Policy, legislation and its implementation
Australia will fund the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to conduct a baseline review of disability practices within the United Nations. Her review will support an evidence-based approach by the Inter-Agency Support Group for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (IASG) to prepare a new United Nations policy to strengthen disability-inclusion across the operations of the United Nations.
Timeframe and/or implementation plan
The Special Rapporteur will complete her review in 2018. The Secretary General has asked the IASG to finalise the new UN policy in the first quarter of 2019.
Representation and empowerment of persons with disabilities
Australia will fund the ASEAN General Network for Disability Access (AGENDA) to support the development and finalisation of the ASEAN Master Plan for an Inclusive Community by 2025: Mainstreaming Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This will enable the Master Plan and associated work by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and ASEAN nations to be informed and driven by the coalition of national and regional DPOs which comprises AGENDA.
Timeframe and/or implementation plan
Australian support will enable AGENDA and DPOs to provide technical assistance and engage with the ASEAN Masterplan Taskforce. The Masterplan is expected to be adopted at the ASEAN Summit in November 2018, followed by its official launch at the AICHR Regional Dialogue in December 2018.
Stereotypes, attitudes and behaviours
Australia will fund the Pacific Disability Forum to design a situational analysis of the experiences of Deaf people in the Pacific. When completed, the analysis will establish an evidence base to inform policy and address the exclusion, isolation and barriers Deaf and Hard of Hearing people face in the Pacific. It will also assist Pacific Island countries to meet their commitments under the Pacific Framework for the Rights of People with Disabilities.
Timeframe and/or implementation plan
The design of the situational analysis will be completed in 2018 in consultation with the Deaf community in the Pacific and key stakeholders including relevant ministries of National Governments. The situational analysis itself will require broader support from a coalition of stakeholders and could take up to two years to complete depending on the number of Pacific Island countries to be included.
Representation and empowerment of persons with disabilities
Australia will support the formal participation of persons with disabilities in UN processes and other international events and mechanisms such as the Global Disability Summit and the Global Action on Disability (GLAD) Network.
Timeframe and/or implementation plan
Australia will fund the participation of twelve representatives of Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) from the Indo-Pacific at the Global Disability Summit. Through its partnership with the International Disability Alliance Australia will fund the participation of DPOs at the 2019 GLAD Network Meeting and the 12th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).