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CBM Policy Brief

Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals

Governance, rule of law and peace and security: Good governance and rule of law are essential pre-requisites to ensure freedom from fear and violence. However, good governance and the rule of law have been highlight-ed as the missing links in the current Millennium Development Goals (MDG) framework. In addition, violence, conflict and weak institutions have slowed down the progress required to reach the MDGs. By 2015, it is ex-pected that more than half of the people living in poverty are likely to be in conflict affected and fragile states1. Another missing link is disability, which means that close to one billion people are excluded2. Increasingly critics and studies indicate that people who are the most marginalized and poor are often the least able to ac-cess or benefit from development initiatives such as the MDGs. These populations are also adversely affected by conflict and violence3. This policy brief prepared for the Open Working Group session on sustainable development, sets out key is-sues for inclusive governance, rule of law and peace and security, each of which are “important enablers and important development outcomes in their own right for sustainable development in all countries”4. Key Recommendations: All countries are accountable in implementing the new sustainable development framework, as well as its

goals and indicators. Inclusive governance is the key in sustainable development processes and fair redistribution schemes of

national wealth. Inclusive growth will ensure equal access to fundamental services such as education, em-ployment, health and social welfare.

The involvement and participation of persons with disabilities in political, social and economic decision- making through deliberative processes that are accessible to persons with disabilities5 need to be strengthened.

Marginalized groups, such as persons with disabilities and their representatives, are included in all gov-ernance-related aspects and democratic processes at all levels, based on human rights principles6.

Disability must be systematically included across all aspects of peace building and conflict management. It is widely acknowledged in the post-2015 discourse that key explanations for poverty are largely a) equity related, for example changes in employment and livelihood opportunities; b) related to social exclusion and discrimination; and c) linked to limited access to basic services in remote and disadvantaged areas7. Inclusive governance and rule of law for empowering persons with disabilities: Twenty-two percent of people living in poverty have disabilities and thus together with their families constitute the largest minority group in many societies8; yet they are frequently unrepre-sented and invisible in governance processes and more at risk in conflict situations. Fifteen per cent of the world’s population are persons with disabilities – over one billion people9. Given that one in five peo-ple in developing countries is disabled10, it is vital that inclusive governance practices are promoted, which actively encourage the participation of per-sons with disabilities at all levels of the democratic process. Both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights

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require this. Persons with disabilities must have equal opportunities to participate and to be represented in political, social and economic processes. Key Issues: Governance, especially transparent management of public resources and accountability are means of en-

suring development programs are targeting the causes of poverty. If fair and effective redistribution schemes are developed and functioning, there are more resources to improve access to basic social ser-vices for the most marginalized and socio-economically deprived parts of the population.

Persons with disabilities are often excluded from all levels of democratic processes. The reasons for exclu-sion include discrimination, social exclusion & poor accessibility. These barriers adversely affect the right or ability to vote, to participate in campaigning or engage in politics, to involve in public consultations.

Persons with disabilities often face barriers in accessing public services such as medical care, education (at all levels), public health interventions, water and sanitation, as well as housing, and are less likely to be employed both in the public and private sector.

Persons with disabilities face additional barriers, such as access to appropriate low cost technologies and assistive equipment, to access information and participate in E-communication and new information tech-nology.

Development programs that support local leadership are important for promoting sound resource man-agement. These programs must include leaders with disabilities, and especially women.

Persons with disabilities, particularly women, often do not have the same right to inherit land because of stigma and prejudice and might not have the knowledge and means to use the legal system to claim their rights. Ensuring equal rights is imperative.

Peaceful societies, security and development: Sustainable peace and justice are key enablers for development and democratic States. When devastating conflicts and large-scale violence occur, the effectiveness of develop-ment on the affected population is highly diminished. In fragile States, weak institutions, corruption and inse-curity can lead to unpunished abuses, gross human rights violations, and voiceless victims. It is thus essential that States, international organizations (including the International Criminal Court) support the creation of participatory governance, which enables the voices of all citizens, especially the most marginalized, such as persons with disabilities, women, indigenous populations and older people to be heard. The lack of access to justice and remedies for the most excluded can reinforce the cycle of poverty, violence, and impunity. Key Issues: Peace and security and rule of law are mutually reinforcing, and are cornerstones in sustainable develop-

ment – essential for making sure that resources and services are made available to persons with disabili-ties.

Conflict resolution, peace agreements and reparation programs must be inclusive of all groups in society. These are transformative tools for building peaceful and equal societies. Despite this, out of 585 peace agreements signed since 1990, only 16% contain any reference to women and only 7% mentioned gender equality or women’s human rights11. It is probable that most agreements did not consider the participation

or the additional barriers faced by persons with disabilities in post-conflict situations. High inequality can inhibit growth, discourage institution-al development towards accountable governments and under-mine civic and social life leading to conflict and undermine human rights12. The concentration of wealth among a few groups also impacts on equal political participation. Persons with disabilities are among the groups that are specifically affected by inequalities and their already weak participation in political processes will perpetuate if inequalities are not addressed properly. Inequalities and discrimination based on income, location, disability and ethnicity intersect with gender and are often mutually reinforcing. Female participation in political pro-

“When you arrive in a camp with your child and your wife and you have a disability, it is really hard to find the basic things to survive”

- Kambinja, Goma, November 2012

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cesses is still very low in many countries, and women with disabili-ties face additional challenges to participate in political processes.

Persons with disabilities live with a much higher risk of violence and abuse13, especially women with disabilities, and may experience additional barriers in accessing justice and remedies due to barriers in communication, built environments, transport and negative atti-tudes.

In countries where traditional culture and legislation hinder the full participation of women in society, women with disabilities may face additional barriers in accessing judicial and administrative remedies due to the non-recognition of their legal capacity, lack of education and awareness about their rights. It is thus essential that programs which address that women’s participation and justice specifically support the most marginalized, by offering legal awareness and pro-tection.

Person with psychological and intellectual disabilities are often disproportionately over-represented in penal systems and need to be given appropriate support and representation through the criminal justice system14. It is crucial that programs aiming to improve security and enhance justice address these inequal-ities in order to achieve their purpose and outcomes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reference: 1 UN DESA and UNDP. (2013). Technical Support Team (TST) Issues brief: Conflict prevention, post-conflict Peace building and the Promotion of Dura-ble Peace, Rule of Law and Governance. 2 Fifteen per cent of the world’s population are persons with disabilities – over one billion people according to the World Health Organization and World Bank. (2011). “World Report on Disability”, Geneva: WHO Press. 3 UNDESA and UNDP. (2013). Technical Support Team (TST) Issues brief: Conflict prevention, Post-conflict Peace building and the Promotion of Dura-ble Peace, Rule of Law and Governance. 4 UN System Task Team on the post-2015 UN Development Agenda. “Realizing the future we want for all: Report to the Secretary-General”, New York, June 2012, p. 23. 5 Any new global development partnerships should be more balanced in terms of their relationships and accountability between donor countries and developing countries. Currently donor countries hold the balance of power and developing countries rarely hold them to account. National govern-ments have to be involved and take the ownership of any new global framework replacing the MDGs. 6 See ‘Thematic study by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on participation in political and public life by persons with disabilities (A/HRC/19/36)’ http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/ Disability/SubmissionThematicStudy/A. HRC.19.36_en.doc 7 Dercon, S. and Shapiro, J. (2007). “Moving On, Staying Behind, Getting Lost: Lessons on Poverty Mobility from Longitudinal Data”, Economic and So-cial Research Council, Global Poverty Working Group, Paper 75. 8 Braithwaite, J. and Mont, D. (2008). “Disability and Poverty: A Survey of World Bank Poverty Assessments and Implications”. SP Discussion Paper No. 0805. World Bank. 9 Braithwaite, J. and Mont, D. (2008). “Disability and Poverty: A Survey of World Bank Poverty Assessments and Implications”. SP Discussion Paper No. 0805. World Bank. 10 World Bank. Disability and Poverty: A Survey of World Bank and Poverty Assessments and Implications’. Jeanine Bratihwaite and Daniel Mont, SP discussion paper No. 0805, World Bank, February 2008. 11 http://progress.unwomen.org/justice-for-women-during-and-after-conflict 12 Birdsall, N. (2006). “Income Distribution: Effects on Growth and Development”, Working Paper 118, Centre for Global Development: Washington. 13 World Health Organization and World Bank. (2011). “World Report on Disability”, Geneva: WHO Press, p. 147. 14 Human Rights Watch. (2010). “As if we weren’t human: Discrimination and Violence Against Disabled Women”. Human Rights Watch: Uganda.

CBM is an international Christian development organisation, committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in the poorest communities of the world. CBM has Member Associations raising funds and awareness of disability issues in 'industrialised' countries worldwide. In lower-income regions of the world, CBM strives to build the capacity of partner organisations. This is all done following proven core values and with more than 100 years of experience in the field of disability. CBM’s vision is ‘an inclusive world in which all persons with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential’.

For further information contact: Catherine Naughton, Director of CBM International Advocacy and Alliances, Email: Catherine.Naughton@cbm.org