Statement on "Matching Priorities North & South"
Dutch Coalition on Disability and Development
Adopted by the DCDD Strategic Planning Workshop, The Hague 15th of June, 2001
The DCDD was established in 2000, in response to demands of disability activists in developing countries, to counteract the declining interest for disability within the Dutch Development Cooperation. The disability movement, development organisations and service providers in The Netherlands join forces in the DCDD.
The DCDD intends to fill a gap in Dutch Development Cooperation; to promote a dynamic network of disability activists & experts in order to learn and to realize joint activities; to support key DPOs (Disabled People's Organisations) in developing countries; to collaborate with like minded western coalitions in Europe; and to create an inspiring voice in The Netherlands providing persons with disabilities the dignity they deserve.
The DCDD aims to conscientize and activate the policymakers in the Dutch development co-operation to implement the 1994 UN 'Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities'. The DCDD focuses her network and strategy at the following spearheads:
-
Disabled People's Organisations (DPOs) for advocacy and awareness raising
-
Access to education and where possible integration in education
-
Capacity building, of disability organizations, training of personnel and of grassroot level organisations
-
Accessibility of society and availability of assistive technology
-
Early detection and treatment of disabilities or Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of disability
-
Employment
The DCDD strives to be a true catalystic organisation, and a virtual network www.dcdd.nl, which is dynamic, informative and inspiring for coalition members and also for policy and decision makers in the field of disability and development.
The DCDD recognises that persons with disabilities in the South and in Newly Independent States, often, do belong to the hardcore poor. At the same time the fact is recognised that poor people face more risks to contract disabilities.
Therefore, we as participants, partners and advisors of the DCDD recommend the following action points:
-
We commit ourselves to work for a common understanding of disability from a human rights perspective
-
We join forces between the disability movement, development organisations and service providers to advocate for equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in development cooperation and disaster relief programmes, funded by The Netherlands
-
We demand equal opportunities for persons with disabilities both in the South and in the North which is enhanced by adequate legislation and subsequent implementation in visible actions
-
We promote a major say of international representative partners in disability in the profile and strategy of the DCDD to ensure that we respond to the real needs and issues.
The DCDD will utilize the outcome of this workshop to develop a strategic plan for the next 3 years, which will be communicated in Winter 2001/2002 to the DCDD constituency.
Based on the recommendations of the key-speakers (the members of the International Advisory Board of the DCDD) today, and taking into account the outcome of the working groups, the DCDD and its participants will take steps in their own jobs, positions and constituencies to:
-
Strive for empowerment of persons with disabilities and Disabled People's Organisations
-
Strive for substantial earmarked budget allocation on disability-specific development programmes
-
Strive for inclusion of people with disabilities in development organisations
-
Endeavour change of perceptions, attitudes and commitment towards disability issues within all societies
-
Recognize the specific needs of girls and women with disabilities
-
Contribute to building the DCDD as a catalyst network for its members in the areas of information exchange, support towards relevant policy development and exchange in expertise.
-
Develop capacities of persons with disabilities to be on boards of relevant disability and development organisations
-
Recognise the needs of caretakers and legal representatives of children with physical or mental impairments
-
Influence the Dutch government and EEC governing body policies in this respect.
Contact DCDD at:
P.O. Box 3356, NL-3506 GJ Utrecht
dcdd@dcdd.nl
www.dcdd.nl
|
