October 2016

At DRF, our work is centered on ensuring that persons with disabilities have the resources and tools to address a multitude of attitudinal and environmental barriers to inclusion. Each month, as we share news and updates from our grantees, partners and team members, we are reminded of the positive impacts of collaboration and the power of our collective voice. 

Our October issue focuses on "leaving no one behind" and highlights the diverse experiences and achievements of our team, partners and grantees around the globe. 

Thank you for your continued support of the Disability Rights Fund and Disability Rights Advocacy Fund. 


A movement to change one billion lives- link to annual report
Don't forget to check out our 2015 Annual Report to see how your support is making a difference... The digital and word versions are available HERE.

DrivingTheAgenda Driving the Agenda
Hurricanes in My Backyard
Disability and Disaster Reduction 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, the Haitian disability community has shown why inclusi on of persons with disabilities in disaster risk reduction is of utmost importance. 

Emilio Neas, of RANIPH S ud   (National Association Network for the Integration of Disabled Persons, Southern Coalition) contributed to "Hurricanes in My Backyard" , a series of blog posts that looks at the rights and perspectives of persons with disabilities in times of disaster. In this three part feature, we stress the importance of implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in disaster preparation and response efforts to ensure the safety and inclusion of persons with disabilities as stipulated in Article 11 (Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies). 

DRF's Jo-Ann Garnier Lafontant met with Haitian grantees affected by the hurricane in the city of Cayes. In this photo, Seme Jean, who is blind, is saying, "Insecurity and violence are the worst enemies for persons with disabilities. We have to fight to access food and water".

This report, produced by CBM and partners,  Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Management: Voices from the Field and Good Practices, shares insight and strategies for ensuring that persons with  disabilities  are included at every stage of preparation and implementation. You can read the full blog posts and find additional resources on our website


YOU Can Help! 

Please consider giving to the Disability Rights Fund so that we can reach our grantees in southern Haiti, who are working to build a resilient society after Hurricane Matthew. 

Be sure to read the tips from the   Center for Disaster Philanthropy on ways to give in times of disaster. Best practices include supporting: organizations with whom you have existing relationships; organizations that have a pre-existing presence on the ground; organizations whose missions and activities match your values and priorities; issues areas that are unfunded or underfunded; and vulnerable populations.


BldngMovements Building Movements
DRF Team Members Give Voice to Women with Disabilities

One of the hallmarks of our work at DRF is the inclusion of marginalized groups so that "no one is left behind". In October, DRF's Dwi Ariyani participated in a side event at the Social Forum in Geneva to address the question, "How do we include women with disabilities in our movement?" She stressed the need to fund and build the capacity of organizations of women with disabilities to ensure their voices are heard and and to strengthen alliances with other movements.  The focus of this year's forum was: "promotion and full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities" in the context of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and this side event was organized by our partner , the International Disability Alliance
 
We'd also like to shine the spotlight on another colleague, Kerry Thompson, who in this blog, shares how people who are DeafBlind are among the most marginalized of the marginalized. In our future editions, we'll continue to share stories from our partners to raise the awareness of those who are often left in the margins of society. 


AchievingRights Achieving Rights
Collaborating for Change

For individuals with Albinism in Malawi, the simple act of leaving their homes means they are at risk of violent attacks by community members, including threats to their life. A 2016 Amnesty International Report chronicles horrifying accounts of men, women and even children being hunted like animals for their body parts.
 
 
APAM President, Boniface Massa, commended Parliament for passing the law and said this will help in addressing the problem. He said, "We are pleased that Parliament has taken that bold step as this was what we presented in our petition. We are also grateful with the amendments in the Anatomy Act, these will go a long way in ensuring that our lives are protected." The Disability Rights Advocacy Fund is supporting APAM to address violence against persons with albinism in Malawi by providing legal and psychosocial support to victims and their families and by working with government to ensure legal protections to ensure access to justice are in place.
 
Young Person with Albinism in Malawi at march for justice
Persons with Disabilities in Malawi organized a march this past spring to call attention to the need for justice reform for individuals with Albinism.

The challenges in Malawi are just a snap shot of the critical need to improve access to justice for persons with disabilities around the world. In September, the Open Society Foundation for Southern Africa brought together a diverse group of practitioners to develop interventions that address access to justice in this region. DRF/DRAF grantees from the Federation of Disability Organizations of Malawi and Disabled Women in Africa Malawi were joined at the meeting by DRF's Program Officer for Africa (Malawi and Rwanda), Jorge Manhique.
 
Mirriam Namanja, from the Parents of Disabled Children Association of Malawi cited, "high illiteracy level...lack of knowledge as to where to take abuse cases of people with disabilities and negative attitude from the community and the judiciary" as major challenges in her country.  The passage of the above legislation and national attention from lawmakers is a step in the right direction.  Although there is tremendous work to be done to ensure that persons with disabilities can access justice, Mirriam is confident that "nothing is impossible, we can overcome these challenges".
 
Discover how our grantees are Building Movements  and Achieving Rights on our website.

SpotlightOnPartners Spotlight on Partners
Urbanization: A Catalyst for Disability Inclusive Development
Spotlight1
Urbanization is one of the most important global trends of the 21st century. Persons with disabilities living in urban areas continue to face dramatic challenges to participate in their communities due to a widesprea
d lack of accessibility in a constantly changing environment. See the key recommendations for an inclusive urban agenda in 
The Inclusion Imperative: Towards Disability-inclusive and Accessible Urban Development , presented at the Urban Habitat III conference in Quito, Ecuador by  CBM and the Global Network on Disability Inclusive and Accessible Urban Development .


Risnawati Utami with His Excellency Ban Ki Moon
On October 17, 2016 at the UN Habitat III conference Risnawati Utami from Indonesia, made a statement on behalf of the Co-Chairs of the General Assembly of Partners/GAP, Persons with Disabilities Partner Constituency Group, Dr. Victor Pineda and Mohammed Ali Loufty, to His Excellency Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations.


Disability-Inclusive Policies

Spotlight2
"It's not just about benefiting, but contributing to development,"
Catalina Devandas Aguilar, UN  Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities.
 
A new report on disability-inclusive policies , from the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, stresses that persons with disabilities should have a leading say on the policies that impact them. The report provides clear guidance aimed to prepare States and other international actors to design their policies with persons with disabilities in mind and to respond with new ways to the commitment of leaving no one behind.

Inclusive Education
  Spotlight3
International Disability and Development Consortium's Costing Equity Report looks at the financing of inclusive education for children with disabilities. The report outlines the benefits of financing disability-inclusive education, the current state of education funding with regard to inclusion, and what needs to change in order for education financing to effectively support the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Article 24 (Education) of the CRPD.

 

Share Your News!
Do you have a story or update you'd like to see featured in our newsletter? 

Please e-mail media@disabilityrightsfund.org and include your name, organization, contact information and a brief overview of your achievements or progress. You may also include links to stories from other media outlets or social media content. Our team will follow up with you to learn more! 

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