Islamabad Recommendations to Make the Right Real

We, the representatives of disabled people’s organizations (DPOs), domestic and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations agencies, in total 160 persons, participated in the Stakeholders’ Meeting on Reviewing the Implementation of Second Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (2003-2012), from 29 to 30 January 2011 in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

We thank the organizers, the Directorate General of Special Education of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education of Pakistan, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), Sightsavers, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), South Asian Disability Forum (SADF) and Pakistan Disabled People’s Organization (PDPO) for their successful arrangement of the Meeting.

Recognizing the significance of all international and regional documents on disability, in particular, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific (BMF) and the Biwako Plus Five, the supplement to the BMF;

Welcoming the ratification of the CPRD by the Government of Pakistan and their efforts, together with civil society organizations, in promoting rights of persons with disabilities, disability-inclusive development and implementing the BMF and the Biwako Plus Five;

Acknowledging the Regional Training Seminar on Capacity Building for Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CBSHOD) in Pakistan organized by the Government of Pakistan and APCD in collaboration with JICA from 22 to 26 September 2005, which strengthened DPOs and accelerated disability rights movement in Pakistan;

Building upon the Islamabad Recommendations on Regional Networking and Collaboration in South Asia adopted in the Regional Leadership Conference for Persons with Disabilities in South Asia organized by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education of Pakistan, Special Talent Exchange Program, Sightsavers, APCD, British Council and Telenor Pakistan from 31 July to 2 August, 2010;

Recalling that the Asia-Pacific Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR) Congress held in Thailand from 18 to 20 February 2009 which established the CBR Asia-Pacific Network, and the Asia-Pacific CBR Convention held in Malaysia from 13 to 15 November 2010 which launched the new CBR Guidelines in the region;

Mindful that, despite significant achievements during the two decades, there still remains challenges to realizing the rights of persons with disabilities in this region, and particularly in Pakistan. These challenges include lack of awareness in society on disability and development; the need for stronger multi-sectoral coordination and partnerships; lack of recognition of the diverse rights of persons with disabilities; particular issues facing women with disabilities, indigenous persons with disabilities, persons with disabilities living in remote and rural areas and persons with severe disabilities; 

Emphasizing the need to harmonize laws and policies concerning disability with the international obligations under the CRPD; the need for improved disability data collection and research, prioritization of disability in development plans and budget allocations at all levels, ensuring independent living in communities supported by adequate resources and financial support to DPOs;

Appreciating and reaffirming the significance of the partnership built amongst multi-stakeholders in supporting an idea on a new disability decade and the “Make the Right Real” campaign as well as acknowledging the preparatory process leading up to the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012;

Recognizing that mainstreaming disability perspectives in sub-regional mechanisms is key means for advancing rights of persons with disabilities;

Further recognizing the central role of persons with disabilities in decision-making and the need to further develop the capacity of persons with disabilities to participate meaningfully in this process;

Hereby unanimously recommend as follows:

1. The Government of Pakistan, DPOs and major stakeholders lead the implementation of the “Make the Right Real” campaign in Pakistan towards the end of 2012, with a focus on concrete and measurable outcomes by then to be reported in the Incheon High-level Intergovernmental Meeting;

2. DPOs are provided every opportunity to play a pivotal role in the efforts mentioned above at all stages. In this context, every effort to be made to ensure that grassroots DPOs, especially those in remote areas, are fully involved in the design and implementation of the “Make the Right Real” campaign, including ensuring full access to information in local and sign languages, and in other accessible format;

3. The Government of Pakistan, in close collaboration with DPOs, other NGOs, UN agencies in Pakistan and international partners such as APCD and ESCAP, harmonize domestic legislation with the CRPD through multiple actions including legislative review;

4. The Government of Pakistan and stakeholders support the launching of a new Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2013-2022), which aims at the accelerated implementation of the CRPD in an inclusive way with a particular focus on the leadership development of persons with disabilities, institutional strengthening of their representative organizations, community-based inclusive development in accordance with the new CBR Guidelines and inclusive business development;

5. Gender perspectives are mainstreamed in the implementation of the “Make the Right Real” campaign and a new decade.

6. Networking and collaboration among stakeholders such as government, DPOs, community-based organizations and international partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are strengthened for the effective implementation of the new CBR Guidelines;

7. The Government of Pakistan, DPOs and other stakeholders in Pakistan continue to partner with ESCAP and APCD to further regional cooperation in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.