© Independent Living Institute
Independent Living Institute,
Storforsplan 36, 10 tr
123 47 Farsta
Sweden
Tel. 08-506 22 179
info@independentliving.org
Promoting the self-determination of people with disabilities
Government Implementation of
the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
World Federation of the Deaf - WFD
© Dimitris Michailakis 1997
Organizations of Persons With Disabilities
Table 20 (Question No. 20)
National umbrella organization
Total 29, No answer 2
National umbrella organization Frequency Valid Percent There is a umbrella organization 24 82,8 There is no umbrella organization 5 17,2
As Table 20 shows, the majority of the WFD organizations are reporting that there is an umbrella organization of organizations of persons with disabilities. There are differences in the percentage reported compared with those reported by the NGOs in general. WFD organizations report a higher percentage on the existence of an umbrella organization. There are no clear differences, when compared with the percentages reported by governments.
Table 21 (Question 21)
Participation in policy making
Total 30, No answer 1
Participation in policy-making Frequency Valid Percent WFD organizations reporting participation 10 33,3 WFD organizations reporting no participation 20 66,7
As Table 21 shows, 67% of the WFD organizations report that there are no legal provisions that mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making or to work with governmental institutions. Minor differences appear compared with the percentage reported by the NGOs in general. There are, however, great differences compared with the percentages reported by governments. WFD organizations report a lower percentage concerning participation in policy making.
Table 22 (Question 22)
Consultations with organizations of persons with disabilities
Total 31, No answer 0
Organizations are consulted: Frequency Valid Percent Never 6 19,4 Sometimes 16 51,6 Often 8 25,8 Always 1 3,2
Table 22 shows that a majority of the organizations report that consultations sometimes take place, while 19% of the WFD organizations 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. The main difference in percentage compared with NGOs in general is that WFD organizations are reporting a lower percentage, when consultations are always taking place, compared with the percentage reported by the NGOs in general. There are clear differences, when compared with the percentages reported by governments. WFD organizations report a higher percentage, when organizations are never/sometimes consulted but a lower percentage, when they are always consulted.
Table 23 (Question 23)
Level of consultations
Total 25, No answer 6
Level of consultations Frequency Valid Percent National 23 92,0 Regional 6 24,0 Local 8 32,0
Table 23 shows that consultations, when taking place, occur most frequently at the national level. Great differences appear in the percentage reported concerning the regional and local levels, when compared with the one reported by NGOs in general. When compared with the percentages reported by the governments, WFD organizations report a lower percentage regarding consultations on the regional and local levels.
Table 24 (Question 24)
Support to organizations of disabled people
Total 28, No answer 3
Kind of support Frequency Valid Percent Financial 21 75,0 Organizational/logistic 8 28,6 No support at all 4 14,3
The majority of the WFD organizations are reporting that the government gives financial support to organizations of persons with disabilities. However 14% of the WFD organizations report that no support at all is given to organizations of persons with disabilities. Minor differences appear when compared with the percentage reported by the NGOs in general. When compared with the percentages reported by governments, WFD organizations report a lower percentage regarding organizational/logistic support.
Table 25 (Question 25)
Participation in political and public life
1 and 2 = limited extent
Areas of political and public life Number of countries reporting participation Limited Some Great Government 23 1 1 Legislatures 23 1 - Judiciary 21 1 1 Political parties 21 1 5 NGO's 8 3 16
3 = some extent
4 and 5 = great extent
Table 25 shows that the majority of WFD organizations are reporting that persons with disabilities to a very limited extent, participate in government, legislatures, judicial authorities and political parties but participate to a great extent in NGOs. The same pattern prevails as that reported by the NGOs in general, as well as with the one reported by governments.
Table 26 (Question 26)
The role of organizations
Total 31, No answer 0
Areas in which organizations are involved Frequency Valid Percent Advocating rights and improved services 28 90,3 Mobilize persons with disabilities 26 83,9 Identify needs and priorities 27 87,1 Participate in the planning, implementation 16 51,6 Contribute to public awareness 24 77,4 Provide services 21 67,7 Promote/organize income generating activities 19 61,3
Table 26 shows that organizations are foremost involved in advocating rights and improved services, mobilizing persons with disabilities and identifying needs and priorities. Organizations are reporting that the area in which they are least involved is participating in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services and measures concerning the lives of persons with disabilities and the promotion/organization of income generating activities. Nonetheless, the rates in all areas concerning organizational involvement are high implying that the WFD organizations apprehend their role to involve a wide range of tasks. The same pattern prevails as with NGOs in general, except regarding the contribution of NGOs to public awareness, where the percentage reported by WFD organizations is lower. When compared with the percentages reported by governments, WFD organizations report a lower percentage regarding two areas: participation in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services and programmes and contribution to public awareness.
Co-ordination of Work
Table 27 (Question 27)
Co-ordinating committee
Total 31, No answer 0
Co-ordinating committee Frequency Valid Percent There is a co-ordinating committee 19 61,3 There is no co-ordinating committee 12 38,7
Table 27 shows that the majority of the organizations are reporting the existence of a co-ordinating committee. However, 39% report that there is no co-ordinating committee. Minor differences appear in the percentage reported, when compared with NGOs in general. There are clear differences, when compared with the percentages reported by governments. WFD organizations report a lower percentage regarding the existence of a co-ordinating committee.
Table 28 (Question 28)
Where the co-ordinating committee is reporting
Total 33, No answer 0
The co-ordinating committee is reporting to: Frequency Valid Percent A particular Ministry 15 75,0 The Prime Minister's office 1 5,0 Other 4 20,0 There is no co-ordinating committee 12 38,7
According to the WFD 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 NGO's in general. When compared with the percentages reported by governments, WFD organizations indicate a lower percentage concerning reports to the Prime Minister's office.
Table 29 (Question 29)
Representation in the co-ordinating committee
Total 29, No answer 2
Representatives of: Frequency Valid Percent Ministries 15 88,2 Organizations of persons with disabilities 14 82,4 Other NGO's 7 41,2 Private sector 5 29,4 There is no co-ordinating committee 12 38,7
According to the WFD 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. The same pattern prevails when compared with the NGOs in general, with only minor differences in the percentage reported. When compared with the percentages reported by governments, WFD organizations report a lower percentage concerning the representation in the co-ordinating committee ot the NGOs and from the private sector.
Table 30 (Question 30)
Participation in policy-development
Total 31, No answer 2
Involvement of the co-ordinating committee Frequency Valid Percent Participation in policy development 15 88,2 No participation in policy-development 2 11,8 There is no co-ordinating committee 12 38,7
Table 30 shows that 88% of the WFD 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. There are no clear differences, when compared with the percentages reported by the governments.
Table 31 (Question 31)
Participation in performance of other tasks
Total 25, No answer 6
Involvement of the co-ordinating committee Frequency Valid Percent Reporting performance of other tasks 9 69,2 Reporting no performance of other tasks 4 30,8 There is no co-ordinating committee 12 38,7
69 percent of WFD organizations are reporting that the committee is expected to perform other tasks. The percentage reported by the NGOs in general is lower. There are clear differences, when compared with government responses. WFD organizations report a lower percentage regarding the involvement of the co-ordinating committee in performance of other tasks.
Table 32 (Question 32)
Effects of the establishment of the co-ordinating committee
Total 30, No answer 1
Effects Frequency Valid Percent Improved co-ordination of programmes 10 55,6 Improved legislation 5 27,8 Improved integration of responsibility 7 38,9 Better dialogue in the disability field 9 50,0 More accurate planning 4 22,2 More effective use of resources 5 27,8 Improved promotion of public awareness 8 44,4 Too early for assessment 6 33,3 There is no co-ordinating committee 12 38,7
According to the WFD organizations, the establishment of the co-ordinating committee has had the following effects: improved co-ordination of measures/programmes and better dialogue in the disability field. 33% of the NGOs report that it is too early for an assessment regarding the effects of the co-ordinating committee. There are only minor differences in the percentage reported, when compared with NGOs in general, except regarding improvement of legislation, the percentage reported by WFD organizations being lower. There are clear differences, when compared with the percentages reported by the governments. WFD organizations report a lower percentage regarding all of the above listed effects of the establishment of the co-ordinating committee.
Table 33 (Question 33)
Effects of the adoption of the Standard Rules
Total 19, No answer 12
The effects of the Standard Rules Frequency Valid Percent WFD organizations reporting rethinking 11 57,9 WFD organizations reporting no rethinking 6 31,6 Too early for assessment 2 10,5
Table 33 shows that 58% of the WFD organizations are reporting that the adoption of the Standard Rules has led to a rethinking of the approach to disability policy. The percentage reported by WFD organizations on the issue that the adoption of the Standard Rules has not led to a rethinking is lower than that reported by the NGOs in general (32%). There are clear differences, when compared with the percentages reported by governments. There are fewer WFD organizations reporting a rethinking, as an effect of the adoption of the Standard Rules.
Conclusion
There are 3 questions in which a broad convergence of views exists between WFD organizations, the NGOs in general and in the governments. The questions are the following: emphasis of disability policy (2), participation in political and public life (25), participation in policy-development (30).
There are a number of areas, where divergent views continue to exist, on a number of important issues, between WFD organizations and governments. Divergence in views is two times higher between WFD organizations and governments than between WFD organizations and NGOs in general.
There are also a number of areas, where divergent views continue to exist, on a number of important issues, between WFD organizations, NGOs in general and governments. Divergence does not occur over the whole range of variables 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, economic and social rights of persons with disabilities, measures taken by the governments in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment, the obstacles reported to facilitate accessibility in the built environment, participation in political and public life, the effects of the establishment of the co-ordinating committee and the effects of the adoption of the Standard Rules.
There are also a number of questions where WFD organizations and government responses converge, namely the status of sign language (16), accessibility measures in media (17) and the national umbrella organizations (20). The fact that one group of NGO's - representing one specific disability group - and all NGO's in general are of the same opinion is not unexpected, neither that all NGO's are of another opinion than the governments; but the fact that country representatives of one disability organization held the similar view as the goverments is worth observing.
Contents of the WFD Report
