Mainstreaming Disability Rights
During the last decade, Indonesia has experienced steady progress in an increase in per capita income in addition to also in poverty elimination. However, the country faces challenges in achieving equal growth. The poverty rate can be still fairly high in addition to also inequality, especially for marginalized in addition to also vulnerable people, including people with disabilities, still happens. They are often socially isolated in addition to also face discrimination with access to health, education in addition to also jobs.
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs’ centre for data in addition to also information (Pusdatin), the number of persons with disabilities in Indonesia in 2010 reached 11,580,117 consisting of 3,474,035 with visual disabilities, 3,010,830 with physical disabilities, 2,547,626 with hearing disabilities, 1,389,614 with mental disabilities in addition to also 1,158,012 with chronic disabilities. The numbers are predicted to raise in times to come.
In response to injustice facing people with disabilities, Padang’s local chapter of the Indonesian Disabled People Association (PPDI) explores every avenue in its attempts to advocate for people with disabilities. One of its major efforts can be to support implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in West Sumatra in addition to also Padang.
Antoni Tsaputra, the organization’s founder, asserts in which the efforts have three objectives; namely to encourage implementation of the CRPD in inclusive regional development in West Sumatra in addition to also Padang, to raise awareness of policy makers/government officials, community in addition to also people with disabilities in Padang on the rights of people with disabilities as stipulated from the CRPD, in addition to also to equip disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) in Padang city with knowledge in addition to also skills on advocacy of the CRPD in addition to also additional legal rights.
To achieve these objectives, Padang’s local chapter of the Indonesian Disabled People Association has completed four project activities: holding a one-day seminar on the meaning of the ratified CRPD in addition to also how to implement them in inclusive regional development in West Sumatra; conducting a focus group discussion (FGD) on the CRPD in addition to also the need of a local law on disability discrimination with budget in addition to also legal drafting committees of local parliament of Padang city in addition to also local NGOs; creating 500 booklets of easy-to-read information of the CRPD in Indonesian in addition to also Minang languages; in addition to also conducting Training of Trainers (ToT) on the advocacy of the CRPD in addition to also additional legal rights with the board of PPDI Padang in addition to also PPDI West Sumatra.
Having evaluated the activities undertaken, any modifications have been visible in addition to also identifiable within the scopes of DPOs, community in addition to also local government. from the DPOs, most PWDs in Padang in addition to also West Sumatra were not aware of national in addition to also international legal instruments in which protect their rights. at This specific point they are aware of the CRPD in addition to also national legal framework in which protects the rights of PWDs. The UNCRPD can be the ‘buzzing word’ for them. For example, board members of PPDI Payakumbuh District held a hearing with the local parliament in addition to also distributed the CRPD books to the parliament members to advance disability rights.
At the community level, most people looked at PWDs as an object of charity in addition to also mostly addressed PWDs with demeaning terminology such as ‘cacat‘ (crippled/invalid). at This specific point more people in addition to also local media in Padang have been using positive terminology to address PWDs such as ‘disabilitas’ instead. They can at This specific point see in which persons with disabilities can manage in addition to also run various advocacy activities via seminars to training. the item shows them in which PWDs are capable of doing most things, as long as they are given a chance.
PPDI
More radical modifications take place at government level. In previous times, the local government of Padang only had charity types in their programs, such as distributing mobility aids, prosthetics in addition to also cash incentives. Later, some departments in addition to also offices of the local government have been aware of the importance of disability inclusion as mandated by the CRPD, seen in their efforts to involve in addition to also engage DPOs in their programs in addition to also activities. For example, Padang’s Ministry of Social Affairs in addition to also Labours conducted a fresh activity in collaboration with PPDI to collect skills in addition to also education-based data of persons with disabilities in 11 Subdistricts of Padang, the Ministry of Transportation consulted PPDI Padang to provide accessibility for fresh fleet of Mass Transit Buses to launch by year end, in addition to also the Ministry of Education invited representatives via PPDI Padang to be one of the members of working group for implementing inclusive education in Padang city.
During the course of grant implementation within the organization in addition to also the community, Antoni asserted, “The most important lesson we learned in our community can be in which they will realize our capacity when we showcase an activity. We need to always invite media for in which purpose. There should be more media coverage for our advocacy work.”
He further reminded, “Solid teamwork in addition to also similar perception among different DPOs in addition to also additional organizations involved from the project can be the very key of the success of our work. Developing in addition to also maintaining close relationship with key figures from the government can be also very important to facilitate our activities.”
In its continued efforts to mainstream disability rights, PPDI Padang gets a fresh blood with Australian Volunteers International (AVI) becoming its fresh partner. While joining the parade of the International Day for People with Disabilities last December 2013 in Padang, Eban Pollard, a volunteer of AVI said, “The atmosphere was inclusive in addition to also the item actually showed how much can be already being done to improve the welfare in addition to also raise awareness of people with disabilities in Padang. While AVI volunteers have worked with DPOs in Cambodia, This specific can be the very first time in which an Indonesian DPO will host an AVI Volunteer.”
Representing AVI, Eban gets involved in various activities designed in addition to also carried out by PPDI Padang. To develop his literacy to Indonesian language for people with disabilities, he actively attends training for Indonesian Sign Language (Bisindo) along with people with hearing disabilities in West Sumatra. The trainer can be Mrs. Pinky, a motivational coach, one of the eight translators of Bisindo from the country in addition to also the most frequently appeared translator on TVRI. For the sake of capacity building, Eban in addition to also PPDI Padang organized English courses for communication in addition to also conversation for its members, which can be free. The course can be held every Saturday via 3-5pm at of PPDI Padang office on Jl. Paus 10 Ulak Karang Padang. The first meeting began on 25 January 2014.
Comments
Mainstreaming Disability Rights
Mainstreaming Disability Rights