UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations
E/CN.5/2001/7
Economic and Social Council
Distr.: General
18 December 2000
Original: English
Commission for Social Development
Thirty-ninth session
13-23 February 2001
Item 3 (b) of the provisional agenda*
Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development:
review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes
of action pertaining to the situation of social groups
Implementation of the World Programme of Action
concerning Disabled Persons
Interim report of the Secretary-General
Contents
Paragraphs Page
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–2 3
II. Progress in equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities 3–56 3
A. Accessibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–8 3
B. Social services and sustainable livelihoods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9–10 4
C. International norms and standards related to persons with disabilities. . . . . . . 11–16 5
D. Global statistics and indicators on disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17–20 6
E. Children with disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21–26 7
F. Activities of the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability. . . . . . . . . . . . . 27–49 7
G. Development Account for the biennium 2000-2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50–56 11
III. Regional cooperation for equalization of opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57–64 12
A. African Decade of Disabled People (2000-2009) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57–59 12
B. Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (1993-2002). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60–64 13
__________________
* E/CN.5/2001/1.
00-80730 (E) 020201
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IV. Perspective framework for the fourth review and appraisal of the implementation
of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65–76 15
Annex
Projects supported by the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability, 1 September 1999 to
31 October 2000, by region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
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I. Introduction
1. The current report has been prepared pursuant to
paragraph 16 of General Assembly resolution 54/121,
of 17 December 1999, “Implementation of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons:
towards a society for all in the twenty-first century”, in
which the Assembly requests the Secretary-General to
submit a report on implementation of the resolution to
the Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, through the
Commission for Social Development at its thirty-ninth
session.
2. The present interim report is in three parts. The
first part describes progress in implementing
equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons
with disabilities in the light of priorities for action
identified in Assembly resolution 54/121. The second
part reviews selected experiences in regional
cooperation, in particular the Asian and Pacific Decade
of Disabled Persons (1993-2002) and the Africa
Decade of Disabled People (2000-2009). The third part
presents a perspective framework for the fourth review
and appraisal of the World Programme of Action, as
requested by the General Assembly in resolution 52/82,
of 16 December 1997.
II. Progress in equalization of
opportunities by, for and with
persons with disabilities
3. In resolution 54/121 the General Assembly
identifies priorities for action to further equalization of
opportunities and promote a more inclusive society for
all. Chief among the priorities identified is accessibility
in the environment and with regard to information and
communications services. Health and social services,
including training and rehabilitation, and employment
and sustainable livelihoods are areas that also received
special attention. The Assembly also calls for action
related to international norms and standards, disability
statistics and children with disabilities. Selected
experience in implementing the resolution is discussed
below.
A. Accessibility
4. The report of the Secretary-General to the
General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session on
implementation of the World Programme of Action
(A/54/388/Add.1)1 discusses both policy and
operational aspects of “accessibility”, rule 5 of the
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities
for Persons with Disabilities.2 Accessibility is
examined with respect to the environment and to
information and communications technologies.
5. The report also describes briefly preparations by
the secretariat of the Economic and Social Commission
for Western Asia (ESCWA) to organize an international
seminar on environmental accessibility. The seminar
took place from 30 November to 3 December 1999 at
United Nations House at Beirut with a high level of
participation by policy makers, practitioners,
academics and representatives of the non-governmental
community. Seminar proceedings were enhanced by a
study tour of the experience of Beirut in planning and
development of non-handicapping and barrier-free
environments, particularly the innovative activities by
SOLIDERE, the Lebanese Company for the
Development and Reconstruction of the Beirut Central
District.3 Seminar participants took note of the
treatment of accessibility in rule 5 of the Standard
Rules and adopted recommendations on policies and
legislation related to environmental accessibility;
institutional arrangements; training, applied research
and evaluation; norms and standards; and information
and outreach.4 Follow up to the seminar has focussed
on practical action directed at promoting public
awareness and building national capacities. Among
activities undertaken by the United Nations system to
date is the recent Regional Conference on Accessible
Tourism for People with Disabilities (Bali, 24-28
September 2000). The secretariat of the Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
organized the seminar in cooperation with the
Government of Indonesia and the Centre for
Community-based Rehabilitation, Development and
Training (Solo). In Western Asia, ESCWA is carrying
out an innovative programme of outreach, training and
pilot action for accessible tourism at Aley (Lebanon),
which includes training for planning and design
practitioners in the region. The latter two activities
received co-financing support from the Development
Account for the biennium 2000-2001 under project H,
“Capacity building for equalization of opportunities for
persons with disabilities”.5
6. In the Americas region, the Association for
Promotion of Development of Persons with Disabilities
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(APRODDIS), in cooperation with the National
Council on Social Integration of Persons with
Disabilities of Peru (CONADIS) and the College of
Architects of Peru, published in late 2000 a
monograph, “Elimination of architectural barriers in
Peru”.6 APRODDIS and the Office of the Ombudsman
of Peru organized seminars and training workshops on
environmental accessibility issues during 2000,
assisted by co-financing grants from the United
Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability.
7. Internet accessibility and persons with disabilities
was the subject of a special presentation at the year
2000 national assembly of persons with disabilities in
Mexico (Guanajuato, 25-28 May 2000), which was
organized jointly by the Government of Mexico and the
Mexican Federation of Persons with Physical and
Mental Disabilities, a non-governmental organization.
Meeting delegates in Guanajuato participated in an
Internet-enabled collaboration with a specialist in
accessibility technologies from his office in Canada.7
In light of the demonstrated capacities of accessible
Internet technologies to empower persons with
disabilities and enable them to exercise full and
effective participation, the Government of Mexico, in
cooperation with the Mexican Foundation for Social
Integration, a non-governmental organization, plans to
organize in the first half of 2001 at Mexico City a
regional seminar on Internet accessibility and strategies
to implement the Standard Rules.
8. At the observance in 2000 of the International
Day of Disabled Persons at United Nations
Headquarters, the theme was “Making information
technologies work for all”. The observance included a
briefing and multimedia presentation on issues
and trends in accessible information and
telecommunication technologies (ICT) for all. The
theme was selected in the light of the attention directed
to the role of ICT in development of “knowledge-based
economies” at the substantive session of the Economic
and Social Council in 2000 and the Millennium
Summit of the General Assembly.
B. Social services and sustainable
livelihoods
9. The review of progress made in implementing the
outcome of the World Summit for Social Development,
considered by the General Assembly at its twentyfourth
special session (Geneva, 26-30 June 2000), took
note, inter alia, of the importance of universal access to
social services, development of human resources and
training in promoting employment opportunities and
people-centred sustainable development.8 There is a
well-documented relationship between investments in
human resources and relative levels of development,9
and the policy guidance of the Assembly is reflected in
actual practice in countries. As this pertains to social
services, sustainable livelihoods and persons with
disabilities, ESCWA, in accordance with its programme
of work, is assisting requesting Governments to build
national capacities and strengthen institutions for nontraditional
employment and entrepreneurial
opportunities for persons with disabilities. ESCWA, the
Government of Jordan and the non-governmental Saudi
Centre for Rehabilitation and Training of Arab Blind
Girls (Amman) are carrying out an innovative
programme of training in computer Braille. The
training programme of the Centre is being assisted by
co-financing grants from the Arab Gulf Programme for
United Nations Development Organizations
(AGFUND). An example of the multiplier effect of the
programmes of the Saudi Centre is the recently
initiated computer-training programme for Arab blind
girls and women by the Bethlehem Society for
Rehabilitation, in cooperation with the Ministry of
Social Welfare of the Palestine Authority. ESCWA
began in 2000 a cooperative programme with the
Government of Lebanon to develop and test innovative
approaches to promoting self-reliance among persons
with disabilities. The Local Council for Welfare of
Disabled Persons at Boujr al-Barajneh is carrying out
the programme, in cooperation with the Ministry of
Social Affairs. A number of community-based training
workshops have been successfully carried out, and
fellows have been placed in vocational training and
mainstream employment opportunities.
10. As will be discussed in detail in the paragraphs
below, pilot action to promote employment
opportunities and sustainable livelihoods of persons
with disabilities has been one of the main areas
receiving support from the United Nations Voluntary
Fund on Disability. Projects have been supported in
Africa, in economies in transition in Central and
Eastern Europe, and in Western Asia. The project
experience suggests that an appropriate policy
framework and the participation of stakeholders and
their families are important factors in the promotion of
sustainable livelihoods for all.
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C. International norms and standards
related to persons with disabilities
11. In paragraph 3 of resolution 54/121 the General
Assembly notes with appreciation the valuable work of
the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the
Commission for Social Development in monitoring the
implementation of the Standard Rules on the
Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities and, in paragraph 9, urges relevant bodies
and organizations of the United Nations system to
promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
12. From a substantive point of view, international
norms and standards concerning persons with
disabilities encompass human rights in all spheres of
life: economic, social and cultural, and civil and
political.10 Experiences noted during the period under
review suggest that combining the resources of
“traditional” human rights communities, which focus in
the main on political and civil rights, and the “nontraditional”
communities of interest, which focus on
disability-sensitive rights at the international and
regional levels could make significant contributions to
a broad human rights framework to advance the rights
of all. To provide a forum for exchanges on
international norms and standards, the United Nations
cooperated with the Equal Opportunities Commission
of Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of
China), in collaboration with the Faculty of Law of the
University of Hong Kong, to organize an
Interregional Seminar and Symposium on International
Norms and Standards relating to Disability
(13-17 December 1999). The seminar and symposium
brought together scholars, practitioners and
representatives of the non-governmental community
and made innovative and effective use of Internetenabled
resources to review and discuss issues and
trends in the development and implementation of
norms and standards, issues in national capacitybuilding
for equalization of opportunities, and issues
and trends in disability policy design, evaluation and
the definition of “disability”.11 As follow-up to the
seminar and as a way to provide improved awareness
of international norms and standards relating to
disability, the Division for Social Policy and
Development, Department of Economic and Social
Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, established
with the assistance of private-sector specialists a fully
accessible online database on disability rights
resources.12
13. It may be recalled that at its thirty-eighth session
(8-17 February 2000), the Commission for Social
Development had for its consideration a comprehensive
report of the Special Rapporteur on Disability on his
second mission, of 1997-2000, to promote and monitor
implementation of the Standard Rules (E/CN.5/2000/3,
annex). Following its consideration of the report, the
Commission recommended a third mandate for the
Special Rapporteur — to December 2002 — which was
adopted subsequently by the Economic and Social
Council in resolution 2000/10 of 27 July 2000. In
paragraph 7 of that resolution, the Council requested
the Special Rapporteur to present his views on further
developing his proposals on promoting the rights of
persons with disabilities,13 on forms for complementing
and developing the Standard Rules, and on how to
enhance the involvement of the relevant bodies and
organizations of the United Nations system and
relevant intergovernmental regional organizations
regarding the implementation of the Standard Rules. At
its fifty-sixth session (20 March-28 April 2000), the
Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution
2000/51, in which it invited the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights, in cooperation with
the Special Rapporteur on Disability, to examine
measures to strengthen the protection and monitoring
of the human rights of persons with disabilities and to
solicit input and proposals from interested parties,
including the panel of experts that consult with the
Special Rapporteur
14. In the light of the guidance provided by
competent intergovernmental bodies and in accordance
with chapter IV, “Monitoring mechanism”, of the
Standard Rules, the Special Rapporteur formulated a
multi-year programme of work, which was circulated
by the United Nations Secretariat to member States.14
The work programme is comprehensive and includes
consultations with Governments, on request, as well as
the non-governmental community, participation in
seminars and symposia, and organization of technical
exchanges. During 2000 the work of the Special
Rapporteur included missions, on request, to several
countries (Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Hungary, Russian
Federation and Uganda) and participation at two major
conferences — Nineteenth World Congress of
Rehabilitation International (Rio de Janeiro, 25-29
August 2000), and Sixth Congress on the Inclusion of
Children with Disabilities (Edmonton, Alberta
(Canada), 22-24 October 2000). A number of diverse
issues have come up in the countries visited by the
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Special Rapporteur, but it is possible to identify certain
key themes arising in the consultations. First, there are
recent and very positive developments in human rights
and persons with disabilities. Greater attention is being
directed to incorporating disability-sensitive concerns
effectively into general development policies and
programmes. There also is increased awareness and
concern with means to move from large institutional
facilities for disabled persons, where millions of
disabled children and adults spend their lives today, to
community-based approaches to counselling, care and
social integration.
15. The Special Rapporteur organized an
international seminar on human rights and disability
from 4-10 November 2000 at Stockholm. The seminar
was attended by 27 international experts, who
represented the principal areas of disability and human
rights concerns. The purpose of the seminar was to
elaborate guidelines for identifying and reporting
human rights violations and abuse against persons with
disabilities and means to present those materials to
competent intergovernmental and expert bodies.
16. During 2001 the Special Rapporteur will continue
to undertake missions, on request, to a number of
countries, including China and two in Africa. He will
also initiate work related to the development of a text
of the Standard Rules in accordance with the mandate
contained in Economic and Social Council resolution
E/2000/10 and with reference to the substantive
observations in the report on his second mission
(E/CN.5/2000/3, annex). He will participate in followup
activities outlined by the Commission on Human
Rights in resolution 2000/51 and will serve as
chairman of a working group on rights for disabled
children, which on an informal basis assists and
supports the work of the United Nations Committee on
the Rights of the Child relating to its monitoring of the
situation of disabled children.
D. Global statistics and indicators on
disability
17. In paragraph 10 of resolution 54/121, the General
Assembly urged Governments to cooperate with the
Statistics Division, Department of Economic and
Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat in the
continued development of global statistics and
indicators on disability. During the period under review
the work of the Division on disability statistics focused
on two broad areas: compilation and dissemination of
data, and development of methods for data collection
and compilation. The objectives are to improve the use
of available disability data by making them more
accessible to a wide set of users and to produce
methodological guidelines for use by countries to
improve the collection and dissemination of disability
data.
18. With regard to work on the compilation and
dissemination of data, a disability statistics home page
on the World Wide Web will shortly be finalized and
available for public access. It is envisaged that the
home page will include disability prevalence rates as
well as corresponding textual information on methods
used in the data collection. The underlying United
Nations Disability Statistics Database (DISTAT),
version 2, will be released in 2001. DISTAT-2 covers
179 studies from 100 countries in all regions of the
world and contains information on disability status;
persons with disability, by type of disability; and social
and economic characteristics of the population with
and without disability. Concerning work on
methodological guidelines, Guidelines and Principles
for the Development of Disability Statistics is available
in a pre-publication format, on request, from the
Statistics Division.15 The guidelines are aimed mainly
at national statisticians and address issues of planning,
collecting, processing, evaluating, tabulating and
disseminating statistics on persons with disabilities in
both surveys and censuses.
19. The Statistics Division is participating in
continuing tests of the International Classification of
Impairments, Disability and Handicap-2 (ICIDH Beta-
2 draft).16 This activity involves the back-coding of
disability survey data for Canada, France, the
Netherlands, South Africa and the United States, using
the recommended tabulations in Principles and
Recommendations for Population and Housing
Censuses (revision 1).17
20. The Statistics Division is preparing for an
International conference on disability statistics which
is scheduled to take place in New York in June 2001.
The conference will bring together users and producers
of disability data from countries and provide a forum
for discussing issues related to the measurement of
disability. The conference will direct special attention
to reviewing and assessing the current status of work
on disability statistical methods at national and
international levels, with a focus on questionnaire
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design; formulating an agenda for further work and
research on measurement of disability; and building
networks among institutions and experts, including
producers and users of disability statistics, to promote
increased exchanges of knowledge and experience on
conceptual and methodological developments.
E. Children with disabilities
21. In paragraph 11 of resolution 54/121, the General
Assembly also urges Governments, in collaboration
with the United Nations system, to direct special
attention to the rights, needs and well-being of children
with disabilities and their families. The World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons18
addresses the situation of children with disabilities in
both its “prevention” and its “equalization of
opportunities” objectives; and general guidance is
provided in the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. Article 23
of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (General
Assembly resolution 44/25, annex) directs attention to
the right of children with disabilities to care, access to
education and training, health care and rehabilitation
services, and preparation for employment and
recreation opportunities.
22. From a development perspective, in the absence
of an appropriate policy framework and programme
interventions, including support services, counselling
and training, children and young adults with
disabilities will likely become dependent disabled
adults, unable to participate on the basis of equality in
social life and development.
23. During 1999 the Organization of American States
(OAS) adopted the Inter-American Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Persons with Disabilities (resolution 1068 (XXIX-0/99)
of 7 June 1999).19 The “Convention” provides general
policy guidance on prevention and elimination of all
forms of discrimination against persons with
disabilities, including children with disabilities, and for
promotion of full and effective integration of persons
with disabilities in social life and development.
24. In October 2000 the Ministry of Youth, Women,
Children and the Family of Panama, in cooperation
with the Panamanian Institute of Special Education
(IPHE), organized a seminar on children with
disabilities: issues and trends in development policies
and programmes in the Americas region (Panama City,
16-20 October 2000).20 The seminar aimed to provide a
forum for exchanges of knowledge and experience on
issues and trends in policies and strategies concerning
the situation of children with disabilities in the
Americas region, innovative programme and project
initiatives related to children with disabilities, and
issues in data collection and statistics related to
children with disabilities. Seminar participants
included policy makers, programme managers,
academics and representatives of the non-governmental
community concerned with the situation of children
with disabilities and their families.
25. On the basis of an intensive programme of
substantive sessions and group discussions, seminar
participants formulated the Declaration of Panama, on
disability as an issue of human rights,21 which provides
a framework for policy options, strategies and practical
action to promote equalization of opportunities and a
society for all.
26. The Tenth Ibero-American Summit of Heads of
State and Government (Panama City, 17-18 November
2000) took note of the Declaration of Panama as one of
the activities organized by the Ibero-American
community that had contributed to the enrichment and
strengthening of the Summit deliberations.22
F. Activities of the United Nations
Voluntary Fund on Disability
1. Project cycle activities: September 1999 to
October 2000
27. The review for the period of 1 September 1999 to
31 October 2000 describes project cycle activities of
the Fund undertaken since the earlier review in the
report of the Secretary-General to the General
Assembly at its fifty-fourth session (A/54/351/Add.1).
28. During the period, the Fund provided $763,901 in
grants to 26 disability-related projects. As table 1
indicates, nearly 90 per cent of the projects supported
(23/26) were carried out at the national or regional
level in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, central and
eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, or
Western Asia. Interregional activities accounted for
11.5 per cent of the projects supported and received 18
per cent of the grants disbursed, which reflects their
generally larger scale and the complexity of issues
addressed.
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Table 1
Projects supported by the United Nations Voluntary
Fund on Disability, by region, grant amount, and
total budget, September 1999 to October 2000
Region
Projects
supported
Total budget
(US$) Grants (US$)
Africa 9 456 210 175 950
Asia and the
Pacific 2 97 782 45 200
Central and
eastern Europe 3 237 790 56 551
Latin America
and the
Caribbean 6 590 664 244 200
Western Asia 3 733 500 107 000
Interregional 3 482 921 135 000
Total 26 2 598 867 763 901
29. Table 1 indicates that Africa accounts for more
than one in three of the projects supported (35 per cent)
and nearly one fourth (23 per cent) of grants disbursed,
which is owing to a higher percentage of small-scale
national-level proposals. Nearly one in four of the
projects supported (23 per cent) were in the Americas
region, while Western Asia and central and eastern
Europe each accounted for 12 per cent; Asia and the
Pacific account for 8 per cent.
30. The projects supported were selected from a pool
of over 200 proposals received from governmental
bodies and organizations and the non-governmental
community (with appropriate governmental
endorsement). Decisions to recommend projects for
support are made by interdisciplinary review
committees on substantive, financial and administrative
grounds. Grant recommendations respond to General
Assembly guidance on assistance to the least
developed, the heavily indebted and the low-income
countries, especially in Africa, and to countries in
transition.
31. Guidelines for preparing proposals for
consideration by the Fund are published on the Internet
at http://www.un.org/esa/socdevt/spdproj.htm.
Table 2
Projects supported by the United Nations Voluntary
Fund on Disability, by project agent and approved
grant, 1 September 1999 to 31 October 2000
Project agent Projects supported Grants (US$)
Governmental body
or organization 3 139 500
Non-governmental
organization 23 624 401
Total 26 763 901
32. Table 2 indicates that the decided majority of the
Fund-supported projects — nearly 90 per cent — were
implemented by the non-governmental community,
(with appropriate endorsement and the cooperation of
concerned governmental bodies or organizations). As
presented in the annex, non-governmental
organizations continue to make important and valued
contributions to equalization of opportunities by, for
and with persons with disabilities by means of catalytic
and innovative projects in leadership training, skill
development and technology transfer.
2. Selected project experience
33. During the period under review, the Fund focused
on supporting activities that responded to priorities for
action to promote equalization of opportunities for
persons with disabilities identified in General
Assembly resolutions 52/82 and 54/121 — namely,
accessibility, social services and social safety nets, and
employment and sustainable livelihoods. In support of
the achievement of these priorities, projects supported
can be broadly defined as having capacity-building and
institutional development as their principal functions.
Several projects have a significant formal training
element, while others focus on technical exchanges of
skills and knowledge, which also promote
establishment and development of networks of
excellence for disability action. Some projects involve
pilot action for equalization of opportunities while
others represent pilot action related to deinstitutionalization
of persons with disabilities.
(a) Accessibility
34. As discussed in rule 5, “Accessibility”, of the
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities
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for Persons with Disability,2 projects supported focused
on both environmental accessibility and accessible
information and communication technologies (ICT).
Several projects reflect the growing awareness of
universal design concepts and principles and seek to
promote accessibility for all as both normative concern
and technical design standard.
35. Internet accessibility. The role of information and
communication technologies (ICT) and development
were considered by both the high-level Segment of the
substantive session of the Economic and Social
Council in 2000 and the Millennium Summit. Building
on both the substantive exchanges and policy guidance
emanating from these important meetings, the Fund is
supporting an initiative of the Government of Mexico,
in cooperation with the non-governmental community,
to organize in Mexico City in March 2001 a regional
Americas seminar on Internet accessibility. The
seminar will provide a forum for exchanges on Internet
issues and trends in the Americas and is expected to
draft a regional framework to promote accessible ICT
for all.
36. With regard to direct training for accessible ICT,
the Fund assisted the Saudi Centre for Rehabilitation
and Training of Arab Blind Girls (Amman) to develop
and test innovative programs for training in appropriate
computer skills and Internet accessibility. The Centre
also received support from the Arab Gulf Programme
for United Nations Development Organizations
(AGFUND), in cooperation with ESCWA.
37. Environmental accessibility. Fund support for
environmental accessibility has included pilot projects
concerned with technical exchanges on barrier-free
design and the training of national personnel to design,
manufacture and repair appropriate mobility devices.
38. Personal choice in mobility options is an essential
precondition for full and effective participation in
social life and development. Technical cooperation in
this area has a certain urgency since the data suggest
that an estimated 20 million wheelchairs will be
required by countries by the year 2020. International
cooperation and charitable organizations have met less
than 1 per cent of the projected need, to date. A Fundassisted
project in Ecuador resulted in new and
improved capacities to produce, maintain and repair
wheelchairs locally; prior to the Fund-assisted project,
wheelchairs were imported or provided by charitable
organizations. In Kampala, Uganda the Fund is
supporting development of a wheelchair facility that is
staffed by women with disabilities. The project
provides technical training in wheelchair
manufacturing and repair, in cooperation with
Whirlwind Women International (a non-governmental
organization), develops marketing skills for appropriate
mobility devices, and produces wheelchairs appropriate
to local conditions.
39. Fund-assisted projects concerned with accessible
shelter and urban infrastructure have focused in
particular on follow-up to recommendations adopted at
the International Seminar on Environmental
Accessibility (Beirut, 30 November to 3 December
1999), organized by the ESCWA.23 At the request of
the Southern African Federal Council on Disability
(SAFCD), the Fund co-financed the International
Workshop on Environmental Accessibility (Providence,
RI, United States), 13-19 June 2000),24 organized in
conjunction with the International Conference on
Universal Design. The Workshop considered selected
experience in promoting accessible environments in
countries, identified priorities for technical cooperation
to promote awareness and support for accessible
environments and provided opportunities to establish
and develop networks of excellence for environmental
accessibility. The Workshop also represented a tangible
initiative in support of the African Decade of Persons
with Disabilities (2000-2009)25. In Peru, fundassistance
to the non-governmental organization,
Asociación por Desarrollo de la Persona con
Discapacidad resulted in publication on the Internet in
a fully accessible format of a “guide” for
environmental accessibility, based upon national laws
and technical standards in Peru.26 The Fund also
assisted efforts of the Office of the Ombudsman of
Peru to organize, in cooperation with the National
College of Architecture, a national seminar on
accessibility (Lima, 22 June 2000).
(b) Social services and social safety nets
40. “Social services for all” is one of the priority
themes of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme
of Action of the World Summit for Social
Development.27 In the context of a broad human rights
framework, achieving social services for all assumes
special importance: social services are essential
investments in the development of human potential,
can further social inclusion, and promote full and
effective participation on the basis of equality. People
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with disabilities may risk denial of the exercise of their
social, cultural and economic rights and of their civil
and political rights if they are not able to participate in
decisions on their basic social service needs; if they
lack the means to obtain those services; or if they are
not consulted on ways in which the services are
provided.
41. An important issue addressed in Fund-assisted
projects during the period under review has been pilot
action to promote de-institutionalization of persons
with disabilities. Two initiatives of the nongovernmental
community in central Europe focused on
de-institutionalization of persons with mental
disabilities in countries in transition, which were
carried out in cooperation with the Central European
Mental Disability Advocacy Project of the Open
Society Institute (a non-governmental organization). A
project in Croatia, implemented by the Association for
the Promotion of Inclusion, in cooperation with the
Ministry of Social Welfare, is carrying out pilot
training for independent living at a day-care centre in
Zagreb and by means of community outreach in
Bjelovar and Osnia among mentally disabled persons.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Association for Social
Inclusion of Persons with Mental Retardation, in
cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, Social Policy
and Refugees, is carrying out pilot training in
independent living skills among adults with severe
mental disabilities in Tuzla and pilot programmes in
Brcko and Gradcac to integrate children with moderate
to severe mental disabilities into public schools.
(c) Employment and sustainable livelihoods
42. Employment promotion is another priority theme
identified in the Copenhagen Declaration and
Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social
Development. In cooperation with ESCWA, the Fund is
supporting innovative programmes to promote nontraditional
employment opportunities among persons
with disabilities in the region. For instance, assistance
is being provided to the Saudi Centre for Rehabilitation
and Training of Arab Blind Girls to provide training in
computer skills for blind women and girls from the
Western Asia region. A follow-up national project
organized by the Bethlehem Arab Society for
Rehabilitation, in cooperation with the Ministry of
Social Affairs of the Palestine National Authority, is
training blind girls in Braille computer skills. ESCWA
is assisting the local Council for the Welfare of
Disabled Persons, in cooperation with the Ministry of
Social Affairs of Lebanon, to carry out a series of pilot
efforts in community-based employment promotion,
initially in the Burj El-Barajneh district of Beirut. The
project has organized a well-received workshop on
entrepreneurship for persons with disabilities and has
placed fellows in a range of vocational training
activities. An innovative project in employment
placement in countries in transition is being carried out
in Hungary by the Salva Vita Foundation, in
cooperation with the Ministry of Social and Family
Affairs and the Central Labour Office. The Salva Vita
Foundation initiative is a response to a 1998 law on the
rights of persons with disabilities in Hungary, including
access to employment opportunities. The model
programme of Salva Vita Foundation prepares both
programme participants, their families and the
workplace for gainful work. Each participant joins a
job orientation session and trial work period, and
permanent improvement in work-related skills is
provided by means of job coaching of the employee
with the disability as well as support to colleagues who
work directly with the disabled person. This initiative
has resulted in increased public awareness of the issue
and enhanced self-reliance among persons with
disabilities.
3. Fund grants as venture catalysts in promoting a
“society for all”
43. In addition to support provided for pilot action of
a catalytic and innovative nature, in line with the
priorities identified by the General Assembly to further
equalization of opportunities for persons with
disabilities, the Fund also disbursed several “venture
catalyst” grants that responded to new areas of concern
identified by the General Assembly and the Economic
and Social Council to promote a “society for all”.
44. The Fund provided three grants to support
activities related to implementation of the African
Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2000-2009),
which included support for both an interregional and a
subregional workshop on environmental accessibility
and universal design, and a regional expert meeting on
leadership development. The Economic and Social
Council, in resolution 2000/10 of 27 July 2000, also
encouraged international support for the Decade.
45. In resolution 54/121, paragraph 11, the General
Assembly urged Governments, in collaboration with
the United Nations system, to give special attention to
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the situation of children with disabilities and their
families. As discussed above (see para. 23), at the
request of the Government of Panama, the Fund
provided support for the regional seminar on children
with disabilities. The seminar provided a forum for
exchanges on policy issues and trends in the Americas
region concerning children with disabilities from the
development perspective.
46. The Fund is supporting innovative efforts of the
Fundación Amor y Energía (AM-EN) to train trainers,
initially in Ecuador, in rehabilitation and social
integration of children and young adults with
disabilities. In Nepal the Fund is supporting pilot
action by the Nepal Disabled Women Society to
improve outreach and counselling of children with
disabilities. Fund-supported initiatives to promote the
social integration of children and youth with
disabilities by training in information and
communications technologies in Jordan and by the
Palestine Authority, discussed above, are also relevant
in this regard.
47. An emerging area of concern related to the
situation of children and young adults with disabilities
and their families is de-institutionalization. This is
particularly so in countries in transition in Central and
Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Fund-assisted pilot
efforts of the non-governmental community, in
cooperation with the Governments of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Croatia and Hungary, to provide
community-based outreach and training for social
integration and independent living among young adults
and children with disabilities suggest that the process
of moving from institutional approaches to care and
council provided by community-based services is
complex. Further exchanges of knowledge and
experience would be advantageous for purposes of both
policy design and programme planning and evaluation.
48. In resolution 54/121, paragraph 2, the General
Assembly welcomed the initiatives of Governments to
enhance the rights of persons with disabilities and to
further equalization of opportunities by, for and with
persons with disabilities. To that end, the Fund has
provided support for Governments as well as the nongovernmental
community, in Mexico, Peru and in the
Eastern Africa subregion, to promote awareness, to
publish technical monographs and to build national
capacities for accessibility both in the physical
environment and with regard to information and
communication technologies (ICT), the two aspects of
accessibility discussed in rule 5 of the Standard Rules.
Such support has been instrumental in building public
awareness and support for a broad human rights
approach to development. However, the experiences to
date suggest that the complex process of ensuring
sustainable implementation of disability-sensitive
policies and programmes is only just beginning.
Follow-up action is essential — particularly an
observed need to support disability-sensitive policy
design and evaluation and to convert disability norms,
standards and legislation into practical action at
national and local levels. At regional and interregional
levels, technical exchanges provide opportunities for
Governments to review and discuss strategies and
measures to empower persons with disabilities so that
they can participate on the basis of equality in
decisions that concern their livelihoods and well-being,
the situations of their families and the communities in
which they live.
49. By resolution 52/17 of 20 November 1997 the
General Assembly proclaimed the year 2001 as the
International Year of Volunteers,28 in which
voluntarism by, for and with persons with disabilities is
an area to be accorded special attention. In the light of
the many contributions that persons with disabilities
make to the societies in which they live, proposals for
voluntary action, with appropriate governmental
endorsement, which will further equalization of
opportunities for persons with disabilities, will be
considered by the Fund.
G. Development Account for the biennium
2000-2001
50. The Development Account has its origin in
proposals submitted by the Secretary-General for
renewal and reform of the United Nations.29 The
“development dividend” resulting from savings in the
regular budget from proposed reductions in
administration and other overhead costs would be
reallocated to social and economic activities with
emphasis on national capacity building. By resolutions
54/249 and 54/250, of 23 December 1999, the General
Assembly approved an appropriation of $13,065,000,
under section 33 of the programme budget for the
biennium 2000-2001, Development Account, to fund
16 projects in the economic and social sectors proposed
by the Secretary-General in accordance with guidelines
provided by the Assembly. One of the 16 approved
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projects — Project H — concerns capacity-building
and institutional development for equalization of
opportunities for persons with disabilities.
51. The vision for Project H, based upon the
Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations, is
promoting social progress and better standards of life
in greater freedom for all. The project focuses on
persons with disabilities as both development agents
and beneficiaries, since they often are unable to pursue
full and effective participation owing to social, cultural
and environmental barriers. Participation as a basic
right for all has been reaffirmed at major United
Nations conferences and summits.
52. The objective of the project is to strengthen
national capacities and institutional capabilities of
developing countries to further equalization of
opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities
for full and effective participation in social life and
development.
53. The project has three priority areas for action: (a)
accessibility; (b) social services and safety nets; and (c)
employment and sustainable livelihoods. The project
also examines the broad framework of international
norms and standards relating to disability and
implications for national capacity building.
54. During 2000 special effort was directed to the
identification of partners in countries — governmental
as well as non-governmental — to serve as agents in
the implementation of the project. Project
implementation began in earnest in the third quarter of
2000 with the co-financing of technical exchanges
related to the priority theme of environmental
accessibility, organized by ESCAP and ESCWA.
55. With co-financing of Project H, ESCAP
organized a regional training workshop on promotion
of accessible tourism (Denpasar, Bali, 24-28 September
2000), in cooperation with the Government of
Indonesia and the Community-based Rehabilitation
Centre (Solo, Indonesia), a non-governmental
organization. The workshop was organized parallel to
the Asia-Pacific Conference on Tourism for People
with Disabilities (Denpasar, Bali, 24-27 September
2000), with a view to providing a forum for exchanging
knowledge and experiences in barrier-free tourism and
identifying multisectoral policies and strategies to
promote it. Workshop participants adopted the Bali
Declaration on Barrier-free Tourism for People with
Disabilities, which presents a framework for further
action.30 The results of the workshop were considered
by the ESCAP Committee on Transport,
Communications, Tourism and Infrastructure
Development at its third session (Bangkok, 15-17
November 2000) and will contribute to the full
participation and equality goals of the Asian and
Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (1993-2002).
56. In Western Asia, ESCWA, with the co-financing
assistance of Project H, is carrying out, in cooperation
with the Government of Lebanon (Ministry of Social
Affairs), the National Council on Disability and the
Aley metropolitan government, an innovative
programme of applied research, subregional training,
and pilot action related to building national capacities
for accessible cultural sites and barrier-free tourism.
During 2000-2001 ESCWA will take pilot action, using
community-based approaches, to test, evaluate and
develop plans and designs for selected areas of cultural
and tourism significance in the Aley municipality. The
results of pilot action on planning and design for
environmental accessibility will be shared by means of
a subregional training workshop with interested
neighbouring countries and authorities where there is
great interest but limited national capacities to plan,
design and develop accessible and non-handicapping
environments. The results will be published as
technical monographs which are expected to provide
guidance on concepts and approaches to planning and
design of barrier-free and non-handicapping
environments appropriate to conditions in Western
Asia.
III. Regional cooperation for
equalization of opportunities
A. African Decade of Disabled People
(2000-2009)
57. In resolution E/2000/10, the Economic and Social
Council encouraged international support for the
African Decade of Disabled People to promote
equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons
with disabilities and to promote and protect human
rights.
58. The member States of the Organization of
African Unity (OAU) decided at the OAU summit
(Algiers, 12-14 July 1999) to proclaim an African
Decade of Disabled People (2000-2009). The African
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Decade represents an innovative partnership between
Governments and the non-governmental community to
put disability on the development agenda of Africa.
The African Rehabilitation Institute (ARI) and the Pan
African Federation of the Disabled (PAFOD), nongovernmental
organizations, are active in Decade
activities, in close consultation with interested
Governments. Subregional affiliates of PAFOD in all
parts of Africa and other interested organizations of
persons with disabilities are also engaged in Decade
activities.
59. Three Decade-related substantive activities have
been supported to date by grants from the United
Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability. Two have been
successfully implemented:
(a) International Workshop on Environmental
Accessibility and Universal Design in Developing
Countries, organized by the Southern Africa Federal
Council on Disability, in collaboration with the
Universal Design Center (Boston, MA) and in
conjunction with the International Conference on
Designing for the 21st Century (Providence, RI, United
States, 14-18 June 2000);31
(b) Eastern Africa Regional Workshop on
Application of Universal Design Concepts and
Principles and Information Technologies to the Africa
Decade of Disabled Persons (Nairobi, 6-10 November
2000), organized by the Eastern Africa Federation of
the Disabled (EAFOD), in cooperation with the
Government of Kenya (Department of Social Services)
and United Disabled Persons of Kenya. The third
activity is the Consultative Meeting on Leadership
Training in Support of the Africa Decade of Disabled
Persons (Nairobi, fourth quarter, 2000), organized by
the Pan African Federation of the Disabled (PAFOD),
in cooperation with the Government of Kenya
(Department of Social Services) and United Disabled
Persons of Kenya. Significantly, the first Decaderelated
activity focused on an interregional exchange of
knowledge and experience in the planning and
development of accessible environments, which
leveraged the considerable experience of African
specialists in both the technical and communityparticipation
aspects of promoting environmental
accessibility for all. An immediate result of the
International Workshop was the second project, the
Eastern Africa workshop. A Pan-Africa leadership
development meeting was recently rescheduled for
technical reasons. The results of the meeting will be
presented in the relevant report of the Secretary-
General to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth
session (2001).
B. Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled
Persons (1993-2002)
60. By resolution 48/3 member States of the
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific proclaimed the Asian and Pacific Decade of
Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, with the goal of full
participation and equality of persons with disabilities.32
61. The secretariat of ESCAP organized the regional
forum, Meeting the Targets for the Asian and Pacific
Decade of Disabled Persons, and Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in the
ESCAP Region (Bangkok, 15-19 November 1999),
which brought together senior officials responsible for
disability-related issues, members of the United
Nations system, and representatives of the nongovernmental
community to review the status of
fulfilment of the targets for the implementation of the
Agenda for Action for the Asian and the Pacific
Decade of Disabled Persons.33 Forum participants
identified the following critical issues and areas
related to furthering the goals and objectives of the
Decade: national coordination, legislation, information,
public awareness, accessibility and communication,
education, training and employment, prevention of
causes of disability and rehabilitation (with emphasis
on community-based rehabilitation; health and social
development), prevention of causes of disability,
rehabilitation services, assistive devices, self-help
organizations and regional cooperation. Based on that
review, forum participants formulated revisions to the
73 targets for the Decade, which increased to 107
targets, to provide further impetus to the equalization
of opportunities for persons with disabilities for the
balance of the Decade.
62. During the period under review ESCAP, in
cooperation with interested member States and the nongovernmental
community, organized a number of
technical exchanges, training workshops and seminars
that directed special attention to education and
technology and persons with disabilities and to the
Standard Rules, particularly as they relate to
accessibility, poverty alleviation and disability
statistics.34 In 1999 ESCAP organized three technical
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meetings on the question of education and children
with disabilities:
(a) Seminar on Art Education and Children
with Disabilities (Bangkok, 23-27 August
1999);
(b) Working Group Meeting on Education of
Children and Youth with Disabilities
(Bangkok, 18 October 1999);
(c) Regional Forum on Education of Children
and Youth with Disabilities (Bangkok, 15-
19 November 1999).
The following technical meetings on accessibility
focused on training related to barrier-free design and
were organized at both regional and subregional levels:
(a) Regional Training of Trainers Course on
the Promotion of Non-handicapping
Environments for People with Disabilities
(Bangkok, 1-14 March 2000);
(b) Consultative Meeting to Review Progress of
Field Work in Training of Disabled
Persons as Trainers for Non-handicapping
Environments (Pattaya, 28 July-5 August
2000);
(c) Regional Conference and Training
Workshop on Accessible Tourism for People
with Disabilities (Bali, 24-28 September
2000);
(d) Training Seminar on Accessible Public
Transport (Shenzhen, 20-24 November
2000);
(e) Training of Disabled Persons as Trainers for
Non-handicapping Environments: Final
Phase Training and Evaluation (Bangkok,
10-16 December 2000).
63. Two sets of technical exchanges organized by
ESCAP reflect multisectoral approaches to disability
action to further implement the Standard Rules. The
Field Study-cum-regional Seminar on Poverty
Alleviation Among Rural Persons with Disabilities
(Hyderabad, India, 6-15 December 1999) was
organized jointly by ESCAP and the Ministry of Rural
Development, Government of India. It was the first of
its kind to focus regional attention on rural poverty and
disability issues. While most disabled persons in the
ESCAP region live in rural areas, they remain, to a
large extent, excluded from rural poverty-alleviation
policies and programmes. Seminar participants
formulated recommendations on the promotion of
participation of disabled persons in rural poverty
alleviation programmes and addressed, inter alia,
financial allocation of a specific proportion of the
development budgets of all governmental departments,
including those for rural development and poverty
alleviation, for poverty alleviation among rural
disabled persons. Recommendations also addressed the
need to facilitate formation of self-help groups of rural
disabled persons. Local governmental agencies and
self-help groups of the rural poor were encouraged to
extend their support through awareness-raising and
skills enhancement. The Regional Training Workshop
on Disability Statistics (New Delhi, 7-11 February
2000) was the first regional workshop involving both
producers and users of disability statistics for purposes
of policy and programme purposes. Workshop
participants included policy makers, statisticians from
national statistical organizations and related agencies
as well as representatives of non-governmental
organizations concerned with advocating the inclusion
of disability concerns to the work of statistical
services. The Workshop recommended the designation
of a focal agency in each country to assume
responsibility for disability data collection, analysis
and dissemination, in close consultation and
coordination with government ministries and agencies,
institutions and disability organizations; and the
establishment of forums at national and subnational
levels for continuous dialogue between producers and
users of disability statistics, to enhance dialogue and
understanding on disability-related data and its
effective use. The Workshop was organized jointly by
ESCAP, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation, the Government of India and the
United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the
Pacific (SIAP).
64. The secretariat of ESCAP organized a major
review of progress in implementing the targets of the
Decade, Campaign 2000 for the Asian and Pacific
Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002 (Bangkok, 11-
15 December 2000). Meeting participants adopted the
Bangkok Millennium Declaration on the Promotion of
the Rights of People with Disabilities in the Asian and
Pacific Region. Further details on the outcome of the
review meeting will be discussed in the report of the
Secretary-General on the implementation of the World
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E/CN.5/2001/7
Programme of Action, which will be considered by the
General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session.
IV. Perspective framework for the
fourth review and appraisal of the
implementation of the World
Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons
65. In paragraph 7 of resolution 52/82 the General
Assembly decided that the fourth quinquennial
review and appraisal of the World Programme of
Action, in 2002, shall consider the issues mentioned in
paragraph 4 of the resolution, viz. “(a) accessibility,
(b) social services and social safety nets, and
(c) employment and sustainable livelihoods”.
66. The fourth review and appraisal will mark the
twentieth year of international cooperation — one full
generation — to further implement the goals and
objectives of the World Programme. It also takes place
in the tenth year following the observance of the
United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-
1992).
67. When assessing progress and obstacles in
implementation of the goals and objectives of the
World Programme in the year 2002, a critical question
is: to what extent are structures in place to implement
the World Programme in the context of development?
To the extent that such structures are not in place, the
question becomes: how are these structures to be
established? Critical aspects of such structures include:
(a) Specific policies and programmes designed
to facilitate equalization of opportunities by, for and
with persons with disabilities;
(b) Inclusion of the disability perspective in
policies and programmes designed to foster social and
economic development;
(c) Specific goals and objectives for such
disability-sensitive policies and programmes;
(d) Establishment of verifiable indicators of
progress in achieving these goals and objectives;
(e) Establishment and development of systems
and procedures for periodic monitoring and evaluation.
68. Experience in implementing the World
Programme, to date, suggests that certain critical
aspects should be examined:
(a) Target areas for participation of persons
with disabilities, as mentioned in the Standard Rules
for Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities, including education and employment;
(b) Situation of women and specific population
groups, such as children, persons in poverty and
persons with psychiatric and developmental
disabilities;
(c) Different levels of governmental
intervention, such as intergovernmental organizations,
including United Nations agencies, regional
intergovernmental organizations, national Governments
and the activities of non-governmental organizations;
(d) Specific programmatic interventions, such
as community-based rehabilitation (CBR), environmental
accessibility, independent living, including measures to
promote and support personal independence, social
integration, choice in use of time, economic selfsufficiency
and transition in mental functions.
69. On the basis of the data currently available, it is
likely that the fourth review and appraisal will
highlight a number of important developments in the
disability field, which could include:
(a) Progress in implementing priorities for
action to promote equalization of opportunities —
accessibility, social services and social safety nets, and
employment and sustainable livelihoods — identified
in General Assembly resolution 52/82;
(b) Progress in implementing state-of-the-art
technology to enhance the access of people with
disabilities to economic and social development;
(c) Lessons in implementing the Asian and
Pacific Decade for Disabled Persons (1993-2002) and
initiating the African Decade for Disabled Persons
(2000-2009);
(d) Progress in implementing the proposed
resolution of the World Heath Assembly on a new
International Classification of Functioning, Disability
and Health (ICIDH), which is scheduled for May 2001;
(e) Greater harmonization of monitoring
efforts, as reflected in recommendations of the
Statistical Commission for the year 2000 round of
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world population and housing censuses35 and the
International Conference on Disability Data, which is
scheduled to be held in New York, 4-6 June 2001;
(f) Ongoing activities of the Special
Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social
Development and efforts related to developing further
international norms and standards relating to disability.
70. International cooperation to further implement
the World Programme will be reviewed and assessed in
the fourth review and appraisal not in isolation but in
the context of the demographic, economic, social and
technological changes that have occurred since the end
of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, in
1992. They include:
(a) Emergence of a global knowledge-based
economy and expansion of Internet-enabled
information and communications technologies (ICT),
although this is occurring at significantly different rates
in different countries;
(b) Adoption by many countries, particularly by
countries with economies in transition, of market
approaches;
(c) Growing recognition that health and
disability are distinct issues;
(d) Increased incidence of formulation and
adoption by countries of disability-sensitive policies;
(e) Ongoing challenge of HIV/AIDS and other
pandemics;
(f) Increasing awareness and concern over the
natural environment, environmental hazards and the
impact on well-being and livelihoods;
(g) Growing awareness of the importance of
transparency and accountability of operations and
results in government;
(h) Global ageing of populations and extended
active life spans;
(i) Increased incidence of including questions
on disability in the year-2000 round of population and
housing censuses, either for a first or second time,
which will allow for trend analyses of data.
71. A continuing theme of inquiry from the third
review and appraisal36 will be the monitoring of two
key distinctions of progress in equalization of
opportunities: assessment of progress in implementing
disability-specific policies, and progress in
incorporating the disability perspective into
mainstream development policies.
72. The fourth review and appraisal also will
consider disability issues with reference to women and
to specific social groups, such as persons living in
poverty, older persons and children. The review will
consider populations comprising what some analysts
have termed the “new universe of disability”,37 such as
persons with mental health issues, with developmental
and psychiatric disabilities, and those with active, acute
conditions.
73. Particular attention will be paid to the area of
mental health, since mental health issues are
increasingly being considered as a component of
disability policy. Discrimination against persons with
mental health conditions will be reviewed and assessed
so that progress towards incorporating mental health
issues into norms, standards and policies can be
documented.
74. Diseases such as HIV/AIDS have had a particular
tie with disability. On one hand, fighting acute diseases
has tapped resources that might be available for
implementing policy on disability. On the other hand,
the many people surviving with AIDS and other acute
diseases often need services required by people with
“traditional” disabilities. Issues and trends with regard
to the implementation of disability policies for persons
with acute conditions will be examined.
75. The presence of persons with acute conditions
among persons with disabilities highlights another
critical issue — the connection between disability and
health. Traditionally, disability advocates have sought
to decouple disability and health issues, asking that
society reject the concept of people with disabilities as
“sick”. However, a growing body of evidence suggests
that persons with disabilities are at greater risk of
acquiring what have been termed “secondary
conditions”. Thus, the prevention of secondary
conditions for persons with disabilities is becoming an
important goal of public policy. Thus, review and
assessment of progress in this area assumes special
importance.
76. It is envisaged that different levels of analysis
will be considered in the report. Hence, progress will
be assessed at the level of the United Nations system,
with reference to regional intergovernmental
organizations and to selected experiences of countries
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and the non-governmental community. The review and
analysis will concern not only the implementation of
disability policies by those bodies and organizations
but also progress within them.
Notes
1 The report is available on the Internet at
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disa54e6.htm.
2 See General Assembly resolution 48/96, annex, or
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/dissre00.htm.
3 SOLIDERE, Accessibility for the disabled; a design
manual for a barrier-free environment (Beirut, 1998), or
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/designm.
4 Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,
“International Seminar on Environmental Accessibility”
(E/ESCWA/HS/2000/1). The report is available on the
Internet at http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disisea.htm.
5 Information on the Development Account is available on
the Internet at http://www.un.org/esa/devaccount/.
6 APRODDIS, “Erradicando las Barreras Arquitectónicas
en el Perú: Introducción al Diseño de Lugares
Accesibles” (Lima, 2000), http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/
enable/guiadd.
7 Reports on Internet-based distance collaboration, in
English and Spanish, are available at
http://www.worldenable.net/participation/
guanajuato.htm.
8 “Report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole of the
twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly”
(A/S-24/8/Rev.1), para. 14. See also “World Summit for
Social Development and beyond: achieving social
development for all in a globalizing world” (A/55/344).
9 See, for instance, R. E. Lucas, “Making a miracle”,
Econometrica, vol. 61 (1993), pp. 251-272; Saurar Dev
Bhatta and José Lobo, “Human capital and per capita
product”, Papers in Regional Science, vol. 79 (2000),
pp. 393-411.
10 “Overview of international legal frameworks for
disability legislation”, or http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/
enable/disovlf.htm.
11 The Internet-based resources page for the seminar and
symposium is located at http://www.worldenable.net/
hongkong99/default.htm.
12 See the United Nations Internet site, at http://esa.un.org/
socdev/enable/search.htm.
13 See E/CN.5/2000/3, annex, paras. 156-159.
14 DESA/00/386, of 6 November 2000.
15 The pre-publication text is available from Statistics
Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
United Nations Secretariat, 2 United Nations Plaza, Attn.
M. Mbogoni (DC2-1574), New York, NY 10017, USA.
16 The Internet-based resources page for ICIDH-2 is
located at http://www.who.int/icidh. The “pre-final”
version of ICIDH-2 (October 2000) is available only in
the Adobe ® Portable Document Format (PDF) at
http://www.who.int/icidh/prefinal.pdf. Since documents
distributed in PDF are graphical images and require a
special reader, users of assistive devices and those who
have limited computer resources and/or
telecommunications capacities may encounter
difficulties in accessing the document. Interested parties
can send PDF files to Adobe Systems ® for conversion
into a simple hypertext markup language file (HTML) or
a text file (ASCII) that can be used by screen reader
programs or Braille interface devices. This online
service is available at http://access.adobe.com.
17 United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.XVII.8.
18 See A/37/351/Add.1and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII,
recommendation I (IV), or http://www.un.org/esa/
socdev/enable/diswpa00.htm.
19 The original text of the Convention is available at
http://www.oas.org/esp/aprobada1068.htm; an English
version is available at the Internet site of the
Organization of American States.
20 See http://www.worldenable.net/children/Default.htm.
21 See http://www.worldenable.net/children/
declaracion.htm.
22 Declaración de Panamá: “Unidos por la Niñez y la
Adolescencia, Base de la Justicia y la Equidad en el
Nuevo Milenio” (para. 36). See http://www.xcumbremire.
gob.pa/reuniones-cumbre.html.
23 See “Report of the International Seminar on
Environmental Accessibility, Beirut, 30 November-3
December 1999” (E/ESCWA/HS/2000/1), or
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disisea.htm.
24 http://www.worldenable.net/ud21/default.htm
25 See Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/10, of
27 July 2000, para. 14.
26 http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/guiadd/.
27 http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/wssd/agreements/
index.htm.
28 See http://www.iyv2001.org.
29 “Renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform”
(A/51/950).
30 “Promotion of barrier-free tourism for people with
disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region”
18
E/CN.5/2001/7
(E/ESCAP/CTCTID (3)/7/Add.1), or http:// www.
unescap.org/tctd/water/committee/committee5f.htm.
31 http://www.worldenable.net/ud21/default.htm.
32 For background, see http://www.unescap.org/
decade.backgr.htm.
33 See http://www.unescap.org/decade/agenda.htm.
34 Official Records of the Economic and Social Council,
1998, Supplement No. 1 (E/1998/98), resolution 1998/4
of 20 July 1998, “Strengthening regional support for
persons with disabilities into the twenty-first century”.
35 Ibid., 1997, Supplement No. 4 (E/1997/24-
E/CN.4/1997/29) para. 29; and Principles and
Recommendations for the Population and Housing
Censuses (ST/ESA//STAT/SER.M/67/Rev.1) paras.
2.266-2.285.
36 “Review and appraisal of the World Programme of
Action concerning Disabled Persons” (A/52/351), or
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disrawp0.htm.
37 Katherine D. Seelman, Change and challenge; the
integration of the new paradigm of disability into
research and practice, “Vision for the 21st century:
population, health care, technology and employment”;
paper presented to “National council on rehabilitation
education conference (Vancouver, WA (USA), 8 March
1998)”, or http://www.ncddr/org/new/speeches/ncre/
ncre4.html.
19
E/CN.5/2001/7
Annex
Projects supported by the United Nations Voluntary Fund on
Disability, 1 September 1999 to 31 October 2000, by region
A. Africa
1. Association être comme les autres (ECLA), in
cooperation with the Ministère de l’Action sociale et de
la famille: Centre for production and training in
traditional crafts, Ouahigouya (Burkina Faso).
2. Groupement des personnes handicapées
producteurs de Ouagadougou (GPHO), in cooperation
with the Ministère de l’Action sociale et de la famille:
Assistance to improve training in income generation
and social action among persons with disabilities in the
Department of Toécé (Burkina Faso).
3. Namibian National Association of the Deaf, in
cooperation with the Ministry of Lands, Resettlement,
and Rehabilitation: Support for sign-language
workshops, leadership training workshop for youth,
and production of local sign language dictionary
(Windhoek, 11 July-20 November 2000) (Namibia).
4. Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the
World Rehabilitation Fund: Development and testing of
improved models of rehabilitation medical services to
meet the needs of amputees (Uganda).
5. Mobility Appliances by Disabled Women
Entrepreneurs (MADE), in cooperation with the Office
of Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social
Development and in collaboration with Whirlwind
Women of Whirlwind Wheelchair International:
Uganda disabled women’s whirlwind wheelchair
training project, Kampala (Uganda).
6. Deaf Women Wing, Kenya National Deaf
Association, in cooperation with the Department of
Social Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, Heritage
and Sports: Seminar on key issues facing deaf women
in Africa (Nairobi, December 2000) (Eastern Africa
subregion).
7. Eastern Africa Federation of the Disabled
(EAFOD), in cooperation with the Department of
Social Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, Heritage
and Sports and in collaboration with the United
Disabled Persons of Kenya: Workshop on application
of universal design concepts and information
technologies to the Africa Decade of Disabled Persons
(Nairobi, 6-10 November 2000) (Eastern Africa
subregion).
8. African Rehabilitation Institute (IAR), Dakar
Regional Office: Seminar [for IAR Francophone
member States] on the Standard Rules for the
Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities (Dakar, 10-12 April 2000).
9. Pan African Federation of the Disabled (PAFOD),
in cooperation with the Department of Social Services,
Ministry of Home Affairs, Heritage and Sports and in
collaboration with United Disabled Persons of Kenya:
Consultative meeting on leadership training in support
of the African Decade of Disabled Persons (Nairobi,
December 2000) (Regional Africa).
B. Asia and the Pacific
10. International General Construction School, in
cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs,
Labour, Vocational Training and Youth Rehabilitation,
and Ministry of Public Works: Education, professional
training and apprenticeship for young disabled persons
(Cambodia).
11. Nepal Disabled Women Society, in cooperation
with the Social Welfare Council: Socio-economic
training and rehabilitation services for children with
disabilities (Nepal).
C. Central and Eastern Europe
12. Association for Social Inclusion of Persons with
Mental Retardation of Tuzla, in cooperation with the
Ministry for Labour, Social Policy and Refugees: Pilot
action for social integration of persons with mental
retardation: Brcko, Gradac and Tuzla (Bosnia and
Herzegovina)
13. Association for Promotion of Inclusion, in
cooperation with the Ministry of Social Welfare:
Community-based rehabilitation of persons with
mental retardation (Croatia).
20
E/CN.5/2001/7
14. Salva Vita Foundation, in cooperation with the
Ministry of Social Welfare: Supported employment in
Hungary for people with mental disabilities (Hungary).
D. Latin America and the Caribbean
15. Fundación Amor y Energía (AM-EN), in
cooperation with the Ministry of Social Welfare, and
National Council on Disability (CONADIS): Capacitybuilding
for rehabilitation of children with disabilities
(Ecuador).
16. Fundación Momentum Internacional (FMI), in
cooperation with the Ministry of Education and
Culture: Assistance for training and development of
Fábrica de Sillas de Ruedas Momentum, Quito
(Ecuador).
17. Asociación por Desarrollo de la Persona con
Discapacidad (APRODDIS), in cooperation with the
National Council for Integration of Persons with
Disabilities (CONADIS): Elimination of architectural
barriers: assistance for workshops and outreach on
accessibility (Peru).
18. Defensoria del Pueblo de Republica del Perú;
Equipo de Defensa y Promoción de las Personas con
Discapacid, in collaboration with the College of
Architects of Perú: National seminar on accessibility: a
city for all (Lima, 22 June 2000) (Peru).
19. Ministerio de la Juventud, la Mujer, la Niñez y la
Familia, in collaboration with the Instituto Panameño
de Habilitación Especial: Seminar on children with
disabilities: issues and trends in development policies
and programmes in the Americas region (Panama City,
16-20 October 2000) (Regional Latin America).
20. Fundación Mexicana de Integración Social, in
cooperation with Sistema Nacional para el Desarrollo
Integral de la Familia: Seminar on strategies for
implementing the Standard Rules on Equalization of
Opportunities with regard to Internet accessibility
(Mexico City, 6-10 March 2001) (Regional Latin
America).
E. Western Asia
21. Local Council for Welfare of Disabled Persons
(Boujr al-Barajneh), in cooperation with the Ministry
of Social Affairs and in collaboration with ESCWA:
Promoting self-reliance, with particular emphasis on
employment: community based rehabilitation in Bourj
al-Barajneh (Lebanon).
22. Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation, in
cooperation with the Ministry of Social Welfare of the
Palestine Authority: Computer training for Arab blind
girls and women (Palestine Authority).
23. Saudi Centre for Rehabilitation and Training of
Arab Blind Girls (Amman, Jordan), in cooperation with
ESCWA: Assistance for Braille computer training for
blind girls and women (Regional Western Asia).
F. Interregional
24. Equal Opportunities Commission, Hong Kong,
Special Administrative Region of China, in cooperation
with Hong Kong University, Faculty of Law:
Interregional seminar on international norms and
standards relating to disability (Hong Kong, 13-17
December 1999) (Interregional).
25. World Institute for Disability: Seminar for young
women with disabilities (New York, 1-8 June 2000)
(Interregional).
26. Southern African Federal Council on Disability:
International workshop on environmental accessibility
and universal design in developing economies
(Providence, RI (United States), 13-19 June 2000)
(Interregional).