Costa Rican Forum Establishes Human Rights Network
By Luis Fernando Astorga Gatjens
From Sunday 2 to Friday 7 of December 2001, the Costa Rican Human Rights Forum for Persons with Disabilities and the U.S. based Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund conducted an intensive Training Workshop. Training was provided to 35 persons with disabilities from different parts of the Costa Rican geography participated.
The Hotel Bougainvillea, in Santo Domingo de Heredia, a few minutes north of Costa Rica's capital city, San José, was the site of this important educational activity. One of the indirect achievements of the event was the adaptations made to the building to ensure accessibility.
This seminar and workshop was greatly supported, financially and academically by the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. DREDF's expert women-instructors were key to the success of this initiative.
The rich and intensive program was jointly prepared by EL FORO and DREDF as a means of contributing to the economical, social, political, and cultural of persons with disabilities in Costa Rica.
Purposes
The participants, women and men, with different disabilities and all levels of social-economic status, met for a whole week, to enhance their theoretical and practical knowledge about human rights and to improve their advocacy and public education skills.
Marked by unity in diversity the participants learned skills in the art and science of for fighting for their rights which, without doubt, will greatly contribute to the development of the movement of persons with disabilities in Costa Rica and strengthen the Costa Rican Human Rights Forum for Persons with Disabilities.
The Forum
The Forum (El Foro) was founded at the end of year 2000. Its first public event was when its members gathered at the Justice Plaza, just in front of the main building of the Supreme Court of Justice of this Central American country.
The Forum emerged as a effort toward unity, a coalition of organizations and independent persons with disabilities and, in general, a meeting space for social organizations dedicated to the promotion of human rights for this sector of the population. It has become an important organizational effort, whose genesis is at the heart of the civil society. This effort calls for reflection and action regarding the improvement of the quality of life of persons with disabilities.
This FORO-DREDF workshop also was part of the celebration of El Foro's first anniversary and December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Program
The program for this intensive training activity was designed to meet the following key principles:
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Numerous topics were presented, from the general to the specific, from the theoretical to the practical.
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At all times the active participation of all trainees was achieved with a methodology combining, formal presentations and workshop panel activities where, gathered into small groups, participants had the opportunity of more detailed analysis. Conclusions and recommendations from these small group discussions were then presented during the Plenary Sessions. Role playing and social dynamics were employed so all could experience more realistic approaches as to the methods and strategies of social struggle.
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The event was also a self-training experience, under the principle that all participants can and should teach others: from their personal living experience to their own analytic formulations.
First day
Once all participants were comfortably installed in the hotel, the organizers provided a social dynamics activity so all could learn about each other. Each addressed the group with a brief biography and and personal expectations for the week.
Then, the organizing team presented the group with the objectives of the workshop, its methodology, and the general program.
The third activity was another communication period during which the participants explained their expectations with respect to the training workshop.
Second day
The day started with a reflection on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The presentations covered the new paradigms regarding the political strengthening and social participation of persons with disabilities.
Costa Rican Forum members, Federico Montero and Luis Fernando Astorga, then DREDF members, Marilyn Golden and Jenny Kern, shared their comments with the group.
The presentations continued with a lecture by Otto Lépiz, founding member of the Forum and officer of the Costa Rican Citizens Defense Office: Human Rights, Concepts and Instruments. The purpose of Otto's presentation was to provide participants with an understanding of what are and what is the meaning of human rights, particularly their relationship with disability. This presentation was followed by comments from DREDF members Marilyn Golden, Jenny Kern, and Sylvia Yee.
Then, the workshop participants were divided into small groups. Their mission was to share thoughts and personal experiences regarding human rights and then to report their comments to the whole group.
The activities of this day ended with the participation of the whole group at the Presidential Candidates Debate, which was held at the University of Costa Rica. On this December 3, it was the first time that a Presidential Candidates Debate was organized to deal with disability issues in Costa Rica. This event, which started at 5 in the afternoon and ended at 8 in the evening, was incorporated into the training workshop, as moments for critical evaluation and reflection.
Third Day
Now the training was centered around the legal instruments protecting the human rights of persons with disabilities, both national and regional.
It began with an analysis of the Costa Rican Equal Opportunities Law for Persons with Disabilities, Law 7600, which can into force on May 29, 1996. The law was examined and commented on, not just regarding its content but also concerning the level of compliance and legal sanctions thereto.
Next, DREDF members explained to workshop participants the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Time was taken to study the logic of the ADA, its achievements, and limitations.
To conclude this section on legal instruments, Otto Lépiz and Oscar Rivera, another founding member of El Foro, made a presentation of the Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities, approved by the Organization of American States, now in force, following its ratification by the sixth signatory State.
Fourth Day
The activities began with a presentation of Alvaro Mendieta, former Presidential Advisor on Disability Issues, during the Administration of José María Figueres (1994-1998).
In his presentation, "Citizens' Participation", Alvaro Mendieta stressed the importance of the participation of persons with disabilities when defending and fostering human rights. They must act and take control in order to achieve desired changes to improve the quality of life of this sector of the population. He reminded all of us how the lives of people with disabilities have been and still are characterized by discrimination, alienation and social exclusion.
As in the preceding days, small group sessions provided opportunities for participants to develop ideas on how to improve social participation of persons with disabilities.
The workshop continued with a presentation on Political Action, by Carlos Quesada, an expert on the topic and Luis Fernando Astorga from El Foro. Political action is characterized by a series of coordinated actions aimed at modifying policies and laws, at political or other centers of decision-making, with the purpose of improving the living conditions of a social sector o a social group.
Next, Yanira Pessoa, founding member of El Foro and Mercedes Barrientos, an exemplary activist in disability issues from Acosta, in south-eastern San José, and Marilyn Golden from DREDF, conducted a Panel on Gender and Disability. There was very good participation by all participants present. It was an opportunity for deep questioning and exploration of the needs of women with disabilities.
In her presentation, Marilyn Golden, underlined not just the importance of the fight for the human rights of women, but stated the importance that men could address their own emotions and feelings. This is because men are also trapped by today's sexism and, therefore, they must be liberated from this kind of oppression, which imposes barriers to their full development as well.
Fifth Day
This day was dedicated to rethinking and designing strategies and actions to strengthen the social movement of persons with disabilities in Costa Rica. Much thought and comments were made on ways to strengthen and to consolidate the Human Rights Forum for Persons with Disabilities.
During the morning, presentations were centered on the organization of a National Network (information, communication, and organization), with the purpose of increasing participation and involvement of organizations and individuals.
The operation of the Network was analyzed as to the transmission of information in order to coordinate actions, generate initiatives, and foster political action. The Network was established, including its developing strategy and its logistics and operative aspects.
At the end of this day, there was a Brainstorming Session on the main actions for the year 2002 by El Foro. This was followed by another Plenary Session during which participants worked on system planning and priorities.
Closing
The training activity culminated with a very emotional Closing Ceremony. At receiving the corresponding certificate, participants took the opportunity of expressing their thoughts and feelings about the activity.
"This is the happiest week of my life..."
"I never thought that I could learn so much..."
"After this activity, I am committing myself to develop the National Network..."
Such were some of the many comments expressed by all participants... Including applauses, sighs, acclamations, smiles, and tears.
The background of the event was the slogan which today conveys the purposes, aspirations, and dreams of the Human Rights Forum for Persons with Disabilities: WITHOUT ACCESSIBILITY, DEMOCRACY IS NOT POSIBLE.
Those wanting change must loudly proclaim their struggle and expectations of justice: SI SE PUEDE, SI SE PUEDE... Yes, it is possible... Yes, it is possible.
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