The Bridge initiative by its protagonists: the multiplying effect of empowerment

Illustration from BRIDGE Training in Niger, depicting woman explaining their rights to a group of persons with disabilities. Text: The bridge CRPD-SDG: Empowering persons with disabilities and their organizations.The Bridge CRPD-SDG Training initiative is an ambitious project to bring international human rights and development into the lives of people with disabilities. Initiated in 2015 by IDA and the International Disability and Development Consortium, the Bridge trainings have reached since then over 500 people from 103 countries, generating agency and knowledge, and an extraordinary multiplying effect in countless communities around the world.

The adoption of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities by the vast majority of nations in 2006 was a watershed moment in the history of the disability rights movement. What was needed thereafter was to mobilize its emancipatory effect to reach the communities, homes, families, and individuals whose lives this landmark document was meant to touch.

This is why the project sought to work with those that are rarely included in international action, and often neglected by national policies, relying on the coalition’s vast network of local organizations. Bridge experiences have reached people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, persons with disabilities from the most underrepresented indigenous communities, and have prioritized women’s participation: more than 250 women with disabilities have so far taken part as participants or facilitators.

Influencing public policy debates

Bridge trainings are a critical piece in the strategy to empower new leaders with disability through knowledge and capacity for agency. Most testimonies from participants indicate enormous advances in terms of personal skills, awareness and professionalization, as well as for collective organization and advocacy. Some Alumni even succeeded in becoming members of parliament and in being nominated for the UN Committee in charge of overseeing the implementation of the CRPD. 

The Bridge process has raised the public profile of organizations of persons with disabilities as stakeholders in crucial public policy debates. Members of the bridge community have played key roles in strengthening the organizations that constitute the backbone of the disability rights movement, leading coalitions that succeeded to influence enactments of disability acts and social protection frameworks, and the introduction of reasonable accommodation, inclusive planning and budgeting in public policy processes.

Bringing disability in international development

Bridge trainings were also conceived as a key strategy to introduce persons with disabilities and their organizations as stakeholders in the most important global development processes around the Sustainable Development Goals, and the 2030 Agenda for their implementation. Participants of Bridge trainings increase their understanding of international development frameworks, multilateral efforts and the accountability mechanisms in place, and they are supported to play active roles in them. 

Institutions and Governments have acknowledged the quality and expertise of Bridge alumni, who have been collectively active in influencing international public policies on humanitarian action/disaster risk reduction, as well as critical sustainable development global processes. The Bridge community has been present at the UN Habitat III for the launching of the New Urban Agenda; engaged in reviewing the status of the Beijing declaration at the Comission of the Status of Women, at the World Data Forum, and at the Association of Women’s Rights in Development Forum (AWID), to advocate for these global processes to be in compliance with their rights.   

In the testimonies below, Bridge alumni reflect on the impact of the experience in their lives, and in becoming part of a global movement to realize our fundamental rights. 

Participants doing training at Bridge CRPD-SDGs Iraq Module 1

Testimonials from Bridge CRPD-SDGs Iraq Module 1

The Iraqi Alliance of Disability Organizations (IADO), the Arab Organisation of Persons with Disabilities (AOPD), the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the International Organisation for Migration in Iraq (IOM Iraq) hosted Bridge CRPD-SDGs Module 1 in Erbil, Iraq from 9 to 16 November 2021.

photo of participants at bridge training in Uganda during an activity

Testimonials of the BRIDGE CRPD-SDGs First Module Uganda

From 12 to 18 April 2018, Uganda played host to the first Module of the Bridge CRPD-SDGs training initiative. The Bridge CRPD-SDGs aims to support organisations of persons with disabilities (DPOs)...

photo of participants at Bridge training on the rights of indigenous persons with disabilities

Testimonials of the Technical Workshop on Ensuring the Rights of Indigenous Persons with Disabilities

From the 20th to the 23rd August, the Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Global Network (IPWDGN), the Narok South Disability Network and the International Disability Alliance (IDA) held a Workshop on ensuring the rights...

Waqar Shahid Puri

Waqar Shahid Puri, STEP Pakistan of TCI Asia, Pakistan

Country: Pakistan
Organisation: STEP Pakistan, proposed by the TCI (Transforming Communities for Inclusion of Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities) Asia, Pakistan
Completed: BRIDGE CRPD-SDG Training of Trainers Module A, Geneva, Feb 2018

“Persons with psychosocial disabilities in Pakistan are not recognised as rights-holders, which are very often left in social care institutions for medications and deadly electric shocks. The ToT Module A of BRIDGE CRPD-SDG last week was an eye-opening experience! During the training, trainees were thought to link CRPD & SDGs, and further train and build the capacity of our organisations (DPOs), self-advocates and other civil society organizations nationally, regionally and Internationally. The training also gave me a better understanding of how the UN CRPD Committee reviews States parties and their national reports.  

After taking this training, I feel more confident on the CRPD and inclusive facilitation to work with and for persons with psychosocial disabilities in Pakistan; supporting them to strengthen their identity and rights, in order for them to enjoy their legal capacity and live their lives as other people do with equal choices.

I particularly appreciated the content and activities delivered, which were designed in a very good manner for easy understanding. Each part of the training was linked with each other, through an interesting building. I believe my organisations and myself will be able to take advantage of this training to build or strengthen capacities of our members and partners. 

To conclude, I would like to say that BRIDGE CRPD-SDG is truly a quite unique inclusive capacity development initiative. Through this initiative, big change can come in the disability movement of countries.” 

Elizabeth Ombati

Elizabeth Ombati at the BRIDGE Training of Trainers, Geneva, February 2018

Country: Kenya
Organisation: United Disabled Persons of Kenya and Users and Survivors of Psychiatry
Completed: BRIDGE CRPD-SDG Training of Trainers Module A, Geneva, Feb 2018

"I have participated in the BRIDGE CRPD-SDG East West Africa (for English speaking countries), basically to shape my skills as advocate first for persons with psychosocial disabilities because we are getting to introduce pieces in the disability sector whereat several of our members are still in the medical module – observing themselves as ‘patients’ and focused on ‘medication’. We have to shift this paradigm and look at persons with psychosocial disabilities from the human rights module. Until we understand this shift, we may not have too much change.

"As a member of United Disabled Persons of Kenya and Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (USPK), I participated in BRIDGE CRPD-SDG to get this knowledge and skills on the CRPD to be able to frame my experiences for my group. The strengthen comes once I understand my space as a person with psychosocial disabilities, and have a firsthand knowledge of other groups, their challenges, barriers and accessibility requirements.  This training of trainers supported seeing myself as a trainer when I usually saw myself as a program officer. The information I have received gave me more confidence to get involved in training. Not only as a journalist but as an inclusive trainer, that gets used to other groups of persons with disabilities and able to articulate the issues of other persons with disabilities and their desire to be included in society on an equal basis with others.

"During this week, I acquired knowledge that will support me questioning things, participating in changes in the community and supporting my fellow colleagues to see ourselves apart from the ‘medical approach’, but as actors of rights, able to claim them in all other areas of life."

Michael Njenga

Michael Njenga speaking during the BRIDGE ToT Module B in Brighton 2017

Country: Kenya
Organisation: World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry
Completed: BRIDGE Training of Trainers Module B, Brighton 2017

“Restoring voice, power and choice as a pathway to independent living and being included in the community on an equal basis with others. This is my motto”. Michael Njenga is a self-advocate of persons with psychosocial disabilities from Kenya. “In the past, governments were not effectively meeting the basic human rights obligations of persons with disabilities in my region. Over time, and through capacity building, we have a better understanding of our rights under both our domestic policy framework and international conventions. This gives us the power to  advocate for our rights within a human rights framework and also ensures that the states fulfil their obligations”.

Michael has received a capacity building training known as the BRIDGE CRPD- SDG training, which works to strengthen the understanding of international conventions and commitments. The training links the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This program also helps the participants to translate the generalities of the CRPD and SDGs into tangible ways that can transform the lives of persons with disabilities at the grassroots level. More information on the BRIDGE CRPD- SDG training available at: http://bit.ly/2yLHWjG 

The program brings together persons from all disability constituencies, including the most marginalized groups. “This really lays a critical foundation for transformative social change and justice. It has been instrumental in creating the next generation of leaders that will ensure the full and effective inclusion of persons with psychosocial disabilities. It’s fundamentally about amplifying our voices and making the invisible visible in line with the spirit of the SDGs of not leaving no one behind”.

From a practical perspective, the BRIDGE has been able to build the capacity of self-advocates from different parts of Africa. This has created a vibrant grassroots movement whereby people with psychosocial disabilities can collectively shape their human rights discourse at grassroots National and global level.

Dulamusuren Jigjid

Dulamusuren Jigjid during the BRIDGE CRPD SDG ToT in Geneva, March 2018

Country: Mongolia
Organisation: Culture Centre for the Deaf (CCD) and Mongolian National Association of the Deaf (MNAD), proposed by the World Federation of the Deaf
Completed: BRIDGE CRPD-SDG Training of Trainers Module A, Geneva, Feb 2018

“This training of trainers was very insightful and made absolute sense in terms of the UN CRPD principles and SDGs, and their application regarding the human rights of persons with disabilities. I would say that this was an excellent training with practical exercises and worthwhile information that I can use in both my professional and personal life. It was very interesting to learn some new and different facilitation techniques that will help with human rights training.

I feel genuinely enthused and motivated by the histories of our trainer's real examples of how to develop the UN CRPD and other human rights documents and how to achieve the main goals in global levels. I will share these precious histories with my fellows. Also, the histories and UN CRPD related experiences of other trainees were powerful ways to understand the influence of the CRPD principles. I most appreciated the legal debate that we used prior to assessing our spheres of influence and how to use them.

During the training, I was able to share deaf cultures with other trainees and to share our capabilities. I wish more deaf leaders could have Bridge CRPD-SDG ToT training. The world is becoming increasingly diverse and includes people from different religions, languages, disabilities, and other cultural groups. Thus, it is very important to include language from minorities in human rights-related education and training. 

I am happy having deaf BRIDGE trainers, which will benefit our organisations. This way we get the opportunity to provide a quality human rights and BRIDGE training to the deaf community through international sign. BRIDGE CRPD-SDG takes an inclusive approach to address issues of power inequality in relations between legal forms and implementing mechanism, policies and realities preparing trainers with disabilities themselves, from diverse groups." 

Risnawati Utami

Risna Utami completed the BRIDGE Training of Trainers Module B, Brighton 2017

Country: Indonesia
Organisation: Disability Rights Fund
Completed: BRIDGE Training of Trainers Module B, Brighton 2017

Disability Rights Fund (DRF) is a grant-maker that  empower persons with disabilities to advocate for equal rights and full participation in society. Risnawati Utami from Indonesia has been one recipient of a DRF capacity-building grant.

“When the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was ratified in my country of Indonesia, DRF worked with local organisations of persons with disabilities and it really was the beginning of the disability movement in my province. But for me as a person with a disability in a developing country, it was still challenging to access basic services and facilities. Because of support from DRF, I founded my organisation of OHANA, based in Yogyakarta Province and our vision is to achieve social justice and equal rights of persons with disabilities”.

Risna has been trained to deliver capacity-building training in her country, so that she can work through OHANA to empower self-advocates in her province. “Through our collective advocacy and lobbying, our Government is consulting with us when they write policy guidelines. We are seeing a difference already and we are being listened to. This is motivation for me to continue in this work and to continue training more and more people on how they can advocate for their rights. I have taken what I have learnt at global level to translate it to my brothers and sisters at the grassroots level. I do this so that they understand what they are entitled to and so that they can join me in the advocacy!”.

BRIDGE CRPD-SDG is a unique inclusive capacity development initiative with the aim to supporting organisations of persons with disabilities and activist to develop an inclusive and comprehensive perspective on the rights of persons with disabilities in development, including the UN 2030 Agenda and sustainable development goals (SDGs). The BRIDGE CRPD-SDG training has already been delivered to more than 140 leaders and activists with disabilities in South East Asia, Latin America, Indonesia, East and West Africa and the Pacific. More information on the BRIDGE CRPD- SDG training available at: http://bit.ly/2yLHWjG 

Fernanda de Almeida Santana

Fernanda de Almeida Santana from Brazil received the BRIDGE Training of Trainers Module A, Geneva 2018

Country: Brazil
Organisation: Latin American Network of Non-Governmental Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and their Families (RIADIS) 
Completed: BRIDGE CRPD-SDG Training of Trainers Module A, Geneva, Feb 2018

“I’m so excited to be taking part in the BRIDGE CRPD-SDG Training of Trainers Module A which is showing me the methodology behind training persons with all types of disabilities. Being in such a diverse group gives me exposure on how to work together and collaboratively with different disability consistencies and from all over the world!” 

“I am the President of an association called Abraça, which is the Brazilian Association for Action on the rights of Autistic People. At Abraça, we deliver training to smaller local associations, and also deliver awareness campaigns and campaigns specifically on the CRPD. We also look at the national legislation to ensure that the law are respecting the CRPD.”

“As an Autistic person, I am looking forward to contributing with my own experience from this training and deliver training to autistic persons in my country. The BRIDGE CRPD-SDG training is intense and I’ve already learnt some tips that I will use in delivering training to autistic people in my country.”

BRIDGE CRPD-SDG is a unique inclusive capacity development initiative with the aim to supporting organisations of persons with disabilities and activist to develop an inclusive and comprehensive perspective on the rights of persons with disabilities in development, including the UN 2030 Agenda and sustainable development goals (SDGs). The BRIDGE CRPD-SDG training has already been delivered to more than 140 leaders and activists with disabilities in South East Asia, Latin America, Indonesia, East and West Africa and the Pacific. More information on the BRIDGE CRPD- SDG training available at: http://bit.ly/2yLHWjG 

Angeline Chand

Angeline Chand completed the BRIDGE Training of Trainers Module B, Brighton 2017

Country: Fiji
Organisation: Pacific Disability Forum 
Completed: BRIDGE Training of Trainers Module B, Brighton 2017

“You can’t ask for something if you do not know you are entitled to it”. Angeline Chand from Fiji recently received a capacity building training which works to strengthen the understanding of international conventions and commitments. The training is known as the BRIDGE CRPD- SDG training, which links the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“For me personally, the trainings was useful for me to ask the right types of questions. As a result, I have led numerous civil society movements to make my government and other Pacific Islands understand the rights of persons with disabilities – what we are entitled to, what should be ours”.

“The training brings so much clarity to our work! The promises that governments make can be puzzling for us at grassroots levels. Sometimes it is difficult to understand what the commitments really mean. So now, I feel more confident to take what I learnt at the training and make organisations of persons with disabilities – and also self-advocates – lobby stronger!”

BRIDGE CRPD-SDG is a unique inclusive capacity development initiative with the aim to supporting organisations of persons with disabilities and activist to develop an inclusive and comprehensive perspective on the rights of persons with disabilities in development, including the UN 2030 Agenda and sustainable development goals (SDGs). More information on the BRIDGE CRPD- SDG training available at: http://bit.ly/2yLHWjG 

Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame

Gertrude Fefoame completed the BRIDGE Training of Trainers Module B, Brighton 2017

Country: Ghana
Organisation: Sightsavers
Completed: BRIDGE Training of Trainers Module B, Brighton 2017

Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame from Ghana represents Sightsavers, a UK-based international charity which fights avoidable blindness and promotes equal opportunities for visually impaired people. “I have been trained to deliver a capacity-building training – known as the BRIDGE CRPD-SDGs - so that I can increase the capacity of organisations of persons with disabilities in the countries where we work. Already, I have noted an increased of the strengthening in the work of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations in our efforts around advocacy on disability rights”.

The BRIDGE CRPD- SDG training works to strengthen the understanding of international conventions and commitments. The training links the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This program also helps the participants to translate the generalities of the CRPD and SDGs into tangible ways that can transform the lives of persons with disabilities at the grassroots level. More information on the BRIDGE CRPD- SDG training available at: http://bit.ly/2yLHWjG 

The BRIDGE CRPD-SDG training has already been delivered to more than 140 leaders and activists with disabilities in South East Asia, Latin America, Indonesia, East and West Africa and the Pacific.

 “Because of the training and my role in delivering it, I have stronger collaborations and partnerships with local and global activists, and the disability community is growing stronger. My organisation is working with regional governments to make sure that the commitments they make at the United Nations are actually translated at country level”.

Gertrude has been an instrumental leader for the rights of women with disabilities in her region, and has delivered sessions on women’s rights during capacity building workshops. Due to her leadership, Gertrude will be nominee of the government of Ghana to become an independent expert on the rights of persons with disabilities to the UN CRPD Committee.