Visitors from African Decade of Disabled Persons
Inter-regional Collaboration with the African Region
African delegates attended the opening ceremony of the Non-handicapping Environment for PWDS
Ten African representatives from the Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD) from 9 countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) visited Thailand from 23-26 February 2003. This visitation was to learn about the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons how to plan, implement and evaluate the decade in order to build strategies for the African Decade of Disabled Persons, 2000-2009, and to exchange information and collaborate with disability- related organizations in the region.
During their visit in Thailand, delegates visited three Independent Living pilot projects in Nonthaburi, Nakorn Pathom, and Chonburi as well as former participants living in the rural community.
Delegates joined the opening ceremony of the "Regional Training Course for Trainers on the Promotion of a Non-handicapping Environment for PWDs" on 25 February 2003 where they presented their country reports with participants from 11 other countries in the Asia and Pacific region.
] The Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD)
Mr. Siegfried K. Runge, Information Officer of SAFOD, which is composed of 10 member countries, stated it was formed in 1986 by persons with disabilities (PWDs) for PWDs as a federation of Non-governmental Organizations in the Southern Africa Development Coordinating Conference (SADCC) countries and representatives of anti-apartheid PWDs in SAFOD is a regional network of independent human rights organizations of PWDs in Southern Africa.
SAFOD»s main aim is to support and encourage the formation of organizations of PWDs in and strengthen existing ones. SAFOD promotes training of administrative personnel and leaders of organizations of PWDs and coordinates development efforts and self-help projects among PWDs and their organizations in the region.
] Background of African Decade of Disabled Persons
The African Decade of Disabled Persons 2000-2009 was formally declared in July 1999 by the Organization of Africa Unity (OAU) representing an innovative partnership between Governments and Non-governmental Organizations. Delegates who attended the Disabled Peoples´ International (DPI) Fifth World Assembly in Mexico, 1998 recognized the need to organize an African Decade of Disabled Persons in order to improve and equalize the quality of life for person with disabilities (PWDs) in Africa.
Objectives of the African Decade of Disabled People are to:
- Alleviate poverty of PWDs and their families
- Raise public awareness and conscientisation on disability issues
- Combat causes of disability by promoting peace and reducing other causes of disability
- Strengthen the African voice of disabled people
- Put disability on the social, economic and political agenda of African Governments
- Spearhead the implementation of the United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for PWDs, leading to the adoption of a convention by OAU member states on PWDs
- Apply the UN instruments on the Declaration of Human Rights
- Address issues pertaining to children, youth and women with disabilities
- Ensure the application of UN Standard Rules as a basis for policy and legislation to protect the interests of PWDs in Africa.
Many international organizations of PWDs support the Decade activities to implement the above objectives. Among them are Inclusion International, the World Federation of the Deaf, and the International Organization of the Deaf and Blind, all of which will be members of a committee working with Pan African Federation of the Disabled (PAFOD). Regional organizations such as the Organization of African Unity, the African Rehabilitation Institute, the Economic Commission for Africa, and the International Labour Organization will also participate.
The concept of the Decade is expected to create positive changes in the quality of life for PWDs in Africa. Total government and related organizations support is needed to achieve the objectives. The lives of many people in Africa depend on the success or failure of the Decade of Disabled Persons.
