Promoting the Rights of Children with Disabilities, UNICEF

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Regionally relevant aims and targets have also beenset by the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities(2001–2010), 132 coordinated by the Pan AfricanFederation of the Disabled and six major internationalorganizations of persons with disabilities, by the ArabDecade for Persons with Disabilities (2004–2013), 133and most recently by the adoption of a Program ofAction for a Decade of the Americas for Persons withDisabilities (2006–2016). 134Materials developed for the regional decades,and lessons learned from them, can provide firmfoundations for new initiatives in the context ofimplementing the new UN Convention. At thesame time, this treaty is likely to provide additionalimpetus and mechanisms to monitor and evaluateachievements against objectives and targets at theregional level.The European Union (EU) designated 2003 as theEuropean Year of People with Disabilities, withthe aim of accelerating progress towards ensuringequal rights for persons with disabilities in itsmember States. The year was organized by theEuropean Commission in collaboration with theEuropean Disability Forum, an umbrella organizationrepresenting more than 37 million persons withdisabilities in Europe. A major success of the yearwas the increased awareness and concern fordisability issues among the European public. Theyear also provided further incentives for memberStates to look at new policy and legal developmentstowards achieving equal opportunities for personswith disabilities. 135Progress depends on the ability to think beyondtraditional ’boxes’. This may mean thinking ofdisability in the wider context of other marginalizedgroups and joining forces to work for a moreinclusive society. A challenge for both internationaland national agencies concerns the extent towhich they can create opportunities or strengthenmechanisms for working together in a more holisticway to meet the needs of children, families, adultsand communities. Where traditional administrativeboundaries have been crossed in order to poolresources, persons with disabilities have benefitedfrom an approach that recognizes that their needsdo not correspond to the narrowly focused remitsof departments such as health, education, socialservices, income support and employment.At the local level, creative solutions to theseproblems have been found by the appointment ofa key worker who supports the child particularlyat points of transition between home and schooland between childhood and adulthood. At thenational level, bodies responsible for initiating andcoordinating policy for persons with disabilitiesacross the board have achieved a great deal in manycountries. Supplementing previous internationalstandards and commitments, the UN Conventionon the Rights of Persons with Disabilities providesan ideal opportunity to develop more effectivemechanisms to ensure that children with disabilitiesattain their full human rights in the years to come.In the recognition that concerns of persons withdisabilities are often not included in the policiesor development projects of the EU, an initiativeon Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Disabilityin Development Cooperation was launched inlate 2005 with support from the EU. The MakeDevelopment Inclusive project represents apartnership among 12 European organizations,with the objective of promoting, in a coordinatedmanner, the mainstreaming of disability issues in thedevelopment cooperation policies of the memberStates of the European Union, EU institutions andrelevant NGOs. Particular focus is given to buildingthe capacity of public institutions and NGOs workingin the development field, including organizationsrepresenting persons with disabilities. 136The development of much closer collaborationbetween the many international agencies working inthis field presents a major challenge for the future.The needs of persons with disabilities cut across themandates of different departments and agencies,at both national and international levels. In planningfor the future, the voices of adults and children withdisabilities and their families need to be much moreclearly heard in the councils of the world.37 Promoting the Rights of Children with Disabilities Innocenti Digest No. 13
8 CONCLUSIONSThe inclusion of children with disabilities is not simplya charitable act. It is a process inspired by the promotionof human rights that benefits the entire populationof a country and provides a clear statement ofa government’s commitment to all its citizens andto the principles of good governance. Internationalhuman rights instruments, including the Conventionon the Rights of the Child and the Convention on theRights of Persons with Disabilities, provide criticalpolicy imperatives, frameworks and guidance for thedevelopment of inclusive practices.Inclusion represents the recognition of fundamentalrights and freedoms of a group of children who havebeen historically among the most marginalized. Itallows them to realize their full potential and freesthem from the discrimination and prejudice that havekept them hidden and on the margins of society. Promotinginclusion requires mobilizing and increasingthe capacity of those key individuals most influentialand supportive for this process – especially the extendedfamily, teachers, community members, healthstaff and other carers.responding to the needs of all children is not only amatter of justice; it is also an essential investment inthe future of every society that is committed to becomingor remaining democratic and participatory. 138The movement towards developing truly inclusivesocieties is already underway in many parts of theworld. It is gaining strength from the MillenniumDeclaration and the Millennium DevelopmentGoals, from other international commitmentssuch as Education for All and ‘A World Fit forChildren‘, and above all from the Convention onthe Rights of the Child and the new Convention onthe Rights of Persons with Disabilities. With thenecessary national and international commitmentto establishing more just and inclusive societies,this momentum will decisively grow. Day by day,diversity is coming to be understood as a resourceand more children and adults with disabilities arebeing given the opportunity to contribute to the lifeof their family, community and country.Reliable and objective statistics are important to assistplanning and resource allocation and to placechildren with disabilities more clearly on the map.Although the statistical databases necessary for thispurpose require time to develop, planning and programmingmust move forward. Denying or delayingservices to children with disability on the groundsthat more data are needed is not acceptable. Plans,policies and budgets should be designed to allowchanges and modifications, as additional data aremade available over time.This Innocenti Digest has emphasized a numberof principles for advancing inclusion: consulting andlistening to children with disabilities and their familiesthemselves; adopting a life-cycle and integratedapproach that responds to the evolving capacitiesof the child, and working with parents, other familymembers, peers and communities – as well as withservice providers, policy-makers and key leaders.Specific strategies based on these principles includethe planned shift of children with disabilities fromsegregated, institutionalized care and enabling themto be included within their families, local schools andcommunities, with all the required support systemsand services.A strong message from the World Conference onSpecial Needs Education held in Salamanca in 1994was that child-centred schools are a training groundfor societies that respect the differences and dignityof all human beings. 137 Developing educational systemsand learning opportunities that are capable ofInnocenti Digest No. 13Promoting the Rights of Children with Disabilities38
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Page 5 and 6: CONTENTSExecutive Summary . . . . .
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