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Hem » World Blind Union (WBU) Reports on the UN Standard Rules

Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
World Blind Union - WBU



© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Organizations of Persons With Disabilities

Table 20 (Question No. 20)
National umbrella organization
National umbrella organizationFrequencyValid Percent
There is a umbrella organization2266,7
There is no umbrella organization1133,3
Total 33, No answer 0

As Table 20 shows, the majority of the WBU organizations are reporting that there is an umbrella organization of organizations of persons with disabilities. There are only minor differences in the percentage reported, compared with those reported by the NGOs in general. There are, however, clear differences, when compared with the percentages reported by governments. WBU organizations indicate a lower percentage of countries with an umbrella organization.

Table 21 (Question 21)
Participation in policy making
Participation in policy-makingFrequencyValid Percent
WBU organizations reporting participation1031,3
WBU organizations reporting no participation2268,8
Total 32, No answer 1

As Table 21 shows, 69% of the WBU organizations are reporting that no legal provisions exist mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making or to work with governmental institutions. The percentage of no participation is much higher than that the for NGOs in general. When compared with the percentages reported by governments, WBU organizations report a considerably lower percentage of participation in policy-making.

Table 22 (Question 22)
Consultations with organizations of persons with disabilities
Organizations are consulted:FrequencyValid Percent
Never310,0
Sometimes1653,3
Often930,0
Always26,7
Total 30, No answer 3

Table 22 shows, that a majority of the WBU organizations reports that consultations sometimes take place, while 10% of them are reporting that consultations with organizations of persons with disabilities, when laws, regulations and/or guidelines with a disability aspect are being prepared, never take place. There is no difference in percentage compared with NGOs in general. When compared with the government responses, WBU organizations report a higher percentage, when consultations sometimes take place, but a lower percentage, when consultations always take place.

Table 23 (Question 23)
Level of consultations
Level of consultationsFrequencyValid Percent
National28100,0
Regional828,6
Local932,1
Total 28, No answer 5

Table 23 shows that consultations, when they take place, always occur at the national level. Compared with the percentage reported by NGO's in general, there are great differences in the percentage reported, concerning the local level. There are clear differences, when compared with the percentages reported by governments. WBU organizations report a higher percentage on the national level but a lower one on the regional and local levels.

Table 24 (Question 24)
Support to organizations of disabled people
Kind of supportFrequencyValid Percent
Financial2583,3
Organizational/logistic723,3
No support at all310,0
Total 30, No answer 3

The majority of the WBU organizations are reporting that the government gives financial support to organizations of persons with disabilities. There are, however, 10% of the WBU organizations reporting that no support at all is given to organizations of persons with disabilities. There are differences, when compared with the percentage reported by the NGOs in general, regarding financial support, where the percentage reported by WBU organizations is higher. When compared with the percentages reported by the governments, WBU organizations report a lower percentage concerning organizational/logistic support.

Table 25 (Question 25)
Participation in political and public life
Areas of political and public lifeNumber of countries reporting participation
LimitedSomeGreat
Government241-
Legislatures231-
Judiciary2211
Political parties2031
NGO's71011
1 and 2 = limited extent
3 = some extent
4 and 5 = great extent

Table 25 shows that the majority of WBU organizations are reporting that persons with disabilities to a very limited extent participate in government, legislatures, judicial authorities and political parties, but to a great extent in NGOs. The same pattern prevails as that reported by the NGOs in general. However, WBU organizations are reporting a much lower participation in government, legislatures and political parties, than NGOs in general. When compared with the percentages reported by governments, WBU organizations report lower percentages of participation in government, legislatures, judiciary and political parties.

Table 26 (Question 26)
The role of organizations
Areas in which organizations are involvedFrequencyValid Percent
Advocating rights and improved services3093,8
Mobilize persons with disabilities2681,3
Identify needs and priorities2578,1
Participate in the planning, implementation2062,5
Contribute to public awareness2990,6
Provide services2887,5
Promote/organize income generating activities2268,8
Total 32, No answer 1

Table 26 shows that organizations are foremost involved in advocating rights and improved services, contribute to public awareness, mobilizing persons with disabilities and identifying needs and priorities. Organizations are reporting that the area in which they are least involved, is the participatÌng in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services and measures concerning the lives of persons with disabilities and promoting/organizing of income generating activities. Nonetheless, the rates in all areas concerning organizational involvement are high, which implies that the WBU organizations apprehend their role to involve a wide range of tasks. The same pattern prevails as with NGOs in general, the only difference being that the percentage reported by WBU organizations concerning provision of services is higher. When compared with the governments, there is a clear difference only regarding the provision of services, where the percentage reported by WBU is higher than that of the governments.


Co-ordination of Work

Table 27 (Question 27)
Co-ordinating committee

Co-ordinating committeeFrequencyValid Percent
There is a co-ordinating committee2472,7
There is no co-ordinating committee927,3
Total 33, No answer 0

Table 27 shows that the majority of the organizations are reporting the existence of a co-ordinating committee. However, 27%, are reporting that there is no such committee. Minor differences appear in the percentage reported, when compared with NGOs in general. There are no differences, compared with the percentages reported by governments.

Table 28 (Question 28)
Where the co-ordinating committee is reporting
The co-ordinating committee is reporting to:FrequencyValid Percent
A particular Ministry1979,2
The Prime Minister's office312,5
Other28,3
There is no co-ordinating committee927,3
Total 33, No answer 0

According to the WBU organizations, the authority to which the co-ordinating committee is usually reporting, is the Ministry of Social Affairs or any other Ministry. Minor differences appear in the percentage reported, when compared with NGOs in general. When compared with the percentages reported by governments, there is a clear difference only regarding reports to a particular Ministry, where the percentage reported by WBU organizations is higher.

Table 29 (Question 29)
Representation in the co-ordinating committee
Representatives of:FrequencyValid Percent
Ministries2195,5
Organizations of persons with disabilities2090,9
Other NGO's627,3
Private sector522,7
There is no co-ordinating committee927,3
Total 31, No answer 2

According to the WBU organizations, the co-ordinating committee usually includes representatives from Ministries and from organizations of persons with disabilities. Representatives from other NGOs and from the private sector are not so often included in the co-ordinating committee. When compared with the NGOs in general, the pattern is the same, but there is a difference in the percentage reported regarding the representation of other NGOs. When compared with the percentages reported by governments, WBU organizations report a lower percentage regarding representation of other NGOs and from the private sector in the co-ordinating committee.

Table 30 (Question 30)
Participation in policy-development
Involvement of the co-ordinating committeeFrequencyValid Percent
Participation in policy development2187,5
No participation in policy-development312,5
There is no co-ordinating committee927,3
Total 33, No answer 0

Table 30 shows that 88% of the WBU organizations are reporting that the co-ordinating committee is expected to participate in policy development. There are only minor differences in the percentage reported, when compared with those reported by the NGOs in general. No clear differences appear when compared with the percentages, reported by governments.

Table 31 (Question 31)
Participation in performance of other tasks
Involvement of the co-ordinating committeeFrequencyValid Percent
Reporting performance of other tasks1571,4
Reporting no performance of other tasks628,6
There is no co-ordinating committee927,3
Total 30, No answer 3


71% of the NGOs are reporting that the committee is expected to perform other tasks. The percentage reported by the NGOs in general is 57,1. There is thus a great difference in the percentage reported. No clear differences appear when compared with the percentages, reported by governments.

Table 32 (Question 32)
Effects of the establishment of the co-ordinating committee
EffectsFrequencyValid Percent
Improved co-ordination of programmes940,9
Improved legislation940,9
Improved integration of responsibility522,7
Better dialogue in the disability field1254,5
More accurate planning418,2
More effective use of resources418,2
Improved promotion of public awareness940,9
Too early for assessment627,3
There is no co-ordinating committee927,3
Total 31, No answer 2

According to the WBU organizations the establishment of the co-ordinating committee has had the following effects: better dialogue in the disability field, improved co-ordination of programmes, improved legislation and improved promotion of public awareness. However, 27% of the WBU organizations report that it is too early for an assessment of the effects. When compared with NGOs in general, there are only minor differences in the percentage reported regarding improved co-ordination, improved integration of responsibility, more accurate planning and more effective use of resources, the percentages reported there by WBU organizations being lower than those reported by NGOs in general. When compared with the percentages reported by governments, WBU organizations report a lower percentage for all of the above listed effects.

Table 33 (Question 33)
Effects of the adoption of the Standard Rules
The effects of the Standard RulesFrequencyValid Percent
WBU organizations reporting rethinking1456,0
WBU organizations reporting no rethinking936,0
Too early for assessment28,0
Total 25, No answer 8

Table 33 shows that 56% of the WBU organizations are reporting that the adoption of the Standard Rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy while 36% are reporting that this is not the case. The percentage reported by WBU organizations regarding the fact that the adoption of the Standard Rules has not led to a rethinking, is lower than that reported by the NGOs in general. When compared with the percentages reported by governments, fewer WBU organizations report that the adoption of the Standard Rules has lead to a rethinking.



Conclusion
There are 5 questions where a broad convergence of views exists, between WBU organizations, the NGOs in general and the governments, namely the questions no 2, 9, 15, 27 and 30. In none of the issues, regarding these questions, is there any divergence between WBU organizations, NGOs in general and governments..

There are, nonetheless, a number of important issues, where divergent views exist between WBU organizations and governments. Divergence in views is almost equally frequent between WBU organizations and governments and NGOs in general.

There are also a number of important issues, where divergent views are manifest between WBU organizations, NGOs in general and governments. Divergence is not occurring over the whole range of issues in these areas, but in most of them.

The following are the areas where divergence in views is most apparent: the civil and political rights of persons with disabilities, the economic and social rights of persons with disabilities, the measures taken by the governments in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment, the obstacles reported to facilitate accessibility in the built environment, the participation in political and public life and the effects of the establishment of the co-ordinating committee.


Contents of the WBU Report


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