Summary of Roles/Responsibilities of International Organizations on Persons with Disabilities
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) with a total membership of 191 countries is committed to preserve peace through international cooperation and collective security.
The UN's mission on Persons with Disabilities' issues is "to assist in the promotion of effective measures for prevention of disability, rehabilitation, and the realization of the goals of full participation of disabled persons in social life and development, and of equality." As affirmed by the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenants on Human Rights and related human rights instruments, Persons with Disabilities are entitled to exercise their civil, political, social and cultural rights on an equal basis with non-disabled persons.
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Provide access to the "Section for Special Needs Education" in the Division of Basic Education.
- Published "Teacher Training Resource Pack" translated into more than 20 languages used for worldwide purpose in pre- and in-service training units.
- Launched an "Inclusive Schools and Community Support Program" in 1996 for participating countries to experience inclusive schooling for the development of national policies and applications.
International Labour Organization (ILO)
- Promote the role of employers' organizations and groups by increasing opportunities for people with disabilities.
- Promote the issues of disability among trade unions.
- Develop the regional website www.ilo.org/abilityasia
- Promote awareness of international labour standards (ILO Convention 159 concerning Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of -Disabled Persons).
- Protect workers from becoming disabled.
World Health Organization (WHO)
- Promote the concept and rehabilitation of community- based rehabilitation.
- The definition of health following the WHO Constitution is "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".
- The goal of the WHO Disability and Rehabilitation Program is to enhance the quality of life and offer equal opportunities for all persons with disabilities throughout their life span.
- Develop a new definition of "Disability": International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Provide training program for farmers with disabilities in mushroom production, integrated pest management, sericulture production and food processing.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
- Raise funds to develop program for women, including women with disabilities and enhance ICT skills.
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
- Develop the UNDP Disability Action Group.
- Promote Community-Based Rehabilitation.
- Include persons with disabilities into the mainstream program on sustainable human development.
- Promote new approaches to the socio-economic integration of persons with disabilities.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- Prioritize assistance and implement specific projects for refugees with disabilities.
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
- Build joint technical capacity by developing training materials, workshops, guidelines with indicators for early detection, and designing effective interventions.
- Include access to mainstream education and other social services for children with disabilities.
- Support childhood disability program and provide technical assistance in collaboration with Rehabilitation International.
World Bank-Disability and Development Division
- Integrate disability into the World Bank's poverty alleviation efforts.
- Address needs of poor disabled people in developing countries around the world.
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- Assist ADB's structure to have a greater awareness about disability issues and provide tools for including disability issues in its activiites.
- Identify disability issues in poverty reduction covering 4 countries in the region.
- Include disability issues in the Social Protection Strategy.
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