Inclusion and Rights of Persons with Disabilities in EU Development

Cooperation

Training workshop

Brussels, 20th November 2014

Presentation by EuropeAid DG for Development and Cooperation Directorate for Human and Society Development

I. The Policy Framework

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Art. 32 on International cooperation.

Other articles of particular importance for development cooperation:

Art. 4 (3) on participation.

Art. 11 on situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies.

Art. 28 (2b) on access to poverty eradication programmes.

Sector- specific articles (e.g. education, health, etc)

European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 Aims to ensure that people with disabilities can access their

rights and help implement the UNCRPD.

Focuses on eliminating barriers in 8 main areas: accessibility, participation, equality, employment, education and training, social protection, health and external action.

External action: to promote the rights of people with disabilities, including in EU enlargement, development programmes, emergency and humanitarian aid, and international fora.

Initial Action Plan 2010-20158. External ActionSpecific objective: Promote the rights of people with disabilities within a broader non-discriminatory approach in the EU external action, including the enlargement process and development programmes, taking due account of the common EU and Member States' approach to Development.

11 Key actions: – Highlight disability as a human rights issue in the EU HR dialogues, based on the principles of the UNCRPD– Ensure that EU development cooperation reaches persons with disabilities, both through projects/programmes specifically targeting persons with disabilities and by improving the mainstreaming of disability concerns– Support the national efforts of partner countries for the signature, ratification and implementation of the UNCRPD– Support where appropriate the institutional strengthening of Disabled Peoples' Organisations in partner countries and organisations dealing with disability and development- Others focusing on accessibility of infrastructure, humanitarian aid, accession and neighbourhood, etc.

2012 Guidance Note for EU Staff Disability-Inclusive Development Cooperation

General background & Policy Framework

Seven guiding principles

References for further reading and networking

https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/guidance-note-disability-2012_en.pdf

Agenda for Change(2011)

It sets out EU policy on future development cooperation.No specific reference to disability but the EU should focus on support on:i) Human rights, democracy and other key elements of good governance.ii) Inclusive and sustainable growth for human development.

EU development cooperation needs to be disability-inclusive: promote the rights of PWDs and ensure that they can contribute to and benefit from the development efforts in their countries.

A Decent Life for All (2014)

EU’s vision for a universal post-2015 agenda to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development.

Includes key principles, priority areas, potential target topics and the need for a new global partnership.

Targets and priorities specifically mention Disability: Health, Education, Inequality

A follow up Communication on Post-2015: Global Partnership is under preparation.

EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (June 2012)

Action 30: "Enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities" includes: •(a) Promote the rights of PWDs, including in development programmes, in the framework of the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 and implementation of the UNCRPD; •(b) Update the Guidance Note on Disability and Development to be in line with the UNCRPD.

2014 Commission Staff Working Document "Rights-based approach, encompassing all human

rights, for EU development cooperation"

5 working principles: legality, universality and indivisibility of HR (UNCRPD as a core HR instrument) participation non-discrimination accountability transparency Implementation to be ensured in the whole development process of planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The rights of persons with disabilities have to be protected, respected and fulfilled in each step of the project cycle management

Has this political commitment materialized in reality?

EU is a major donor supporting the rights and socioeconomic inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Since 2010 the EU has funded over 250 disability-specific projects in over 87 partner countries (promoting human rights,

social inclusion (eg. in employment, education, health) and community-based rehabilitation) +/- €105 M.

ButMost of these projects are implemented through NGOs/DPOs (following: CfPs NSA-LA, EIHRD, IiP, ECHO, IPA, etc).Challenge: Better reaching PWDs in bilateral/regional geographical cooperation.

II. Recent Developments & Opportunities

Momentum for disability inclusionUN Convention on the Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesSignatories: 159 Ratifications: 151

Optional Protocol Signatories: 92 Ratifications: 85

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Reports submitted: 68Countries reviewed (Concluding observations issued): 20

Partner countries are requesting support for i) Initial analysis; ii) Policy reforms in order to implement the CRPD (+ the recommendations from the Committee)

Post-2015 Development FrameworkFinal outcome document for Sustainable Development Goals by the Open Working Group (July 2014):17 goals and related targets. Disability is explicitly included in:Goal 4 - education Goal 8 - economic growthGoal 10 - inequalitiesGoal 7 - sustainable cities Goal 17 - means of implementation (eg. target to increase the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by disability)Implicitly included in 8 goals.

Funding Instruments 2014-2020

Practical Guide to Contract Procedures EU external action (PRAG)

Accessibility for disabled people:All services, supplies, work and grants that relate to goods, services and infrastructures the subject of which is intended for the use of persons, whether general public or staff of the contracting entity must include in their technical specifications accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities following a "design for all approach" (reference can be made to national/European or international standards on accessibility).

2012 Communication on Budget Support & related Guidelines

Risk Management Framework Questionnaire (Annexe 7): An important tool during the identification, formulation and implementation of BS.

Fundamental Values Assessement (Annex 12) : •- Diferentiated approach(GGDC, SRC, SBC)•- How to assess: Paying attention to the rights of people with disabilities•- Outcome of the assessements•- Monitoring and response to deterioration

Human Rights Country Strategy Objective: Provide an accurate and exhaustive state of play of human

rights situation at national level

• Validity of 3 years (updated yearly) endorsed by EU Political and Security Committee (PSC)

• Currently more than 140 CS approved

Local CS are taken into account in human rights and political dialogues at all levels, in policymaking and when programming and implementing financial assistance, including in Country Strategy Papers.

Entry point: Make sure that rights of disabled people are included in the respective HRCS and that it constitutes a priority when relevant (countries at war for example)

Awareness raising and increased capacity of EU Staff

Training sessions both in HQ and EUDs (alliances with EU Member States)

Network of disability contact persons

Platform for information exchange in C4D.

•Thank you• For more information, join the Capacity4Dev Group

"Disability and Development Network".