are disabled (World Bank) • 1-4% of these are severely disabled (World Bank) • 10% of children are born with or acquire disabilities by age 19 (UNESCO) • Up to 1 in 5 people living in poverty are disabled (World Bank)

4. Definitions • UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: • “disability is an evolving concept and that disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders full and effective participation in society.” (Preamble)

5. Definitions, continued • UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities • “Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments in which interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” (Article 1, Purpose)

6. Problems with Disability & International Development • Limitations of the medical model • Historical exclusion from development agendas • Lack of data • Absence of people with disabilities participating in development processes

7. Theoretical Frameworks • Disability • The human rights model of disability • Disability is a social construct • Focus on societal limitations, not functional impairments of the individual • Disabling environments (including attitudes and institutional structures) need to be changed

8. Theoretical Frameworks • The human rights model of disability Goal: “(Ensure) the equal, effective enjoyment of all human rights, without discrimination, by people with disabilities.” -Arlene Kanter, Professor of Law, Syracuse University

9. Theoretical Frameworks • Poverty • AmartyaSen • Functioning and Capability (Cambridge University Tanner Lectures) • Capability Deprivation (Development as Freedom)

10. Theoretical Frameworks “Ultimately, the focus has to be on what life we lead and what we can or cannot do, can or cannot be. I have elsewhere called the various living conditions we can or cannot achieve our “functionings,” and our ability to achieve them, our “capabilities.” The main point here is that the standard of living is really a matter of functionings and capabilities, and not a matter directly of opulence, commodities, or utilities.” -AmartyaSen, Cambridge University Tanner Lectures, page 23

11. Disability & the MDGs • Disability was not part of the MDGs • Disability relates to each of the eight MDGs • Emerging recognition and the UN CRPD (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)

12. Putting Theory into Practice: Inclusive Development • Key Components • Focus on poverty eradication • Community development • Human rights framework • Active involvement of people with disabilities • Encourage role of civil society, esp. disabled peoples’ organizations (DPO’s) • Comprehensive accessibility • “Twin track” approach

13. Putting Theory into Practice: Inclusive Development • “Twin-track” approach • Focus on changing barriers in society • Focus on capacity-building among marginalized group (people with disabilities) International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC). “Inclusive Development and the UN: IDDC Reflection Paper.” May 2004

14. Conclusion • International poverty eradication efforts (especially the MDGs) cannot be successful without the active inclusion of disability issues and people with disabilities

15. Conclusion • Sen’s capabilities framework: individuals with disabilities require affirmative, proactive measures to increase their capabilities

16. Conclusion • Lesson for international development from the global disability rights movement: Nothing About Us without Us

17. Further Information • Disability and the MDG’s • http://includeeverybody.org • Disability and International Development • http://www.make-development-inclusive.org • UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities • http://www.un.org/disabilities/index.asp • Inclusive Development • http://www.makingitwork-crpd.org/ • Essay: “The Globalization of Disability Rights Law” by Arlene Kanter (Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce, 2003)