[PDFlist] PDF Weekly Update – 2nd October, 2018

Tue Oct 2 00:13:05 MDT 2018

PDF Weekly Update – 2nd October, 2018

PDF Ensures Inclusiveness for all!

Removing the stigma associated with persons with disabilities in the Pacific is one of the commitment that the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) commit itself to, so that persons with disabilities in the Pacific enjoy life to the full and live in a barrier free and a disability inclusive Pacific society. Hence, PDF advocate for the signing and ratifying of the UNCRPD and push for development and implementation of laws and policies that ensures the protection of persons with disabilities rights and interest.

In ensuring that this translates to persons with disabilities on the ground, PDF develop and forge mutual partnerships with development partners, governments, CSO’s, NGO’s and regional organisations to carry out sustainable actions that would contribute towards a disability inclusive Pacific society. This is by ensuring that persons with disabilities are represented in national, regional and international agendas that would make a difference in their lives.

Thus for PDF, Representations of persons with disabilities in international, regional and national level is very important as it will ensure that they are having a say in matters that affects them and most importantly ensuring that ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’.

While these developments are evident around the Pacific, PDF continues to build the capacity of persons with disabilities as well as building their confidence and self-esteem, so that they effectively participate in social, economic, political and decision making activities in their countries and the region.

In the weekly update for this week; PDF “Multi Stakeholders Dialogue; Vanuatu DPO dialogues with CRPD Committee; Disability advocates fear people with disabilities to be left stranded in NSW and Monitoring inclusive education: Disability disaggregation of the Fiji Education Management Information System

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PDF “Multi Stakeholders Dialogue;” 19th – 20th September, 2018. Holiday Inn Suva.

[Participants of the Dialogue at Holiday Inn Suva.]Pacific Disability Forum facilitated a one and a half day “Multi Stakeholder Dialogue” with the theme “From Recognition to Realisation of Rights: Furthering Effective Partnership for a Pacific 2030 for persons with Disabilities” with development partners (donors, UN agencies, CROP agencies, private sector, financial institutions) on the 19th – 20th of September, 2018 at the Holiday Inn in Suva.

Ingrid Swinnen of the European Union in opening the dialogue said that the EU support and engagement towards civic society in the world and in the Pacific Region stems from a long traditions of partnership.

“Even though the commitment are there, we are slow – that making the inclusive world a reality – requires innovation in policy – making and implementations. It also requires rethinking national and regional strategies and the manner in which economic, social and environment policies are conceived and delivered.”

“In the Pacific, some essential steps have been undertaken in this regard and the work of the Pacific Disability Forum has been essential in promoting this agenda. The EU is proud to be able to support the Pacific Disability Forum and its work.”

[UNICEF Rep sharing ideas during the Dialogue]“Today’s Multi Stakeholders dialogue is another step in the right direction. You will be discussing the issue of accessibility standard and the importance of regional approach towards this issue. You will be discussing the issue of inclusive budgeting and how this has been addressed by some countries in the region. Those are critical issues to advance and enforce the rights of people living with disabilities.”

Joel from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in addressing the Dialogue told participants, “From the outset, let me reaffirm the Forum Secretariats commitment to the important and ongoing partnership and engagement with the Pacific Disability Forum and the wider region on collectively addressing the development issues of disabilities. This partnership has evolved since Pacific Islands Forum Leaders adoption of the Pacific Regional Strategy for disability in 2010 and subsequently the Pacific Framework for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PFRPD) in 2016.”

“In adopting the Framework, Forum Leaders called for an inclusive, [PDF Manager - Planing, Policy and Advocacy Ms. Laisa Vereti facilitates dialogue at Holiday Inn.] barrier – free and rights based society for every Pacific Persons, in the spirit of the Blue Pacific which promote collective action for the good of all.”

“In the context of the 2013 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which emphasizes the centrality of people when addressing inequalities, discrimination and exclusion, Pacific Government have also prioritise empowering persons with disabilities as one of the issues requiring collective attention in the 2017 Pacific Roadmap for Sustainable Development. The framework works hand in hand with other key regional frameworks that also support the goals of the PFRPD. These included the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific and Pacific Leaders’ Gender Equality Declaration.”

“We wish PDF all the best in successfully delivering the Grants projects. We are confident that the outcomes from the good work will strengthen and empower PDF and DPOs to effectively contribute to the PFRPD and policy dialogue spaces.”
“We will continue to place priority in progressing the role of persons with disabilities in having key voice in shaping our collectible direction and in working with you and other key stakeholders to effectively integrate and implement the goal of the PFRPD.”

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Vanuatu DPO dialogues with CRPD Committee

Ms. Nelly Caleb and her team from Vanuatu were here in Suva, Fiji from the 26th – 28th for the first remote consultation with the CRPD Committee. PDF is indeed grateful to UNICEF for their valuable services and support rendered.

The funding and technical assistance of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) towards this initiative is truly appreciated.

PDF look forward to similar support from both UNICEF Pacific and IDA Secretariat in the future.

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Disability advocates fear people with disabilities to be left stranded in NSW
By Lexi Metherell
[Advocates say the lack of funding for the scheme shows it is being used as a 'political football']For a person with a disability, advocates can be crucial to helping them navigate challenges associated with everyday life, like housing or education.
But in New South Wales, there’s concern that such advocates will be forced to shut down when the state stops funding them in less than two years.
The Government has told AM it will monitor the situation and no one will fall through the gaps.
But advocates say unless they have secure funding, most people in the state with a disability will be left stranded.

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Monitoring inclusive education: Disability disaggregation of the Fiji Education Management Information System

In order to plan for, monitor and measure the outcomes of disability-inclusive education, governments need valid, reliable and feasible processes for determining disability among school students and for disability disaggregation of Education Management Information Systems.

As a partner on the six year $50 million Access to Quality Education Program (AQEP) in Fiji, the Nossal Institute was responsible for developing and implementing the AQEP Disability Inclusion Strategy for the program. Funded by the Australian government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and managed by Palladium, AQEP worked to improve access to quality education for children across Fiji, including children with disabilities.

One activity within the Disability Inclusion Strategy was developing a Disability Disaggregation Package, as part of the database known as the Fiji Education Management Information System (FEMIS). This is used by Fiji’s Ministry of Education to record and monitor school and student data. This video highlights the use of the Package.
https://youtu.be/IJATBDjz-rg

The Package was developed through research by Nossal PhD candidate Beth Sprunt, and is based on a validation and adaptation process of the UNICEF/Washington Group Child Functioning Module<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/2mpEBkUXkJRS3?domain=washingtongroup-disability.com>. The research compared interviewer-administered use of the Module with parents, to self-administered use of the Module by teachers, to clinical assessments of children with and without disability. Dr Manjula Marella and Prof Barbara McPake are Beth’s PhD supervisors.

The field research was funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through AQEP and through an Australian Development Research Awards Scheme grant titled ‘Developing and testing indicators for the education of children with disability in the Pacific<http://monash.edu/education/research/projects/pacific-indie>’ (Monash University, Nossal Institute for Global Health, CBM Australia, Pacific Disability Forum, and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat).

Have a great Week!

Thanks,

Solo

Soloveni Vitoso
Public Relations & Communication Officer

Pacific Disability Forum
Ground Floor | Kadavu House
Victoria Parade | Suva
Fiji

Phone: (+679) 3312008  |  (+679) 3307530
Mobile: (+679) 8912656
Fax: (+679) 3310469
Skype: Soloveni.vitoso
Email: infor at pacificdisability.org<mailto:infor at pacificdisability.org>
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