N o n - c ommu n i c a b l e d i s e a s e s a n d d i s a b i l i t i e s for sharing experiences and practices. Leaders agreed that the Strategy provides effective guidance to Forum members in advancing their work on disability issues’ (PIFL, 2010: p. 7). The PRSD identifies specific areas where a regional co-operative approach will strengthen national action. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is the foundation of the PRSD. The regional strategy facilitates and supports a Pacific approach to progress rights- and disability-inclusive development in Forum Island Countries (FICs) by providing relevant and achievable guidelines to support national efforts to advance disability issues. A partnership between the government of Australia and the PIFS was agreed to in 2011 and provided three-year funding (2011–14) of approximately FJ$4 million to implement the strategy. A mid-term review (MTR) took place between October 2013 and January 2014. The outcomes of the MTR provided information about progress to date on the implementation of the PRSD; assessed the role of the PIFS as designer and co-ordinator; and assessed progress made by countries in implementing the strategy. Key review findings The key review findings are divided into six thematic areas. Strengthen political leadership and enabling environment There has been strong engagement with political leadership of national governments, which in all PICs, to varying degrees, has led to positive changes in the commitment made to disability in national policies, plans and international human rights frameworks and the CRPD. There has been less progress in commitment to resources to implement policies and plans, and the engagement with leadership of regional organisations has been limited. Recognition and protection of human rights of persons with disabilities The presence of the PRSD has progressed the process for certain PICs to prepare, and in some cases ratify, the CRPD and their commitments to other international human rights conventions and reporting mechanisms. Technical assistance of PIFS with other development partners has assisted in the development of national plans and policies, as well as legislative and policy reviews, to ensure compliance with the CRPD. Strengthen partnerships, collaboration and coordination PIFS has played a strong and important role in facilitating collaboration and co-ordination between a growing number of participating and contributing stakeholder organisations. There is strong evidence of positive and effective co-ordination at national and regional levels, and disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) are part of the collaborative efforts and are effectively representing their members. Due to the increasing level of activity and engagement there is need to continue to strengthen co-ordination and ensure there is clarity of the roles and responsibilities of contributing partners. To strengthen broader commitment to disability rights and inclusive development, engagement with a wider range of relevant partnerships needs to be facilitated. Disability-inclusive development The PRSD has supported increased awareness, understanding and commitment (through policy and planning by governments) to disability-inclusive development. There has been relatively little investment and action by Pacific governments to implement disability-inclusive development, and understanding of and commitment to mainstreaming disability issues more widely across the whole of government remains weak. Enhance the central role of persons with disabilities DPOs are accessing and benefiting from increased resources – mainly from development partners rather than governments – and this is helping them to more strongly advocate and effectively represent their members’ interests. DPOs are contributing at national, regional and international forums and meetings, and are part of consultation, advisory and decision-making processes. National and regional DPOs are providing a critical and important role to the extent that there is some concern that some governments are deferring to DPOs rather than fulfilling what should be their own responsibilities for promoting and protecting the rights of people with disabilities. Mobilisation of resources Overall, there has been significant increase in the Pacific region of financial and technical resources for disability rights and inclusion. The majority of the increase and the current investment made in disability in the region are from development partners and donor funds (primarily the Australian government). Very few PICs have increased the allocation of resources from their national budgets to support disability policies or programmes. Progress made in countries Based on the data available, all countries have made some progress or were on track in at least 66 per cent of the 32 indicators of progress set for the PRSD. Four countries (Cook Islands at 84 per cent, Palau at 63 per cent, Nauru at 53 per cent and Samoa at 50 per cent) are rated as being on track or having achieved at least half of the 32 indicators of progress. Four countries had more than 25 per cent of the indicators rated as off track or no progress (Tuvalu at 34 per cent, Federated States of Micronesia at 28 per cent, Tonga at 25 per cent and Republic of Marshall Islands at 25 per cent). No countries had 50 per cent or more of the indicators rated as off track or no progress. More detailed data for four countries – Samoa, Kiribati, Cook Islands and Palau – was reviewed based on their self-assessment of progress. Although there is economic, social and political diversity between these countries, and their commitment and capacity to disability rights and inclusion varies, certain common strengths and areas of progress were found. These were: • Having committed and active DPOs that are strong advocates on disability rights • The government engaging with and involving DPOs in policy development, and in ratification and implementing obligations of the CRPD • Either having ratified the CRPD or having made positive steps in preparing to ratify by developing a national policy, completing policy compliance and legislative review processes 86 Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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