There will be separate parallel session of disability issue in WSF 2024 the space available for this self-organized forum, in the same room after the morning plenary session. The declaration of this self-organised forum will be contributing for the last day of 19th February within the convergence, alliance building, and interactions between participants about post-event perspectives through “square of statements” developing interactions in contact tables and in informal meetings around decisions/statements. 

Theme of the forum: Disability inclusive social development

Date: 18 February, 2024             2:00 PM -  3:30 PM

Statement of Action on Disability Rights And Development-Nepal 

(ADRAD-Nepal)

Statement S335 (intention #33) - Proposed in activity #335

Civil Society initiatives for disability inclusive social development

Title of Statement:

“Strengthening OPD network for promoting disability responsive state mechanism in South Asia “

Announcer:Dr. Birendra  Raj Pokharel

Activity Link: https://wsf2024nepal.org/activity/335

Based on the discussion in the aforementioned Activity under the World Social Forum 2024, the comprehensive discussion and the dilogues among the stakeholders, the forum makes the following statements

1. Utilization of established desegregated data of persons with disabilities in policy and programs: The forum flourish by producing disaggregated data on persons with disabilities in countries however it hasn’t contributed for strengthening the capacity of OPD to lead policy advocacy, demand accountability and address stigma and discrimination following anticipated output. Most of the stakeholders participated expressed concerns that the local government is not sensitized on the disability responsibe development plan. Besides that, the accessibility feature of the desegregated data is not available following Web Contain Accessibility Guideline (WCAG ), as such, persons with disabilities are not be benefited particularly those using screen reading software and those require easy to read format.  It is strongly recommended to mobilize OPDs to establish database with desegregated data of persons with disabilities, providing reference to the local GOs for further collecting baseline data and allocate local budget to benefit all persons with disabilities irrespective of gender and caste/ethnicity. It is also strongly recommended to produce the high quality desegregated data in accessible and easy to read format so that it could benefit to all.
2. Disability policy and plan of action: It is strongly recommended to the OPD network in the region  to strengthen advocacy to fulfill the state commitments and concluding observation of CRPD committee concerning article 31 and to build capacity of OPDs and engage them for establishing desegregated data applying WGQ in the disability surveys in future.
3. Promoting access to justice to persons with disabilities addressing in Policy: The forum has reached its third output of drafting Policy on Persons with Disabilities in countries however the provisions related to access to justice has not followed the international standards. It is strongly recommended the OPDs and development partners to strengthen advocacy to addressed the article 13 of CRPD and SDG 16 for providing access to justice for persons with disabilities, guarantee their protection from HR violence and discrimination as well as enhancing SRHR and empowerment of persons with disabilities in the forthcoming disability policy and plan of action.
4. Promoting universal design principles: The accessibility guideline is however made accessible in physical infrastructure, full feature of accessibility standard hasn’t been addressed for those with visual impairment, hearing impaired and those living with intellectual disability. It is recommended to follow universal design principles while implementing the disability inclusive electoral guideline making it compatible to article 9 and 29 of CRPD and the SDG 11 for ensuring barrier free environment for all persons with disabilities also strengthen reasonable accommodation while rendering services during election. It is also recommended to follow the accessibility feature for the persons with visual impairment either in Braille or in the accessible digital audio format in DAISY or Epub.
5. Strengthening the roles of OPD network  in the South Asia region: The CSO network are recommended to promote roles of OPDs in consultations process of forum design and deliver key role as advocating partners. The regional level networks should be engaged with all development partner agencies in the disability specific forum as well as the GESI related forum for mainstreaming disability as a intersectionality issue. It is strongly recommended that the OPDs to be able to put effort and continuous follow-up with enhanced role of regional network in the Governments in the countries for the endorsement of the disability policy which should follow Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Since, partnership collaboration of development agencies with CSOs is silent in OPD participation that contrast to article 29 of CRPD that embrace OPDs to be engaged, capacitated and to lead the disability issue for the promotion of political and social participation of persons with disabilities in local decision making process. The implementing CSOs are strongly recommended to opened up the representation of persons with disabilities in the relevant decision-making process and encourage the newly established OPD Network  to be accommodated within the network of umbrella organisation for their sustainable functioning and strengthening advocacy initiatives in Human Rights Based Approach.

The local Municipalities are recommended to promote roles of OPDs particularly to address the concerns of people with disabilities from under-representative groups to ensure their rights within policies and programs.

6. Strengthen UN Inter-agencies collaboration in promoting disability inclusion: The contribution of the forum to strengthen UN inter-agency collaboration is encouraging, the Un partner agencies are strongly recommended to continue initiatives to increase awareness and sensitization on disabilities issues among the staff members across all UN agencies and them to focus their work and recruitment process in making disability inclusive which follows CRPD principles. Besides, it is recommended to follow the accessibility standards following article 9 of CRPD with accessible technologies, in particular information and communications technologies, as well as to the physical environment making workplace environment accessible to persons with disabilities.

The local Municipalities should be responsible to promote roles of OPDs particularly to address the concerns of people with disabilities to ensure their rights within policies and programs.