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25. JAHRGANG AUSGABE 2/2014
25ND YEAR ISSUE 2/2014
Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung
Disability and
International Development
Barrierefreiheit in den Bereichen Information und
Kommunikation/Information and Communication
without Barriers
Inhaltsverzeichnis Impressum/Masthead
Table of Contents Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung
Disability and International Development
Herausgeber/Editor
Behinderung und Entwicklungszusammenarbeit e.V./
Disability and Development Cooperation
Anschrift/Address
Wandastr. 9, 45136 Essen
Editorial .......................................................................3 Tel.: +49 (0)201/17 89 123
Fax: +49 (0)201/17 89 026
E-Mail: info@inie-inid.org
Schwerpunkt/Focus Internet: www.zbdw.de
Barrierefreiheit in den Bereichen Information und Kom
munikation/Information and Communication without Bar Für blinde und sehbehinderte Menschen ist die Zeit
riers schrift im Internet erhältlich./For persons with visual im
pairment, an electronic version of the journal is
available at www.zbdw.de
Barriers Perceived by Women with Disabilities
Redaktionsgruppe/Editorial Board
in Gaza, Palestine
Sunil Deepak/Isra’a Juma’a Ahmed Abu Lehya/ Isabella Bertmann, Christine Bruker, Jana Offergeld,
Walaa Nemer Mdoukh/Adriano Lostia .............................4 Prof. Dr. Sabine Schäper, Gabriele Weigt
Schriftleitung/Editorship
Removing Barriers and Advancing Digital Accessibility: Gabriele Weigt
Ensuring Active Participation by Persons with Disabilities in Redaktionsassistenz/Editorial Assistance
Treaty Implementation Katharina Silter
Martin Gould/Axel Leblois/Francesca Cesa Bianchi/Viviana Gestaltung/Layout
Montenegro ...................................................................11
Amund Schmidt
Druck/Print
Accessibility in the Jurisprudence of the Committee on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Druckerei Nolte, Iserlohn
Damjan Tatic ................................................................17 Bankverbindung/Bank Details
Bank für Sozialwirtschaft
BIC: BFSWDE33XXX
Behinderung geht jeden etwas an
IBAN: DE19 3702 0500 0008 0407 02
Interviews mit Menschen mit Behinderung aus Afrika,
Asien und Lateinamerika ..............................................22 Die Zeitschrift Behinderung und internationale Entwick
lung ist eine Pubilikation des Instituts für inklusive Ent
wicklung. Das Institut wird getragen von Behinderung
und Entwicklungszusammenarbeit e.V.
Berichte/Reports ........................................................27 The journal Disability and International Development is
a publication of the Institute for Inclusive Development.
The Institut ist part of Disability and Development Cao
peration.
Kurzmeldungen/Notes..............................................29
Hinweis: Für den Inhalt der Artikel sind die AutorInnen
verantwortlich. Veröffentlichte Artikel stellen nicht un
bedingt die Meinung der Redaktion dar. Die Veröffentli
Literatur/Reviews .....................................................33 chung von Beiträgen aus der Zeitschrift in anderen Pub
likationen ist möglich, wenn dies unter vollständiger
Quellenangabe geschieht und ein Belegexemplar über
sandt wird.
Veranstaltungen/Events............................................38
Please note that the authors are responsible for the
content of the articles. Published articles do not neces
sarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board. Papers
published in the journal Disability and International De
velopment may be reprinted in other publications if cor
rectly cited and if a copy is forwarded to the contact
provided above.
ISSN 2191-6888 (Print)
ISSN 2199-7306 (Internet)
2 Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014
Disability and International Development
EDITORIAL
Editorial
Liebe Leserinnen und Leser, Dear Readers,
die UN-BRK hebt die Bedeutung von Barriere the UN CRPD underlines the importance of ac
freiheit gleich in mehreren Artikeln hervor. So cessibility in several articles. Article 2 refers to
bezieht sich Artikel 2 auf universelles Design, universal design, whereas article 9 highlights
während Artikel 9 Barrierefreiheit vor dem Hin accessibility in the context of independent living
tergrund unabhängiger Lebensführung und ge and social participation. In addition, article 29
sellschaftlicher Teilhabe in den Blick nimmt. Ar focuses on political participation as well as bar
tikel 29 legt ferner den Fokus auf politische rier-free access to information and election
Teilhabe sowie damit verbundene barrierefreie procedures.
Zugänge zu Informationen und Wahlverfahren.
Die zweite Ausgabe der Themenreihe zu The second issue of our thematic series on
Barrieren gesellschaftlicher Teilhabe und deren accessibility and barriers to social participation
Überwindung widmet sich zwei Schwerpunkten: emphasises two topics: access to information
dem Zugang zu Informations- und Kommuni and communication technologies and physical
kationstechnologien sowie der baulichen Zu accessibility.
gänglichkeit.
Die AutorInnen dieser Ausgabe entfalten The authors of this issue explore and discuss
und diskutieren diese Aspekte in vielfältiger these aspects in a variety of ways: Sunil Deepak
Hinsicht: Sunil Deepak et al. befassen sich mit et al. highlight barriers which affect the life
Barrieren, die die Lebenschancen von Frauen chances of women with disabilities in Gaza.
mit Behinderungen in Gaza beeinträchtigen. Im The contribution of Martin Gould et al. focuses
Beitrag von Martin Gould et al. wird die digitale on digital accessibility. The authors reflect the
Barrierefreiheit in den Fokus gestellt. Sie reflek relevance for the active participation of persons
tieren deren Relevanz für die aktive Teilhabe with disabilities regarding the implementation
von Menschen mit Behinderungen an der Um of the UN CPRD. Last but not least, Damjan
setzung der UN-BRK. Schließlich thematisiert Tatic examines the aspect of jurisprudence and
Damjan Tatic den Aspekt der Rechtsprechung provides an insight into the work of the Com
und gewährt den LeserInnen Einblick in die Ar mittee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
beit des Committee on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities. The articles are complemented by stories of
Die Beiträge werden um Geschichten von Enrique Manuel Aviña Chavez, Abdul Qahir
Enrique Manuel Aviña Chavez, Abdul Qahir Ghulam Hazrat, Saowalak Thongkuay and Ze
Ghulam Hazrat, Saowalak Thongkuay und Ze benec Getaneh Solomon. From a Mexican, Af
benech Getaneh Solomon ergänzt. Sie erzäh ghan, Thai and Ethiopian perspective, the four
len aus mexikanischer, afghanischer, thailändi persons share their experiences on difficulties
scher und äthiopischer Perspektive von zu über which have to be overcome and new paths to
windenden Schwierigkeiten und neuen Wegen do so – be it at school, on the soccer field or at
– etwa in der Schule, auf dem Fußballfeld und work.
bei der Arbeit.
We hope you enjoy reading this issue and
Wir wünschen Ihnen viel Vergnügen bei der wish you a nice summer time,
Lektüre und eine schöne Sommerzeit,
Your editorial board.
Ihr Redaktionsteam.
Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014 3
Disability and International Development
ARTIKEL/ARTICLE
Barriers Perceived by Women with Disabilities
in Gaza, Palestine
Sunil Deepak/Isra’a Juma’a Ahmed Abu Lehya/
Walaa Nemer Mdoukh/Adriano Lostia
This article presents the findings of an emancipatory disability research project in Gaza, Palestine. Among
other topics, the project investigates the barriers faced by women with disabilities regarding the access to
health services. The article shows that the participants face numerous barriers that are also common to per
sons with disabilities and more specifically to women with disabilities in other parts of the world. In addition,
the authors highlight the specific political situation of Gaza strip, which creates additional barriers and chal
lenges especially for women with disabilities – such as access to specialised health services and livelihood
opportunities.
Introduction
block their equal participation and inclusion in
Societies have different ways of looking at per different life activities. Over the last fifty years,
sons with disabilities. For large parts of human persons with disabilities joining together in or
history, in different cultures all over of the ganisations (disabled people’s organisations or
world, disabilities were often seen as a divine DPOs) have started to question these views on
punishment for wrong behaviour or sins. Even disability by pointing to the disabling role of
today, such ideas can continue to influence the barriers. This understanding has led to the ar
behaviour and attitudes of many communities ticulation of a social model of disability that lo
and families. For example, different eastern re cates disability in the society and in the dis
ligions share beliefs in reincarnation and influ abling barriers (Oliver 1990). The barriers in
ence of deeds in the past lives on the present clude isolation, neglect, abuse and violence as
lives. well as lack of access to social, health, educa
Over the last few centuries, with the spread tion and livelihood opportunities. Most persons
of industrialisation, disability was viewed as a face the first barriers in their own families (Dee
defect or mal-functioning of individuals who pak/Kumar/et al. 2013).
need to be normalised through rehabilitation. The International Convention on the Rights
This way of looking at persons with disabilities of the Persons with Disabilities (CRPD 2006)
has been strengthened by technological ad and the International Classification of Function
vances, which create expectations that sophisti ing, Disability and Health (ICF 2001) both high
cated interventions can normalise most, if not light the environmental factors that restrict par
all, disabilities. ticipation in different life activities. The first
Social values and cultural norms influence World Report on Disability (WHO/WB 2011, pp.
how disabilities are perceived. All over the 263-264) documented widespread evidence of
world, communities are composed of different disabling barriers including inadequate policies
groups, each with their own values and norms. and standards, negative attitudes, lack of provi
Despite this richness of difference, prevailing sion of services, problems with service delivery,
values and cultural norms derive from and lack of accessibility, and lack of consultation
mainly benefit a particular dominant male and involvement.
group. These values are universalised and up
held as shared societal values; to the extent Palestine and Persons with Disabilities
that if one is different from the dominant At present, Palestine is divided into two territo
group, be it on the basis of gender, ethnicity, ries – West Bank bordering Jordan and the
race, age, sexual preference or ability, one is Dead Sea; and the Gaza Strip in the south, bor
devalued and marginalised. This devaluation dering Egypt. Gaza is a narrow strip of land
serves to maintain the social order (Home facing the Mediterranean Sea with an area of
2000). about 360 sq. km. It has a total population of
Traditional ideas about the causes of disabil about 1.8 million persons (UNRWA 2010, p. 3).
ity and locating the disability as a problem of Palestine has been part of a conflict with Israel
the person along with the dominant social val spanning different decades (Smith 2009). Since
ues and cultural norms lead to the building of the beginning of the second Intifada and even
barriers around persons with disabilities that more with the elections in 2006, the borders
4 Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014
Disability and International Development
ARTIKEL/ARTICLE
between Israel and the Gaza Strip have been focusing on barriers faced by them in their daily
closed with limited movements of people, lives during the training course on EDR. These
goods and services (Li 2006). women were identified by local Palestinian
The World Report on Disability estimates that community organisations working with persons
15% of the world’s population has a disability. with disabilities in three regions of the Gaza
On the other hand, different surveys carried out Strip – North Gaza, Gaza City and South Gaza.
in Palestine over the past decade have calcu From each region ten women, including per
lated that persons with disabilities constitute sons of different ages, with different disabilities
between 2 to 6 per cent of the total population and from different educational and socio-eco
(EMRO-WHO 2013; Jarar 2009). nomic levels, were selected. An analysis of gen
eral information about the sample participants
Emancipatory Research Project in Gaza is presented in results. Thus, it was a purposive
An emancipatory disability research project non-random sample of women with disabilities
(EDR) was planned in the Gaza Strip as part of who took part in the discussions on barriers.
a European Union co-funded project INCLUDE
- Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women Method
with Disabilities in the Gaza Strip cofunded by During the training on Implementing Emancipa
European Commission (DCI-Gender 2012 pp. tory Disability Research, barriers faced by
301-155) and focusing on improving the liveli women with disabilities were discussed in two
hoods of women with disabilities. It is managed separate exercises:
by two Italian non-governmental organisations: 1. In the beginning of the training course, a
EducAid/Italy with support from AIFO/Italy. five-day long exercise (including two days of
This emancipatory research activity will be group discussions and three days of self
carried out in three regions of Gaza (North guided reflections) on identification of barri
Gaza, Gaza City and South Gaza) during 2014. ers in the daily lives was organised to intro
EDR will implement research on three issues duce the concept of the social model of dis
understanding the attitudes of parents of chil ability. The exercise started with a one-day
dren with disabilities, learning from experiences seminar, during which there were group dis
of persons with disabilities who have successful cussions on barriers faced by persons with
income generation activities, and understand disabilities. Participants were asked to share
ing the barriers faced by women with disabili experiences and then collectively decide the
ties for accessing the health services. EDR is different kinds of barriers.
controlled and carried out by people with dis Then for three days, each participant was
abilities in ways that promote their empower asked to become aware about and write
ment. It uses a human rights approach that in down in a note book all the barriers she en
forms them about their legal and moral entitle countered in her daily life.
ments. It helps them to understand how differ A second one-day seminar was organised,
ent barriers prevent the participation and inclu during which the women shared their experi
sion of people with disabilities in their commu ences of becoming aware about the barriers
nities. It also identifies strategies for overcom and their feelings provoked by this exercise.
ing those barriers (Deepak 2012, p. 4). They also discussed ways of overcoming
Preparation for implementing EDR in the those barriers.
Gaza Strip included identification and training 2. A second one-day exercise on barriers was
of 30 community researchers among women organised at the end of the training course
with disabilities to conduct research through in which the participants discussed the
participatory methods. After the training, these health care needs of different groups of per
community researchers will carry out research sons with disabilities during different phases
on three specific themes that they themselves of their lives and shared experiences regard
have identified. The training of the researchers ing barriers linked to health services and
for EDR included discussions on barriers faced technical appliances.
by women with disabilities in their daily lives. This paper presents a summary of the opin
This article is based on those discussions. ions and experiences shared by the women
with disabilities during the two exercises men
Method tioned above.
Sample
30 women with disabilities, who were selected
to be the researchers, took part in an exercise
Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014 5
Disability and International DevelopmentARTIKEL/ARTICLE
Results Marriage: Four women (13.8%) were mar
ried, all of them to non-disabled persons.
General Information About the Women Participation in disabled people’s organisa
with Disabilities tions (DPOs) and in Self-help Groups (SHGs): 14
General information was available for 29 out of women (48.3%) were members of a DPO while
30 women, one woman did not participate in seven women (24.1%) were members of a SHG.
the first meeting when general information was
collected. Barriers Faced By Women with Disabilities
Age: The average age of women was 26.6 in Gaza
years, median age was 24 years and the age The participants were asked to think about the
range was 19 to 41 years. Six persons (20.7%) barriers they were facing in their daily lives.
did not answer the question regarding age. During their discussions, the women divided
Education: Three women (10.3%) were illiter their ideas and experiences in three main
ate, seven women (24.1%) had high school groups – external barriers, internal barriers and
level education or less, and 19 women (65.6%) economic barriers.
had pre-university or university level education.
Kind of disabilities: 17 persons reported diffi External Barriers
culties in terms of multiple areas of functioning The following issues were raised by the partici
(90% of the persons with less than high school pants in their discussions:
education and 42% of the persons with univer - Negative perception of society: This was the
sity level education), while 12 persons reported most common barrier expressed by the par
difficulties in a single area of functioning (10% ticipants and also one of the most difficult to
of the persons with less than high school edu overcome. Many participants felt that women
cation and 58% of persons with university level with disabilities face more negative percep
education). tions in the society compared to men with
A numerical score was given to each area of disabilities. For example, they explained that
functioning according to the degree of the diffi it is harder for women with disabilities to get
culty in that area – 1 for no difficulty, 2 for little married compared to men. A participant
difficulty, 3 for lot of difficulty and 4 for com said, “So much has been done to create
plete inability to function. Thus, higher score in awareness about persons with disabilities,
dicated greater difficulties and difficulties in but why did it not have any effect? Is it be
more areas of functioning. The average score cause the awareness activities are insuffi
of persons with university level education was cient or they are not done properly?”
3.1 while for the persons with less than high - Inaccessibility of roads: The roads are not
school education it was 5.7. good and in many places there are just dirt
Seven women (24.1%) reported difficulties in tracks. This creates difficulties for different
vision, eight (27.6%) had difficulties in hearing, groups of persons with disabilities. Partici
nine (31%) had difficulties in speech, 11 pants said that they often decide not to go
(37.9%) had difficulties related to movement out of the house because going out is so dif
and mobility, 13 (44.8%) had psychosocial diffi ficult.
culties, one (3.4%) had difficulties related to - Electricity blackouts: Gaza has frequent
convulsions, nine (31%) had learning difficulties power breakdowns leading to electricity
and one woman (3.4%) had other difficulties. blackouts. This was seen as a problem for all
Technical appliances: Ten women (34.5%) the citizens but it had worse effects on the
were using some kind of technical appliance – persons with disabilities. One person with
two persons (20%) among those with less than hearing disability said that during blackout
high school level education and eight persons she cannot communicate with others be
(42.1%) among those with university level edu cause they can’t see her sign language. An
cation. The appliances included artificial limbs, other person with mobility problems said
eyeglasses, visual aids (audio books and special that during electricity blackouts, lifts do not
computer software) and a hearing aid. work, so she is stuck and cannot go out.
Job and income: Among the persons with - Unavailability of accessible transportation:
less than high school education, one woman Public transport in Gaza is extremely limited
(10%) had some regular income from work, and accessible transport is not available. The
while among those with university level educa only way to travel for many persons with dis
tion, four women (21.1%) reported regular in abilities is to get a taxi, but taxi services cost
come from work. No women reported a full a lot and they do not have money to pay for
time paid job. this service.
6 Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014
Disability and International DevelopmentARTIKEL/ARTICLE
- Discrimination against persons with disabili age of frontiers, lack of trade, lack of petrol and
ties in the families: This was seen as a bar electricity, all create uncertainty and risks for
rier by a few women with disabilities. A self-employment and micro-entrepreneur initia
women with hearing disability said, “My fa tives.
ther treats me very badly and he does not
love me. For him I am a burden and a dis Overcoming the Barriers
grace to the family. It pains me very much. The participants felt that initiatives linked with
Outside the house, community has a nega advocacy and lobbying to put pressure on the
tive perception and they say bad things Palestinian Government are difficult because of
when I go out. I feel very sad when I think the political situation in the Gaza Strip and the
about it.” fact that the Palestinian state has limited means
- Non–existing cooperation of decision mak to answer the needs of its citizens. Keeping this
ers: Many persons felt that the Government in mind, the solutions suggested for overcom
and other decision makers do not see dis ing the barriers were grouped in three kinds of
ability issues and the problems faced by per activities:
sons with disabilities as a priority for the 1) Promoting wider changes in the people, in
country. In addition, there are different non the communities and in the State through
governmental organisations and disabled activities such as advocacy and lobbying for
people’s organisations, all of which do their rights, promoting social awareness, and pro
own activities and do not cooperate and co moting CRPD.
ordinate with each other. So there are pro 2) Individual efforts to overcome barriers by
jects for persons with disabilities, but there is networking among persons with disabilities,
no continuity and sustainability of activities. sharing life stories and experiences for moti
- Unavailability of technical appliances: Many vating each other, organising common initia
persons felt that not having proper technical tives for leisure and sport for women with
appliances such as hearing aids is a big bar disabilities, and working with families to stop
rier to their participation in daily lives. discrimination.
3) Specific solutions for problems such as carry
Internal Barriers ing a flash-light in backpacks to deal with
All participants felt that internal barriers related frequent electric blackouts. A number of par
to their feelings and emotions are equally im ticipants also suggested that crying, cooking
portant, and often these barriers block their and walking to relieve stress may be good
participation in diverse life activities and rela strategies when nothing else works to over
tionships. These barriers express themselves come frustration and depression.
through different emotions such as lack of self
confidence, a feeling of shame, depression, Barriers Related to the Health Services and
hesitation, anxiety, psychological repression, Technical Appliances
shyness, anger and frustration. For example, a The participants discussed that all women with
34-year-old woman with movement disability disabilities require support from health services
said, “It is so tiring to fight all the time with the for general health care needs. In addition,
negative things that people say. Sometimes some of them require regular or periodic sup
they do not say anything, but their looks can port from health services for specific needs re
communicate what they think about me. As if I lated to their disabilities. The health care needs
have no right to live, or to go out. First I have to can be different depending upon gender, age
fight with my own fears and my sense of and kind of disabilities. Some women shared
shame. Then I have to fight with the world. I personal experiences of barriers encountered at
wish I could become invisible.” the health services:
A 26-year-old woman with movement dis
Economic Barriers ability said, "Getting health care is like an ob
All participants agreed that the economic bar stacle course, every step is difficult. Having the
rier of not having a regular income and not money to pay and then to find a transport to
having any financial independence is one of the health centre is difficult. When I reach
the biggest barriers that they face. They agreed there, I need to go up all the stairs. Once I am
that finding a job in Gaza is difficult for all per inside, they make me wait, because I am disa
sons, but it is even more difficult for women, bled so the doctor thinks that I can wait but
while for women with disabilities it is almost there is no place to sit. They don't treat non-dis
impossible. On the other hand, different factors abled persons in this way."
linked to the political situation with the block A 22-year-old woman with movement dis-
Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014 7
Disability and International DevelopmentARTIKEL/ARTICLE
ability said, "My brother has weak bones, he sadness and sorrow about myself and I had
gets bone fractures very easily. Doctors in Gaza feelings of anger towards the society.”
don't know what to do with him and how to Another participant with hearing disability
help him. Perhaps he can get some help out said, “I found it very strange to write about the
side Gaza but going out of Gaza is so difficult!" barriers and wondered what the reason is to
A 31-year-old woman with multiple disabili write about these? Is this exercise just to remind
ties said, "My spine is not straight and since I me of my sufferings that I must live every day? I
had the baby, I get back pain. I went to the still feel a little weird about it, though I under
doctor many times but he never even touched stand that it helped me to share with others
me, never explained anything, he just wrote me about what gives me more pain and suffering.”
some medicines to take. In the end, I searched Finally one person with a visual disability
for information on the Internet and read about said, “I liked this exercise. Usually I feel that my
back pain. I learned some exercises for back difficulties are because I am disabled. This exer
pain and do them regularly, so now I am better. cise made me think that so many of my difficul
We can't wait for doctors to help, we need to ties are because others discriminate against us
find information through the Internet and take and do not think of us. It made me feel more
care of our bodies." optimistic.”
A 28-year-old deaf woman explained,
"When I was married, I did not know anything Discussion
and soon became pregnant. In the hospital, I
went for one check up but I could not commu Like persons with disabilities from different
nicate with them, so I did not go back for check parts of the world, women with disabilities in
ups. I went there only for the child birth, but my Palestine report daily encounters with disabling
mother was with me and she explained every barriers. The attitudinal barriers faced in early
thing to the doctors and nurses. Without my childhood within their own families, friends and
mother, I don't know how I can get help in the communities are internalised and accompany
hospital." the women throughout their lives, provoking
A 21-year-old woman with low vision and feelings of fear, shame, lack of self-confidence,
movement disability said, "I had to get the frustration and depression. Often there are lim
medical report from the hospital. The first doc ited opportunities to share these feelings with
tor, he refused and sent me to another doctor, others and thus crying is seen as a legitimate
so I had to wait for another two hours. Then way to express these feelings. The internal bar
when he gave me the certificate, I had to get it riers are compounded by external barriers re
stamped in five different places and go up and lated to physical inaccessibility, attitudes of oth
down to different departments. It took me three ers, lack of opportunities for participation and
days to get that report. They do not realise that economic resources, and lack of accessible
I suffer when I have to climb stairs. The waiting services.
halls are full and you cannot sit down and rest. The specific political situation of Palestine
It was a nightmare." with the prolonged conflict and restrictions of
movements has resulted in the worsening of in
Impact of Reflecting on and Discussing frastructures and basic services such as electric
Barriers ity and roads. These create difficulties for the
The participants were asked to give their feed whole Palestinian population, but are even
back about the impact of the exercise on re more disabling for women with disabilities. And
flecting, writing down and discussing barriers. due to these, all the initiatives including those
The opinions were almost equally divided be for advocacy and lobbying in change of laws
tween two positions – some persons felt that and access to services and opportunities, as
thinking about barriers had increased their well as processes of empowerment, have lim
feelings of frustrations and sadness, while oth ited impact on their lives.
ers felt that it was liberating to talk openly In conclusion, women with disabilities in the
about the different barriers, and to express Gaza Strip face numerous barriers that are
their feelings of anger and frustration when common to persons with disabilities and more
faced with discrimination in different aspects of specifically to women with disabilities in other
life. parts of the world. In addition, the specific po
For example, one participant with a mobility litical situation of Gaza strip creates additional
disability said, “Thinking about internal and ex barriers and renders more difficult individual
ternal barriers, I felt an internal revolution. At and institutional dismantling of those barriers.
the same time, I had very disturbed feelings of Main entry and exit of persons and goods from
8 Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014
Disability and International DevelopmentARTIKEL/ARTICLE
Gaza Strip, including through the sea, are con Dooa Haarb, Mohammed Al Najar and Alaa
trolled by Israel. Thus the implementation of Abedrabo. Special thanks are due to the sign
different national policies and strategies is language interpreters, Israa Ghazal, Eyad
heavily influenced by the embargo. This nega Saada, Mahamoud Abu Shaqoura and Moham
tively affects access to specialised health serv med Farhat. The article would not have been
ices and livelihood opportunities for all the possible without the support of the INCLUDE
population of Gaza Strip, including those of project assistant, Abdelrahman Abu Hassanain.
women with disabilities. The barriers affect the
women’s daily lives. Specific services such as References
health care are associated with additional bar CRPD (2006): Convention on the Rights of Persons with
riers. Disabilities, United Nations. New York, USA.
DEEPAK, S. (2012): Promoting Empowerment - Emancipa
Limitations tory Research in Community-Based Rehabilitation Pro
The exercise on barriers encountered in daily grammes: A Guide for CBR Programme Managers.
lives focused mainly on home, family and AIFO: Bologna, Italy.
health care. It did not touch on other specific DEEPAK, S./KUMAR, J./RAMASAMY, P./GRIFFO, G. (2013):
areas of life such as access to educational insti An emancipatory research on CBR and the barriers
tutions, livelihood opportunities, and sports and faced by persons with disabilities. Disability and Reha
leisure activities. Thus, the barriers identified bilitation. Available at http://informahealthcare.com/
during the exercise do not represent all the bar doi/abs/10.3109/09638288.2013.800914. Visited
riers that women with disabilities in Palestine on 10 July 2014.
encounter in their lives. EMRO-WHO (2013): International Day of Persons with
The exercise on barriers was conducted as Disabilities: Equal rights for Palestinian with disabili
part of the capacity building process for carry ties. Press release, East Mediterranean Regional Of
ing out emancipatory disability research. Thus, fice of World Health Organisation, 3 December 2013.
many of the women with disabilities who par Available at http://www.emro.who.int/palestine
ticipated in the exercise were meeting for the press-releases/2013/international-day-of-persons
first time. At the same time they did not know with-disabilities-equal-rights-for-palestinians-with
the persons conducting the exercise, some of disabilities.html. Visited on 28 April 2014.
whom were men. This could have limited the HOME, K. (2000): Violence against Women with Disabili
discussions about some cultural barriers, such ties. International Rehabilitation Review, Vol. 50, No.
as those related to family hierarchies and gen- 2.
der issues. ICF (2001): International Classification of Functioning,
Disability and Health. World Health Organisation.
Conflict of Interests Geneva, Switzerland.
Dr Sunil Deepak coordinated the training of JARAR, A. (2009): Disability in Palestine: Realities and
women with disabilities from Gaza as research perspectives. This week in Palestine, Vol. 137, Sep
ers for the emancipatory research project. Ms. tember 2009. Available at http://
Isra’a Juma’a Ahmed Abu Lehya was one of the www.thisweekinpalestine.com/details.php?id=2868&
participants in the course. Ms. Walaa Nemer ed=173&edid=173. Visited on 28 April 2014.
Mdoukh works for Social Development Forum, LI, D. (2006): The Gaza strip as a laboratory: notes in the
one of the organisations involved in implement wake of disengagement. Journal of Palestine Studies,
ing the emancipatory research in Gaza City and Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 38-55.
North Gaza region. Finally, Mr. Adriano Lostia OLIVER, M. (1990): The individual and social models of
works for EducAid/Italy, the non-governmental disability. Paper presented at Joint Workshop of the
organisation managing the European Union Living Options Group and the Research Unit of the
co-funded project INCLUDE in the Gaza Strip. Royal College of Physicians. Available at http://dis
ability-studies.leeds.ac.uk/files/library/Oliver-in-soc
Acknowledgements dis.pdf. Visited on 28 April 2014.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the active SMITH, C. D. (2009): Palestine and the Arab-Israeli con
role played by the women with disabilities from flict. A history with documents, 6th edition. Bedford/St
different parts of Gaza in contributing informa Martins, New York, USA.
tion and personal experiences for preparation UNRWA (2010): Population census of 2007 - West Bank &
of this article. They also acknowledge valuable Gaza Strip - Briefing paper January 2010. Jerusalem,
support from the two partner organisations Israel.
based in the Gaza Strip, Social Development WHO/World Bank (2011): World Report on Disability. Ge
Forum and El Amal, and their staff, in particular neva, Switzerland.
Mohammed Akram Alaaraj, Heba Al Madhoun,
Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014 9
Disability and International DevelopmentARTIKEL/ARTICLE
Zusammenfassung: In diesem Beitrag werden die Ergeb Resumen: Este artículo presenta los resultados de un
nisse eines emanzipatorischen Forschungsprojekts mit Men proyecto de investigación emancipadora sobre la discapa
schen mit Behinderung im Gaza-Streifen in Palästina vor cidad en Gaza, Palestina. Entre otros temas, el proyecto
gestellt. Unter anderem werden in dem Projekt die Barrie examina las barreras que tienen las mujeres con discapaci
ren untersucht, mit denen sich Frauen mit Behinderung im dad en el acceso a servicios de salud. El artículo muestra
Hinblick auf den Zugang zum Gesundheitssystem konfron que los participantes se enfrentan con los mismos obstácu
tiert sehen. Dieser Beitrag zeigt, dass die Teilnehmerinnen los que encuentran personas con discapacidad y especial
vor zahlreichen Barrieren stehen, von denen auch Men mente mujeres con discapacidad en otras partes del mun
schen mit Behinderung allgemein und insbesondere Frauen do. Por otra parte, los autores subrayan la situación política
mit Behinderung in anderen Teilen der Welt betroffen sind. específica de la Franja de Gaza lo que crea obstáculos y
Zusätzlich heben die Autoren die spezifische politische Situ desafíos adicionales, especialmente para las mujeres con
ation im Gaza-Streifen hervor, die zusätzliche Barrieren discapacidad, como el acceso a servicios de salud especia
und Herausforderungen, insbesondere für Frauen mit Be lizados y las oportunidades de subsistencia.
hinderungen, schafft – wie beispielsweise den Zugang zu
spezialisierten Gesundheitsdiensten und zu Möglichkeiten
der Existenzsicherung. Authors: Dr Sunil Deepak, consultant in Emancipa
tory Research project in Gaza strip, Include Project,
Résumé: Cet article présente les résultats d'un projet EducAid/Italy and AIFO/Italy.
d'étude innovant sur le handicap à Gaza, Palestine. Entre Isra’a Juma’a Ahmed Abu Lehya, researcher, Emanci
autre, ce projet enquête sur les barrières rencontrées dans patory Research project in the Gaza Strip, Rafah,
l'accès aux services de santé par les femmes en situation de Gaza, Palestine.
handicap. L'article démontre que les participantes sont con Walaa Nemer Mdoukh, facilitator, researcher, project
frontées tant à de nombreuses barrières communes à toute coordinator, Emancipatory Research project in the
personne handicapée, qu'à des barrières spécifiques aux Gaza Strip, Social Development Forum - SDF, Gaza
femmes handicapées, spécificité rencontrée également city, Palestine.
dans d'autres parties du monde. De plus, les auteurs soulig Adriano Lostia, Project manager, Include Project in the
nent la situation politique particulière à Gaza qui crée des Gaza Strip, Gaza city, Palestine for EducAid/Italy.
barrières et défis supplémentaires, et plus particulièrement Contact: sunil.deepak@gmail.com.
pour les femmes handicapées – comme par exemple l'accès
aux services de santé spécialisés et les possibilités d'obtenir
des moyens de subsistance.
10 Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014
Disability and International DevelopmentARTIKEL/ARTICLE
Removing Barriers and Advancing Digital Accessibility:
Ensuring Active Participation by Persons with
Disabilities in Treaty Implementation1
Martin Gould/Axel Leblois/Francesca Cesa Bianchi/Viviana Montenegro
This paper highlights the importance of digital accessibility to information and communication technologies.
As one overall approach to effectuate the removal of digital accessibility barriers, the authors argue for the
participation of persons with disabilities in the active evaluation and monitoring of their country’s imple
mentation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In this regard, the article
highlights the importance of CRPD monitoring and evaluation in general, the need for respective capacity
building and recommendations for action directed towards CRPD stakeholders.
Introduction Importance of CRPD Monitoring and
Virtually all aspects of society are affected by
Evaluating CRPD Implementation
the use of Information and Communication The Committee on the Rights of Persons with
Technologies (ICTs), including mobile communi Disabilities considers accessibility as one of the
cations, television and computers all over the key issues in each of ten dialogues (Essl Foun
world. Ensuring digital accessibility to ICTs is dation 2014; IDA/ITU et al. 2013; Hajnoczi/
part of a larger effort to build an information Fembek et al. 2014; Mpatwa 2012; Leibowitz/
society based on ensuring people’s right to Alizada 2011) it has held over several years
communicate, share information, use knowl with States Parties to consider their initial re
edge for their own ends and overcome barriers ports on the status of their country’s CRPD im
in the use of ICTs. plementation. The concluding observations
Digital accessibility barriers limit the partici have all contained recommendations about ac
pation of persons with disabilities into the life of cessibility. On 25 November 2013, a Draft
their community – e.g. political processes. ICT General Comment on Article 9 on Accessibility
barriers affect persons living with sensory, men was prepared by the Committee and released
tal, intellectual and physical disabilities includ for public consultation and response (CRPD
ing the elderly. For instance: a television pro- Committee 2014). Two challenges cited in that
gram or an emergency announcement may not Committee’s draft general comment stand out.
be signed or captioned for a deaf person; a One challenge cited in the CRPD Committee’s
web site or government data base may not be General Comment on Article 9 on Accessibility
accessible to a screen reader user; a bank ATM involves the lack of an adequate monitoring
may be too high for a person in a wheel chair mechanism to ensure the practical implementa
to operate its keyboard; a mobile phone may tion of accessibility standards and relevant leg
not offer alternative user interfaces for persons islation. In some States Parties, monitoring was
with dexterity issues, low vision or cognitive the responsibility of local authorities that lacked
challenges; a computer program may not allow the technical knowledge and the human and
to use alternative input/output devices for per material resources to ensure effective imple
sons with motor impairments. mentation.
Removing digital barriers to accessibility (Ar The Convention on the Rights of Persons with
ticle 9) is an objective for States Parties to the Disabilities 2013 ICT Accessibility Progress Re
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Dis port (Gould/LeBlois et al. 2014; hereinafter re
abilities. One overall approach to effectuate the ferred to as the Progress Report) shows that 87
removal of digital accessibility barriers is percent of States Parties to the CRPD do not
through the participation of persons with dis have a systematic mechanism to involve DPOs
abilities in the active evaluation and monitoring working in the field of digital accessibility to the
of their country’s implementation of the CRPD. drafting, designing, implementation and
People with disabilities can engage in this evaluation of laws and policies.
evaluation and monitoring work through formal The CRPD also calls for the collection of “ap
or voluntary channels. propriate information, including statistical and
research data” to help assess the implementa
tion of the Convention (Article 31(2), Statistics
Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014 11
Disability and International DevelopmentARTIKEL/ARTICLE
and Data Collection). their own responses.
The Progress Report also shows that 91 per - Dialogue ensues between the CRPD Com
cent of State Parties to the CRPD have neither mittee and the State Party delegation during
statistics nor data accessible for the general a plenary session. DPOs can request in ad
public about digital access by persons with dis vance to give an oral presentation during the
abilities. CRPD monitoring, like all UN treaties, session in which the dialogue with their
requires each State Party to the Convention to country takes place.
submit a comprehensive (initial) report to the - CRPD Committee issues concluding observa
CRPD Committee within two years after the tions on the State report, and proposes key
convention enters into force for that State. The recommendations. Before concluding obser
initial report is composed of a common core vations are adopted, DPOs can identify for
document, which provides general information Committee members priority areas that need
common to all human rights treaty bodies, and quick action with recommendations.
a treaty-specific document, which contains in - State Party engages in the follow-up on the
formation specific to the implementation of the implementation of the CRPD Committee's
CRPD and is often organised on an article by recommendations. DPOs should work with
article basis. State Parties are required to sub the (national) monitoring mechanism and
mit periodic reports at least every four years, or government on implementing recommenda
more frequently if so requested by the Commit tions and follow up.
tee.
How can individuals with disabilities and Need for Capacity Building for CRPD
Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) partici
pate in CRPD monitoring and evaluation to cor
Monitoring
rectly assess whether expected outcomes are According to Paragraph 7 of the 25 November
achieved – e.g. the removal of digital accessi 2013 Draft General Comment on Article 9 on
bility barriers? Accessibility “A second common challenge has
Individuals and DPOs have the opportunity been the lack of training provided to the rele
to participate in the assessment of CRPD in vant stakeholders and insufficient involvement
their country and to provide input on how the of persons with disabilities and their represen
CRPD is being implemented at the national tative organisations in the process of ensuring
level at various stages during the drafting of the access to the physical environment, transport,
State Party report, including the list of issues information and communication.” The preced
and the concluding observations and, in the fol ing paragraph number 6 of the Draft General
low-up to the concluding observations, during Comment reads:
days of general discussion and in the drafting “The World Disability Report (2011) of World
of general comments. The involvement and Health Organisation and the World Bank
participation with national monitoring frame stresses that built environment, transport and
works and other national implementation and information and communication are often inac
monitoring bodies is a key component to ensur cessible to persons with disabilities (World Dis
ing the effective implementation of the CRPD. ability Report, Summary, p. 10). Persons with
Opportunities for DPO input exist throughout disabilities are prevented from enjoying some
the monitoring preparation, reporting and fol of their basic rights, like the right to seek em
low-up process including when the: ployment or the right to health care, due to lack
- State Party holds consultations with civil soci of accessible transport. Levels of implementa
ety including DPOs, to prepare its 1st State tion of accessibility laws in many countries re
report two years after entry into force of the mains low and persons with disabilities are of
CRPD for the State Party. ten denied their freedom of expression due to
- State Party submits its State report to CRPD inaccessible information and communication.
Committee. DPOs may submit their own par Even in countries where sign language inter
allel reports. pretation services for deaf persons exist, the
- CRPD Committee presents the State Party number of qualified interpreters is usually too
with a list of issues and questions based on low to meet the needs for interpretation as de
concerns raised by the State report. DPOs mands exceed the supply of services.”
can suggest issues and questions the Com Common Challenge number 2 is further
mittee should ask the State, before the Com substantiated by the Progress Report’s findings
mittee adopts its concluding list of issues. regarding ratifying States’ capacity for CRPD
- State Party submits written replies to list of implementation. The data points in the follow
issues and questions. DPOs can also give ing table are the most important ones. They are
12 Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014
Disability and International DevelopmentARTIKEL/ARTICLE
extracted from the 2013 Progress Report Report offers disability advocates, governments,
(Gould/LeBlois et al. 2014, p. 18; derived from civil society and international organisations
Table 13). monitoring the progress of the implementation
of the CRPD by State Par-
Table 1: Countries' Capacity for CRPD Implementation of Digital Accessibility ties a unique benchmark
Government focus – Percentage of countries with policy pro ing tool that collects data
cesses in place on country laws, policies,
Yes and programs pertaining
“In your Country, are/is there…?”
… any government fund allocated for digital accessibility to Accessible and Assis
32,0 %
tive Information and
… a systematic review mechanism by the Country of the exis Communication Tech
ting legislation and/or policies concerning digital access 21,0 %
nologies around the
Support of DPOs and NGOs – Percentage of Countries with globe.
processes in place G3ict created the ICT Ac
“In your country, are/is there…?” Yes cessibility Self-Assess
… financial supports for DPOs and NGOs working in field of ment Framework bench
digital accessibility 34%
marked to the CRPD. The
… a forum for active cooperation between NGOs working in Self-Assessment Frame
field of digital accessibility 23% work enables ratifying
Capacity building – Percentage of countries with processes in States – as well as States
place planning to ratify the
“In your country, are/were there…?” Yes CRPD – to evaluate their
… nationwide conferences and other awareness raising infor own progress toward do
mation programs, projects, in the field of digital access over mestic conformity with
37,0 % the CRPD’s ICT accessi
the past two years organised by Civil Society
bility requirements. Self
… nationwide conferences and other awareness raising infor
assessment may facilitate
mation programs, projects, in the field of digital access over 31,0 % advocacy and needed
the past two years organised by Government
improvement on many
… any (National) Technical Assistance Centers 27,0 % levels by encouraging
… nationwide conferences and other awareness raising infor cooperation among con
mation programs, projects, in the field of digital access over 19,0 % cerned actors within
the past two years organised by Private Sector/Industry States. Over the past
… mandatory training programs (at universities, vocational seven years of work,
schools, etc.) for future professionals about digital access for 11,0 % G3ict has also developed
persons with disabilities a local capacity building
rubric (Table 2 below)
CRPD Monitoring and Capacity based on: (a) reviews of State Parties’ CRPD
Building: Strategies That Work monitoring reports submitted to the CRPD
Addressing the two common challenges articu Committee, as well as parallel submissions to
lated in the Committee’s General Comment on the CRPD Committee by DPOs and NGOs; (b)
Article 9, Paragraph 7, involves by necessity a G3ict’s observations and research data ac
combined approach as it relates to persons with quired as a result of its outreach and technical
disabilities and DPOs. To become active partici assistance to individual countries and regions;
pants in State Party monitoring and to ensure and (c) lessons learned from the field by NGOs,
multi-environmental access requires – at a DPOs, regional activists and researchers – e.g.,
minimum – access to practical instruments and setting up accessible community telecentres, or
disability-inclusive monitoring and CRPD as establishing early warning alert systems using
sessment processes. It also necessitates con accessible mobile community phone trees.
tinuous technical knowledge and skill develop
ment as well as access to ongoing technical as Recommendations for Action
sistance resources for local capacity building.
G3ict has developed several products, tools To ensure active and effective participation by
and informational resources (e.g. lessons individuals with disabilities and DPOs in im
learned from case studies submitted by NGOs, proving digital accessibility through treaty
DPOs, field researchers) that State Parties can monitoring and evaluation, CRPD stakeholder
use to meet the two aforementioned chal leaders need to:
lenges. G3ict’s CRPD ICT Accessibility Progress 1. Design country-driven multi-stakeholder
Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014 13
Disability and International DevelopmentARTIKEL/ARTICLE
Table 2: Dimensions and Elements of Effective Local Capacity Building for CRPD ICT Implementation
Stages of Capacity Building Strategies for Building ICT Capacity to Improve e-Participation
Start from communities strategic Work in tandem with communities, DPOs, NGOs goals and objectives
priorities
Conduct a needs assessment
Involve DPOs in ICT policy/program planning and design
Target policy/program effectively Define clear objectives
Identify target recipients; focus on marginalised groups (women, chil
dren, elderly)
Plan realistically for implementation within local resources
Learn from monitoring and/or Link policy/program goals to local (strategic) priorities
evaluation
Empower target groups to evaluate
Adapt policy/program in response to findings
Monitor and/or evaluate regularly
Build strong partnerships Select partners with complementary strengths
Provide partners with incentives
Develop a sustainable model Identify which services provided as public good, and which can be com
mercial
Involve the private sector
Share policy/project lessons learned Communicate best practice lessons learned continuously
Build on existing information and Identify existing information and knowledge base
knowledge
Incorporate existing information and knowledgebase into scope of po
licy and program
Connect to traditional knowledge
Promote local participation in the policy and program
Create/adopt accessible materials Identify citizens accessibility needs, literacy levels, etc.
Understand information needs of local citizens
Address diversity of local language(s)
Develop materials in accessible format(s) for use
Use appropriate ICTs to reach indi- Adopt ICTs that local people can use in daily life
viduals
Choose ICTs that people can afford to use
Work with local leaders Identify grassroots-based leaders with a track record
Provide appropriate incentives for partnership
Build capacity of leaders and target Provide training in efficient information access, manipulation, and
group transmission
Provide usable information resources
Build adaptation skills – e.g. translate content to suit local conditions
programs that are focused on specific areas velopment data collection, analyses, and
of accessibility (e.g., television broadcasting, reporting, and tools for disseminating the
mobile services, e-government, Inclusive results.
ICTs for Education etc.) and which: 2. Enhance in-country capacity through training
a) Are open and flexible in order to engage and broadening skills in internally identified
relevant stakeholders for each sector in subjects related to accessibility, capacity de
cluding DPOs velopment from mediation to economics by:
b) Generate sector specific roadmaps, pro a) Being willing to promote capacity building
gress metrics, milestones and monitoring program funding that involves fewer
processes involving relevant stakeholders clear-cut short term accessibility outputs,
including DPOs and targets that are less easily monitored
c) Are supported by disability-inclusive de and quantified besides the increased
14 Behinderung und internationale Entwicklung 2/2014
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