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I. Overview of Self-help Organizations It is perhaps of symbolic importance that in the Agenda for Action for the first Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, the policy category of self-help organizations was 11th out of 12 policy areas. In the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action, the policy document and guideline for the renewed and extended Decade, self-help organizations is the first of seven priority areas identified for particular emphasis and action during the period 2003-2012. While policy areas have not been deliberately ranked in order of importance, it does reflect a shift in attitude. Disability issues are no longer considered to be the primary concern of service providers for persons with disabilities, perceived as passive recipients. Instead the slogan of Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI) “nothing about us without us” has come closer to being a reality. In the review of achievements at the end of the first Decade, DPI membership included 23 national assemblies in 23 countries, with several more in the process of formation. The World Blind Union and the World Federation of the Deaf have extensive networks of national organizations in the region. Governments were beginning to recognize the importance of self-help organizations and to provide support for their formation. Input by self-help organizations into national policy development was reported by 17 Governments. The BMF states clearly that persons with disabilities are the most qualified and best equipped to support, inform and advocate for themselves and other persons with disabilities. Their input into the proper design and implementation of policy, legislation and strategies will ensure their full participation in social, economic, cultural and political life and enable them to contribute fully to the development of their communities. Communities which encourage this process will in turn be enriched. The targets of BMF demand support for the formation of democratic, cross-disability organizations which represent disabled people in rural and urban areas, and at all levels from grass-roots to national and regional level, and their full inclusion in decision-making processes. The case studies presented in this section provide examples of national level action, as well as subregional and regional level action. In the examples from Bangladesh and Cambodia particular emphasis has been placed on engaging persons with disabilities at the grass-roots level. The focus is on advocacy and empowerment, building capacity to participate in planning, decision-making, implementation and management. A third of the countries and territories of the UNESCAP region are small island states in the Pacific. The DPI Oceania Office is only three years old. However, it has already provided significant leadership and undertaken systematic action to support the first steps towards development of strong national self-help organizations in the Pacific subregion. The number of national assemblies established has increased from four to seven. The other focus has been on building an effective networking system, capable of overcoming distance and isolation in remote locations. This has been very successful. The World Federation of the Deaf has proved the value of developing strong national organizations, based on the unique world view of the “deaf community”. They extended their influence and experience to stimulate and strengthen self-help activity in deaf communities in less developed countries of the region. |
