South Asia Sub-Regional Report
The 15th DPIAP Regional Assembly: Action
toward new Asia and the Pacific Decade
of Persons with Disabilities
24-25 October 2012
Presented by
Birendra Raj Pokharel
DPIAP VC/ South-Asian Chairperson
South Asia
Bhutan
Nepal
Iran
Bangladesh
Maldives
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
DPI MNA
Not member
New in SA
India
Status of CRPD Ratification
Country
Signatory
CRPD
Bangladesh
Signatory
OP
Ratified
CRPD
Ratified
OP
9-5-2007
30-11-2007
12-5-2008
India
30-3-2007
1-10-2007
Maldives
2-10-2007
5-4-2010
Nepal
3-1-2008
Pakistan
25-9-2008
Sri Lanka
30-3-2007
3-1-2008
7-5-2010
5-7-2011
7-5-2010
Bangladesh: Progress on
Implementation of CRPD :
 The Prime Minister and the Government of Bangladesh
have given attention to the issue of CRPD
implementation
 The disability rights law based on CRPD has been in
drafting process, DPI Bangladesh (BPKS) has been
engaged in the process.
India: Progress on Implementation of
CRPD
 New disability law based on CRPD: DPI India led an
advocacy campaign following which the Government
formed a inclusive Committee to draft a new disability
rights law
 CRPD Compliant Budget Analysis: DPI India has taken
up the process in collaboration of IDA.
Maldives: Progress on
Implementation of CRPD
 CRPD has been ratified and the Disability strategic plan
2009-2013 has been introduced and a Law on Disability
is being enacted by the parliament.
Nepal: Progress on Implementation
of CRPD
 Established the “Inter-parliamentarian Disability Friendly
Caucus” have supported for the ratification of CRPD and
also highlighted the disability rights issues in the
constitution drafting process.
 Disabled Protection and Welfare Act 1982 is being
amended in line with CRPD principles and human rights
approach where NFDN has taken lead.
Pakistan: Progress on
Implementation of CRPD
 Ratification of UNCRPD on 6th June 2011.
 National Consultative Seminar on implementation of
UNCRPD on June 14th, 2012, DPIP accommodated in
National Committee Member for the implementation of
UNCRPD.
 Meetings with Government to have sub Committee in
Provisional, district level to modify the local laws
according to the UNCRPD.
Sri Lanka: Progress on Implementation of CRPD
 The existing NCPD has prepared and developed new
regulations conjunction with reference to CRPD
Very near future there will be possibility to adopt once
the CRPD is ratified.
Monitoring and Reporting on CRPD
implementation
Alternate / Shadow Report on implementation of CRPD:
 DPI India is currently involved in preparing the Alternate
Report
 DPI Nepal is in the similar process of writing shadow Report
 Universal Periodic Review (UPR): DPI India and DPI Nepal
was actively involved in the preparation of the Stakeholders’
Report during UPR of their countries and submitted through
HRTMCC in the OHCHR.
 Disability Rights Monitoring: In the collaboration with DRPI
and York University, the disability rights monitoring is
undergoing in Nepal.
 DPI India has been able to participate thrice in the CRPD
Committee meetings in Geneva
Enumeration of PWDs in Population
Census 2011:
The Successful advocacy for proper enumeration of people
with disabilities in the National Population Census 2011
and led the process from DPOs side was initiated in
majority of the countries.
Bangladesh,
India,
Maldives,
Nepal,
Pakistan,
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh: Activities and
achievement
 PSID in 16 district.
 National Congregation of the Disabled Peoples-2010
 Workshop and seminars on UNCRPD with the Government
focal point, media and civil society.
 Mainstreaming disabilities in disaster risk management,
 Workshop with agriculture, fisheries and livestock department
 Disability friendly Budget analysis.
 National Dialogue on Rights of WWDs with Government’s
focal points.
 National Leadership Training Seminar, National Dialogues
with policy and implementation level authorities.
 Print and electronic media mobilization
India: Activities and achievement
 Regional Workshop on CRPD Implementation in August
2011 by DPI India adopted New Delhi Declaration.
 Advocacy for the implementation of the 11th Five Year
Plan
 Inclusion of disability by establishing Department of
Disability Affairs
 DPI India’s advocacy led to the setting up of the Indian
Sign Language Research & Training Centre.
Maldives: Activities and achievement
 Lobbied to the government to become a state party of
CRPD with ratification.
 Lobbied for Legal reforms with the government and
MP’s, including the right for a driving license for the
PWDs.
 Representation on the Presidential Committee to design
a Building Code,.
 Negotiated a change in teacher education curricula to
include a unit of study on special needs education.
 Publication of the first alphabet for sign language
 Negotiated with the Ministry of Health to set out policy on
occupational health and safety issues, and establishing a
central database of information regarding workplace
accidents and resulting disabilities.
Nepal : Activities and achievement
 Conference organized, elected new Board, Expansion of NFDN's Network
 Supreme Court provided verdict with six articles and seven directional
statements for providing social security to PWDs in August in favor of claim
filed by DHRC.
 Enactment and monitoring of DSPAD
 Capacity building for CRPD implementation.
 Development of module Accessible School/Public Place
 Rupantaran: as a journal of DPI Nepal in quarterly Publication.
 Baseline survey on Persons With disabilities.
 Capacity building workshop: 3 days, UNCRPD contents training to NFD-N
central level, regional coordinators and committees,
 Sensitization Workshop to Local Authorities in the district, Political parties,
NGOs etc through RCWG and NCWG.
 Capacity building training workshop in five regions for the representatives of
Self Help Organizations (SHOs) and NFDN regional bodies
 Budget Monitoring from disability perspectives in local levels so that the
utilization status of the local budget has been assessed
Pakistan : Activities and achievement
 Awareness Campaign for the Accessibility in the Religious
Places
 Networking & Capacity Building Workshops & Seminars for
DPOs.
 Promoting Empowerment for PWDS specially in I.T Sector
 Reserves Seats in Legislative Provincial & National
Assemblies of Pakistan.
 Provincial action plan for PWDs
 Participate in Rehab Dubai 2010 and International Abilympics
2011, Seoul Korea
 Participation in 1st International Emergency Response
Conference 2012
 Zakat Quota for the Needy PWDs in every province of
Pakistan, distribute through DPOs
 50 % Discount on Railway fare & Airways fare, Duty Free for
the assistive device of PWDs including Car for PWDs
Sri Lanka : Activities and
achievement
 Sri Lanka confederation of organizations of the
handicapped people was successfully participated on
observation of the IDPD at the His Excellency
President’s Residence called Temple Trees in Colombo
 Social security scheme introduced
 Assistive devices distributed
 Financial Assistance provided for self employment
 Several meetings held with Government on accessibility
and Government has now a draft on National
accessibility code.
Contribution as MNA on SA, AP
Region and International Level:
 Bangladesh: Expand PSID approach, Support subregional network and decade.
 India: World Chair of DPI: Mr. Javed Abidi was elected
as the World Chair of DPI in the World Assembly in
Durban in 2011. Since then, he has been able to start
many new activities and setting trends and systems right
in the global functioning of DPI.
 Research Study on CBR
 DPI’s partnership with the Commonwealth Forum of
National Human Rights Institutions:
 Survey on work and employment
Contribution as MNA on SA, AP
Region and International Level…
 Nepal: Conducted DRPI disability rights holistic
monitoring that provides insight to conduct disability
rights monitoring for supporting the preparation of
shadow report.
 Support lobbying SAARC secretariat, will organize subregional conference and will promote efforts for SA subregional network.
 Pakistan: Biwako Millennium policy review of PWDs for
the new decade
 Delhi Declaration (Regional Workshop to Accelerate the
Implementation of the CRPD)
 International Abilympics 2012 award Winner in Outdoor
Photography.
 Highlighting the products of PWDs in Rehab Dubai 20062008-2010.
Future Role of MNAS for “Incheon
Strategy to Make the Right Real for
Persons with Disabilities
 Reduce poverty and enhance employment prospects
 Promote participation in political processes and in decision making
 Enhance access to the physical environment, public transportation,
knowledge and information and communication.
 Strengthen social protection
 Expand early intervention and education of children with disabilities
 Ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment
 Ensure inclusion of disability perspectives in disaster preparedness
and management
 Improve disability data reliability and comparability
 Accelerate the ratification and implementation of the CRPD and
harmonization of national legislation with the Convention
Recommendation by MNA:
 Advance sub regional, regional and interregional cooperation
 To develop the capacity of its leaders.
 MNAs also need to build alliances with other human rights movements
 South Asia needs to play an active role in human rights mechanism not only
in the region but also internationally.
 and has also taken part in the Conference of State Parties.
 Strong networking and collaboration among the MNAs and also exchange
programs
 to make policy according to the climate change, risk management and
involve PWDs in mainstreaming.
 All the MNAs to be encouraged specially executive bodies to exchange
information at least in every quarter.
 MNAs showed their full support for a sub-regional decade of People with
disabilities
 MNAs also showed willingness to strengthen sub-regional network of DPO
and south-to-south cooperation
 Combating together against the major barrier for developing cooperation.