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PDF of whole KaReport Summer 2005 Newsletter (12 pages 307 KB) Reading PDF files Feedback
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Cross-border learning
In May 2005 a delegation from Rwanda's national DPO, the Federation des Associations et Centres pour Handicapés au Rwanda1 (FACHR), made a learning visit to umbrella organisation the National Union of Disabled Persons in Uganda (NUDIPU).
The visit was made following recommendations from research undertaken in Rwanda by the Disability KaR Policy Officer2.
One
of the conclusions of this research was that Rwanda's disability sector
was being undermined by a lack of coordination within government ministries
and with and between civil society actors. FACHR was recognised as being
a suitable organisation to lead such a coordination, but needing substantial
development, capacity-building and support to do so. It was also concluded
that FACHR and other Rwandan DPOs need to be strengthened to be able to
advocate for the rights of disabled people with government, donors and
society as a whole.
Prompted by these observations, FACHR was facilitated by DFID and Disability KaR to visit neighbouring Uganda to learn from NUDIPU's successful ways of working, in a country that is recognised as having an advanced disability movement.
The study tour was divided into three parts, enabling FACHR to gain insight into the structure and ways of working of NUDIPU, to meet with MPs representing disabled people, and visit a number of DPOs.
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The disability movement
in Uganda Uganda has a highly advanced disability movement, expansive disability legislation, and representation of disabled people at all levels of government - with NUDIPU itself having five seats in Parliament. NUDIPU, formed in 1987, is very well established. It includes all kinds of disability and gets its voice heard throughout Uganda by being represented from village to national level. NUDIPU is frequently consulted by the government on matters related to disability. Firmly integrated into Uganda's disability movement, NUDIPU's aims are to bring disabled people together, create a common and unified voice, break traditional divisions built along medical lines, raise awareness of problems and issues affecting disabled people and mobilise their efforts in developing strategies and implementing action to address their needs. It advocates for the equalisation of rights and opportunities for disabled people, and helps its member associations to get funding. The organisation is very much inspired by the slogan 'Nothing for us without us', with planning, managing, implementing and monitoring of all its programmes done by and for disabled people. For NUDIPU, disability is a human rights issue. |
Observations
The Rwandan delegates noted how NUDIPU members find
solidarity by working as a united group. The visitors saw the inclusion
of disabled people into the Ugandan constitution as NUDIPU's most significant
achievement, and recognised the strength of the Ugandan group's lobbying
and the slogan 'Nothing for us without us', which have enabled disabled
people's inclusion in development programming, decision making and policy-making
and legislation.
The visitors drew a number of recommendations to take home to Rwanda, including: disabled people should take part in decision-making; mass media should be used to sensitise the public; associations should be set up for different disabilities and organised on a national level; FACHR should be independent and look for donors who have the same understanding of disability issues that it has itself; education should be prioritised for people with all kinds of disability; in order to become united, the disability movement in Rwanda should be structured as 'one family' with FACHR at the centre.
Notes
1. Federation of associations and centres for disabled
people in Rwanda
2. Philippa Thomas, assisted by Bernard Bagweneza
Read
the full report on the Rwandan research (PDF 106 KB)
