taking action for the human rights of people with disabilities
TRANSCRIPT
PART 3: ADVOCACY! TAKING ACTION FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 229
PART 3:
ADVOCACY!TAKING ACTION FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS
OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
PART 3 CONTENTS:• AdvocacyandAction………………………………………….230• ActionPlans……………………………………………………232• StepsTowardAdvocacy………………………………………232
230 HUMAN RIGHTS. YES! ACTION AND ADVOCACY ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
PART 3: ADVOCACY!TAKING ACTION FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS
OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
CONTINUING YOUR START: ADVOCACY AND ACTION
Advocacy isactiontocreatepositivechange.Itusuallyinvolvesmanypeopleand/ororganizationsworkingtogethertowardasharedvisionforchange.
Thebestadvocatesfordisabilityrightsareself-advocates,peoplewithdisabilitiesthemselves.Ittakestheactiveandcollaborativeeffortsofpersonswithdisabilitiesandtheiralliestoensurethattheirhumanrightsarerespectedandtoeffectivelycreatesocialchange.
ESSENTIALS OF ADVOCACY
Awareness of Rights
Awareness of Self
Action
AWARENESS OF RIGHTS
Allpeopleshouldbeawareoftheirrightsandliberties!Thefirsttwopartsofthismanualareintendedtomakeyouawareofthehumanrightsthatpersonswithdisabilitiesareentitledtounderinternationallaw,asaffirmedbytheConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities(CRPD).Personswithdisabilitiesandtheiralliesneedtobeabletoanalyzeandnavigatethesocialandpoliticalenvironmentwithinwhichtheylivefromthishumanrightsperspective.Suchawarenessincreasesconsciousnessandmobilizespeopletotakeaction,toadvocateagainstdiscrimination,andtofightfortherightstowhichtheyareentitled.
Using a Human Rights Approach for Advocacy
Arights-basedapproach todisability regards the limitationsplacedonpeoplewithdisabilitiesbytheirsocialandphysicalenvironmentsasaviolationoftheirfundamentalhumanrights.Aright-basedapproachcantransformtheneedsofpeoplewithdisabilitiesintorightstheycanclaimandadvocate.
PART 3: ADVOCACY! TAKING ACTION FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 231
AWARENESS OF SELF
Self-knowledgeandeffectivecommunicationarekeytobecomingstrongself-advocates.Personswithdisabilitiesneedtoknowtheirownstrengthsandneeds,andhavetheabilitytoeffectivelycommunicatethoseneedswhenadvocatingfortheirrights.Likeanyskill,advocacymustbepracticedand,asaresult,itimproveswithtime.Practiceexplainingwhatyouneedinordertoaccessyourcommunityandenjoyyourrights.
ACTION
Awarenessdoesnotcreatechange.ACTIONdoes!
Younowhavetheknowledgeandarebuildingtheskillstoadvocatesuccessfullyforyourrights.Commitmentisessentialtotakingaction.Startwithsmallattainablesteps.Participationindisabilityorganizationscanhelp.Itcanprovideanimportantenvironmenttopracticeadvocacyskillsandpromoteasenseofbelonging,identity,andconnectiontootherswhosharesimilarlifeexperiences.
Advocacycanbeusedformanypurposes:forpersonalneeds,fortheneedsofotherswithdisabilities,orfortheneedsofthedisabilitycommunityasawhole.Advocacycantakeplaceatmanylevelstoo:locally,nationally,andinternationally.Examplesofadvocacyactionsinclude:
Educational Action• Educating ourselves: gatheringtheinformationweneedtounderstandtheissueand
analyzingwhatwehavelearned;• Educating others: drawingtheattentionofalliesandthegeneralpublictoanissuethat
needstobeaddressedandshowinghowwewanttocreatechange;• Changing attitudes: addressingstereotypesandmisconceptionsaboutaparticular
issueandaboutpeoplewithdisabilitiesgenerally.
Political Action• Addressing policy-makers: influencingthemtoconsultwithandincludetheconcerns
ofpeoplewithdisabilitieswhenmakingpublicpolicies;• Addressing law-makers: lobbyingforsupportsandfulfillmentofthehumanrightsof
peoplewithdisabilities;• Addressingpublicofficials: pressuringforenforcementoflawsandpoliciesthat
respectandprotectthehumanrightsofpeoplewithdisabilities;• Social and community service providers: effectivelycommunicatingforservice
delivery.Forexample:navigatingtheservicedeliverysystemthroughcommunicationwithbankers,grocers,socialworkers,and/ormedicalprofessionals.
Legal Action• Creating new law: participatinginadvocacyfornewlawsondisabilityrightsandtaking
partinthedraftingofsuchlaws.Forexample:advocatingforcomprehensivedisabilityrightslegislationconsistentwithinternationallaw,includingtheCRPD.
• Repealing negative law: takingactiontorepeallawsthatstandinthewayoftheenjoymentofdisabilityrights.Forexample:advocatingtorepealdiscriminatorymarriagelawsthatbarpeoplewithdisabilitiesfromexercisingtheirrighttomarry.
232 HUMAN RIGHTS. YES! ACTION AND ADVOCACY ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
• Working to implement disability rights law: Forexample:Takingactiontohighlightnon-compliancewithaccessibilitystandardsinnewbuildingconstruction,ortrainingemployersonhowtoprovidereasonableaccommodationstoemployeeswithdisabilities.
Advocacybenefitsfromthecollectiveactionofindividualsandgroupsworkingtogethertoachieveasharedgoal.Wiseadvocatesrecognizethatcreatinglastingchangetakestime,especiallywhenoldattitudesandhabitsmustbeovercome.Theyplanandcommitthemselvestoasustainable,long-termeffort,buttheyalsosetshort-termgoalsandbenchmarks.
Celebrateyourachievementstogetherandtakecaretonurtureyoursharedvisionandworkingrelationships.
ACTION PLANS
Workingcollaboratively,peoplecancreateactionplansthattakeadvantageoftheskillsandresourceseachpartner,whetheritbeanotherindividualoranorganization,hastocontribute.Partnersalsoregularlyevaluatetheirplaninlightofsuccessesandfailures,aswellasunfoldingeventsandopportunities.
Actionplanningcanbesimple,justrememberthe“WHquestions”:• What?Forexample:What type of issue is the group addressing?What type of actions
are necessary?• Who?Forexample:Who will take action? • When?Forexample:When will the action be complete?• Where? • Why and/orhow?Forexample:How will you obtain the financial, material, and/or
human resources that may be needed to take action?
Askingthesequestionswillmakesurethateverybodyunderstandswhatisgoingtohappennext.Thenextstepinactionplanningismakingsurethattheplanis feasibleandreasonable.Onceyoucompletetheaction,itisimportanttofollow-upwithadditionalquestions:
• Whenwastheactiontaken?• Whathappenedasaresultoftheaction?• Whatareyournextsteps?
STEPS TOWARD ADVOCACY
STEP 1: DEFINE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO MAKE (30 minutes)
1. Discuss/List:• Whatarethemainissuesorbarrierstothehumanrightsofpeoplewithdisabilitiesin
yourcommunity?Brainstormalistandrecorditonchartpaper.• Ifyoucouldcreatechangeonanyoneoftheseissuesorbarriers,whichwouldmake
themostdifferenceinthelivesofpeoplewithdisabilities?Markthesewithastar.
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2. Analyze:Askparticipantstobreakintosmallgroupsaccordingtothestarreditemsthattheywouldmostliketoworkon.Ifmanypeoplewanttoworkonthesameissueorbarrier,encourageseveralsmallgroupsratherthanasinglelargeone.
Giveeachgroupaquestionsheettoguidetheirdiscussions.
Handout 1
DefiningtheChangeYouWanttoMake
1.Whatisthespecificchangeyouwishtobringabout?Writethisinafewsentencesonchartpaper.
2.Doesthischangeinvolvehavingtheright–• Respected(thatis,havingtherightrecognized,stoppingpeopleand
institutionsfromdenyingorlimitingtheright)?• Protected(thatis,havinglawandmeasurestoensuretherightisnotviolated
andpreventitsviolation)?• Fulfilled(thatis,givensufficientrecognition,funding,andotherpositiveacts
thatenableandassistenjoymentofthatright)?
3.Analyzepossibleunderlyingcausesofthesituationyouwishtochange.Lookateachfromasmanyperspectivesasyoucanimagine.Forexample:• Attitudes• Laws• Society• Religionandculture• Government• Healthcaresystem• Individualsandfamilies• Otherperspectives?
4.Oftheunderlyingcausesidentifiedforeachchallenge,whichseemtobethemostsignificant?
3. Report:Askeachgrouptopostandbrieflyexplaintheiranalysisofthechangetheywishtomake.Askforcommentsandsuggestionsfromthewholegroup.
234 HUMAN RIGHTS. YES! ACTION AND ADVOCACY ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
STEP 2: ARTICULATING THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO MAKE (2 hours)
1. Plan:Onceyouhaveaclearvisionofthechangeyouwanttomake,youneedtodeveloptheskillstocommunicateyourvisionarticulatelyandconvincinglytoothers,bothpotentialsupportersandopponents.
Askeachgrouptoprepareafive-minutepresentationtoa“panelofcommunityleaders”ontheirchosenproblem.Eachpresentationshouldtrytoincludemostofthefollowingpoints
NotetoFacilitator:Allowplentyoftimeforplanningandpractice.Emphasizethatalthoughsomemembersofthegroupmaynaturallybebetterpublicspeakers,everyoneshouldparticipateintheplanningandbeabletoexplaintheirvisionforchange.
Handout 2
Articulating the Change You Want to Make
1.Describetheproblem.Ifpossiblemention–•howthisproblemmayintersectwithotherkindsofhumanrightsviolationsmanypeoplewithdisabilitiesexperience;
•thegroup(s)ofpeoplewithdisabilitiesitprincipallyaffects;•thepossiblecause(s)oftheproblem.
2.Relatetheproblemtothehumanrightsofpeoplewithdisabilities,referringtospecificarticlesoftheCRPDandifpossibletootherhumanrightsdocuments.
3.Clarifyhowtheproblemaffectsthelivesofpeoplewithdisabilities(andtheirfamilieswhererelevant).
4.Showhowaddressingtheproblemcanimprovethelivesofpeoplewithdisabilitiesandthecommunityingeneral.
5.Proposespecificactionsthatshouldbetakentoaddresstheproblem.
6.Showhowmembersofthecommunitycangetinvolvedinaddressingtheproblem.
Askeachgrouptochooseoneortwospokespersonstomakethepresentationandtwoorthreetoserveasthe“panelofcommunityleaders.”Whilethegroupspracticetheirpresentations,the“panelofleaders”meetstodecideontheirroles,representingprobableattitudeswithinthecommunityleadership(forexample,ahostilemayor,asupportivecommunityleader,areligiousauthority).Alternatively,askoneortwopeoplefromeachgrouptocometogethertoformthepanelforallpresentations.
PART 3: ADVOCACY! TAKING ACTION FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 235
2. Role Play:Thespokesperson(s)fromeachgroupmakesapresentationandmembersofthepanellistenandrespond,askingquestionsandofferingcomments,objectionsorsuggestionsinkeepingwiththeirchosenroles.
NotetoFacilitator:Timethepresentationscarefully:mostpresentershavedifficultyfillingthefullfiveminutes.Alsolimitthepanel’sresponsesinorderforallgroupstohavesufficienttime.
3. Discuss:Afterthepresentationsandroleplay,discuss:
• Howdidthespokespersonsfeelwhenpresentingtheproblem?• Howdidthe“communityleaders”respondtothepresentation?Whatattitudesinthe
communityweretheyrepresenting?• Howdidtheaudience,composedoftherestofthegroup,respondtothepresentations?• Didanyspokespersondiscusstheproblemasahumanrightsviolation?Didputtingthe
probleminthiscontextstrengthentheargument?• Aretheseideasforimprovingthisspecificrightfeasibleinyourcommunity?Whyorwhy
not?
4. Conclude:Challengetheparticipantstoevaluatetheirknowledgeoftheproblemandinclusivenessofperspective:
• Howwouldyouchangeyourpresentationinareal-lifesituation?• Howdidyouobtainyourinformationonthebarrierstoparticipationandtheirimpact?
Wasitaccurateandcomplete?Ifnot,whatadditionalinformationdoyouneedandhowcanyouobtainit?
• Didyouconsultthepeoplewithdisabilitiesinvolvedabouttheproblemandhowitaffectsthem?Abouttheactionsthatcouldimprovetheproblem?
• Whyisitimportantinreal-lifehumanrightsadvocacytoincludetheactiveparticipationofthosedirectlyinvolvedandaffected?
• Howcanyouapplythelessonslearnedfromthisexercisetoplanningandimplementingadvocacyforpeoplewithdisabilitiesinyourowncommunity?
Emphasizethatwhilearticulatingyourvisionforchangeisacriticalskillforeffectiveadvocacy,itisalsoonethatdevelopsthroughpractice.Themoreyoudoit,thebetteryouget.Encourageparticipantstomakeandtakeopportunitiestospeakoutaboutthechangetheywanttomake.
NotetoFacilitator:Ifthetechnologyisavailable,arrangetovideothepresentationsandletthespeakersprivatelycritiquetheirperformances.
STEP 3: PREPARING FOR ACTION
A. Conducting a SWOT Analysis (45 minutes)
Nowthatyouhavearticulatedthechangeyouwanttomake,analyzeitintermsofyourandyourorganization’sstrengths,weaknesses,opportunities,andthreats.Writedownanswerstothefollowingquestions.Whereappropriatefeelfreetomodifyquestions:
236 HUMAN RIGHTS. YES! ACTION AND ADVOCACY ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Strengths:• Whatareyouradvantages?• Whatdoyoudowell?• Whatdootherpeopleseeasyourstrengths?• Whatuniqueresourcesdoyouhave?
Considerstrengthsfromyourorganization’sand/oryourpersonalpointofviewandfromthepointofviewofthepeopleyoudealwith.Donotbemodest:berealistic!
Weaknesses:• Whatcouldyouimprove?• Whatdoyoudobadly?• Whatshouldyouavoid?• Wheredoyouhavefewerresourcesthanothers?• Whatareotherslikelytoseeasyourweaknesses?
Again,considerthisfromaninternalandexternalbasis:dootherpeopleseemtoperceiveweaknessesthatyoudonotsee?Itisbesttoberealisticnowandfaceanyunpleasanttruthsassoonaspossible.
Opportunities:• Whatarethegoodopportunitiesfacingyou?• Whataretheinterestingtrendsyouareawareof?• Whoareyourpotentialallies?
Threats:• Whatobstaclesdoyouface?• Doesyourgrouphavealltherequiredskillsforthejob?• Docompetitorsoropponentsalreadyexist?1
B. Surveying the Field
1.Considerthesequestionsaboutyourpresentandfuturework:• Onwhichofthesechallengesareyouorothersalreadyworkingtochange?How?• Doesyourworkaddresstheunderlyingcausesofthesituation?How?• Whichoftheidentifiedchallengesmightbeeasilyaddedtoexistingworkbeingdoneby
oronbehalfofpeoplewithdisabilities?Why?• Wouldsomeofthesechallengesforpeoplewithdisabilitiesbeespeciallydifficult,
disadvantageous,orevendangeroustoaddress?Why?
2.Considerthesequestionsaboutalliesandpotentialallies:• Whoarethemostlikelyalliestosupportyouraction?Why?• Doyousharethesamegoals?• Howcanyourworkandtheirscomplementandsupporteachother?• Whatdoyouand/oryourorganizationhavetoofferthecollaboration?• Whatdoyouand/oryourorganizationhavetogainfromthecollaboration?• Aretherepotentialproblemswithcollaborationwithanygroup?• Howcanyouestablishthiscollaboration?
1 Source:MindTools:http://www.mindtools.com/swot.html
PART 3: ADVOCACY! TAKING ACTION FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 237
C. Gathering Information
1. What statistics are available about people with disabilities in your community, your country, and in the world (for example, their numbers, ages, income levels, etc.)? • What additional statistics do you need to take action?
2. Whatlawsandofficialpoliciesdoesyourcountryhavethatdirectlyaffectpeoplewithdisabilities? • Do you consider these laws and policies to be adequate and effective? • Do they adequately protect the rights of people with disabilities? • Are these laws and policies consistently enforced and implemented? If not, why not? • Are further laws needed? If so, what new laws would you recommend?
3. Has your country ratified and is thus legally bound to uphold any of the international human rights treatiesaffectingpeoplewithdisabilities?Formoreinformationonratification,seetheDisabledPeoples’InternationalRatificationToolkit:http://www.icrpd.net/ratification/en/index.htm.
4. HasyourcountryratifiedtheConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities(CRPD)?• If no, why not? What can you do to change this decision?• If yes, what steps has your government already taken in that direction?• AreanygroupsinyourcountryalreadyadvocatingratificationoftheCRPD?Whatare
they doing? How can you help?
5. Doesyourcountryhaveanationalhumanrightscommissionand/oranationaldisabilitycommission?2 For more information on implementation, see the Disabled Peoples’ InternationalImplementationToolkit:http://www.icrpd.net/implementation/en/index.htm
6. Are these institutions part of the government or independent of it, that is, part of “civil society”? • What,ifanything,aretheseinstitutionsdoingtoimprovehumanrightsand/orthelives
of people with disabilities? • How can you work with these institutions to see that human rights standards are
enforced for people with disabilities? • Find out what government ministries and agencies are working on the rights and needs
ofpeoplewithdisabilities.Dotheyhavedisabilitypoliciesand/ordisabilityfocalpoints?• Are any of these governmental bodies especially encouraging or discouraging of
advocacy on the rights of people with disabilities?
2 CRPD,Article33,obligatesStatesPartiesto“designateoneormorefocalpointswithingovernment,”and“maintain, strengthen, designate or establish” one or more independent mechanisms to “promote, protect andmonitorimplementation”oftheConvention.Personswithdisabilitiesandtheirrepresentativeorgani-zations must be “involved and participate fully in the monitoring process.”
238 HUMAN RIGHTS. YES! ACTION AND ADVOCACY ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
STEP 4: MAKING YOUR ACTION PLAN
NowthatyouhavegonethroughSteps1-3,chooseandcompleteanactionplanningform(pages240-242).Chooseorcreateonemostsuitabletoyourgroupandspecificaction.Youmaywishtohaveoneactionplanforactionsaimedatlongtermgoalsandseveralothersforindividual,short-termactions.Remembertoincludeasectiononfollow-upandevaluation.
Congratulations!Youhavenowcompletedthefollowingsteps:
STEP 1: DEFINING THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO MAKE STEP 2: ARTICULATING THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO MAKESTEP 3: PREPARING FOR ACTIONSTEP 4: MAKING YOUR ACTION PLAN
Nowitistimefor:
STEP 5: TAKING ACTION
Followyouractionplanandusetheskillsyou’vegainedtoclearlyaddresssocialchangenomatterhowsmallthestep.Giveyourselfareasonableamountoftimetoaccomplishyourgoalandsetadatetofollow-up.
STEP 6: FOLLOWING-UP
Onceyouhavebeguntotakeaction,reconnectwithyourgroupregularly.Communicatethesuccessesorchallengesyoufacedwhentakingaction.Reviewthefollowingquestions:
1.Didyoufollowtheactionplan?Whatsuccessesdidyouhave?Whatchallengesdidyouencounter?
2.Ifyoumetyourgoal:• Whatfactorscontributedtoyoursuccess?• Howcanyoubuildonthissuccess?• Shouldyourepeatthisstrategy?
3.Ifyourgoalwasnotmet:• Whatrevisionsneedtobemadetotheactionplan?• Doesadditionalresearchneedtobecompleted?• Areadditionalresourcesneeded?
4.Whatareyournextstepsforaction?• Doyouhaveanotheractiontotake?
PART 3: ADVOCACY! TAKING ACTION FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 239
Itisimportanttomonitorandkeeptrackofyouractions.Recordyourprogressontheactionplanningformsandcelebrateyoursuccesses!
Workingandadvocatinginconcertwithoneanotherasindividualsororganizedgroupsisthemosteffectivewaytocreatesocialchange.Collaborativeworkcanbechallenging.Itrequiresworkingthroughconflicttoachieveaconsensusoragreement,butitisvitaltoenablingthehumanrightsandfundamentalfreedomsofall.
Remember:
“A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” –MargaretMead
240 HUMAN RIGHTS. YES! ACTION AND ADVOCACY ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
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Balcazar,F.E
.(2005)Advocacyactionplanningguide.D
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PART 3: ADVOCACY! TAKING ACTION FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 241
Advocacy Action Plan Template
WerecommendcompletingoneActionPlanpermeetingpergroup
ActionGroup: Date:
ChangetoMake:
SpecificActions:
ByWhom: ByWhen:
ResourcesNeeded:
DateActionTaken: Follow-up:
Instructions
Change–Whattypeofchangedoyouwanttomake?Actions–Whattypesofactionsarenecessary?By Whom–Whowilltakeaction?By When–Bywhatdatewilltheactionbedone?Resources Needed–Whatfinancial,material,andhumanresourcesareneededtotake action?Date Action Taken–Whenwastheactiontaken?Follow-up–Whathappenedasaresultoftheaction?Nextsteps?
Goalsshouldalwaysbe:S–SpecificM–Measurable A–AchievableR–RealisticT–TimeBound
1. Goal/Objective.Brieflydescribeeachgoal/objectiveandwhenthegoal/objectiveshouldbemetoraccomplished.
2. Measurement.Howwillthegoal/objectivebeevaluated?Didyoucompletetheaction?3. Importance.RankthegoalasEssential,Important,orDesirableasfollows:
Essential–requiredtoaccesshumanrightsImportant–helpfulforaccessinghumanrightsDesirable–assetforaccessinghumanrights
242 HUMAN RIGHTS. YES! ACTION AND ADVOCACY ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
1st Goal/Objective
Description:
Measurement:
Importance: EssentialImportantDesirable
2nd Goal/Objective
Description:
Measurement:
Importance: EssentialImportantDesirable
3rd Goal/Objective
Description:
Measurement:
Importance: EssentialImportantDesirable