1. Building capacity in rights-based disability
policy in South East Asia
AusAID funded ALAF Program Feb-Mar 2013
CENTRE FOR
DISABILITY RESEARCH
AND POLICY
Prof. Gwynnyth Llewellyn
Dr. Rebecca Barton
Ms. Alexandra Lewis Gargett
FACULTY OF
HEALTH SCIENCES
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2. Aim and purpose of program
› Aim
- To increase capacity in rights-based disability policy in 8 South East Asian
countries
› Purpose
- For Fellows to learn from the Australian experience in developing rights based
disability policy.

3. Context
› 15% of world’s population live with disability – 630 million live in SE Asia
(WHO, 2011)
› International shift from charity-based to rights-based approach to disability
driven by United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (2008)
› Regional focus on disability in Asia and the Pacific through Biwako
Millennium Strategy and Biwako plus 5 (2003-2012)

4. Foundations of the program
› Driven by:
- A need for developing capacity in disability rights based policy identified by
AusAID’s experience in the region
- Specific learning goals of participants as determined prior to commencement
› Framed by:
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
(2008)
- Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia
and the Pacific 2013-2022 (2012)

5. Features of the program
› Participants included representatives from:
- 8 countries – Cambodia, Lao
PDR, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand, Timor Leste, Indonesia
- Government departments responsible for disability portfolio, National Statistics
Offices, Disabled People’s Organisations (DPO’s) and Non-Government
Organisations (NGO’s).

6. Features of the program
• Content
– Organised around 6 key areas:
1.
International and national legislative and regulatory frameworks and
reporting
2.
Structure of disability program in Australia and implementation through
decentralised government
3.
DPOs and participation of people with disabilities in policy, programming
and evaluation in Australia
4.
National Disability Strategy and National Disability Research Agenda
5.
National Disability Insurance Scheme
6.
National Statistics Collection
–
Delivered by experts/key stakeholders in Australia
–
Supported development of case-study

7. Case study 1 – Aim
Title: Enhancing the implementation of Quota System to Provide More
Employment to PWDs as required by Government Regulation Number
43 Year 1998: A Case Study in Padang City West Sumatera Province
Indonesia.
• Challenges with implementing
the existing quota system for
employing people with
disabilities
• The aim of the case study is
to:
 develop database of
skills and interests and
labour needs
 facilitate worker/
employer matching days

8. Case study 1 – Progress so far
› Survey conducted in 89 villages
within 11 sub-districts
› 1856 people with disabilities
surveyed
› Of those surveyed 135 (7%) stated
they want to work
Reasons for not showing
interest in work
Have no skills to
work
19%
52%
29%
Low or no
education level
Live on full financial
support and care
from family
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9. Case study 1 – Progress
› Education level
› Employment
- Low education level of job seekers
with disabilities
- Minimum qualification standard of
most employers is bachelor degree
Level of education of job
seekers with disabilities
4%
22%
19%
10%
Never attended
school
Special Schools
20%
25%
Inclusive Elementary School
Inclusive - Junior
High School
Inclusive - Senior
High School
Baccalaureate and
above
- 61% preferred the idea of working for
themselves versus 39% who would
like to work for others
Reasons for choosing not to
work for others
23%
47%
Problems with
accessibility
Decreased self
confidence
30%
Fear of
discrimination
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10. Case study 2 – Aim
› Lao PDR
•
Lao PDR ratified the UNCRPD in 2009
•
The Decree on Protection and promotion of the
Rights and Interests of Persons with Disabilities was
first drafted in 2008 and presented to government in
February 2011.
•
Feedback included 12 specific recommendations.
•
National Committee for Disabled People are
responsible for revising the document, in collaboration
with relevant ministries.
› Aim of case study:
•
To review the draft Decree based on
recommendations;
•
To submit to Ministry for Justice, Department of Law
by August 2013
•
To be submitted for government meeting agenda
within 2013

11. Case study 2 – Progress
› The first workshop on finalization of
Disability Decree took place on the
21st - 22nd May 2013
- National Committee for Disabled People
members appointed by the Minister of
Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
› The first draft (finalized in this
workshop) was submitted to the
Ministry of Justice for additional
recommendations.
› A second workshop will be organized
for final revision (based on
recommendations from Ministry of
Justice) before submission to the
government meeting.
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12. Outcomes of the ALAF program
› Cross-sectoral collaboration
- “I would say that the best aspect of the Fellowship is the opportunity to work on a
case study together with your Fellows who are in government. It is very important
for Fellows from DPOs to have an opportunity to build good relationships
with…those working in the government.” (Fellow from the Philippines)
› Development and strengthening of regional relationships
(facebook, mailing list)
› Increase capacity
- “Seminars and discussions have given me a new perspective on understanding
Disability and its policy's framework. Also, the importance of comparable
standardized data on disability and research findings.” (Fellow from Myanmar)
› Implementation of case studies
- Two Fellows pursuing higher degree by research in Australia developing the case
study work into doctoral level and masters level research studies
- Lao PDR

13. Ongoing activities
› Our team supporting implementation of case studies (e.g. advocacy for
funding)
› Working with AusAID to develop future programs that build on the
lessons learned:
- Building on the premium advantage of the cross-sectoral approach within
country including government agencies, DPO’s and NGO’s
- Broadening the range of agencies to include non-disability focus for example
human rights agencies, gender agencies
- Locating timing in relation to UNCRPD reporting for maximum advantage
- Building on potential opportunities for on-going country-to-country and
regional collaborations/ networks
- Continue to build on involvement of people with disabilities and DPOs

14. References
› Tsaputra, A. (2013) Report of case study: Enhancing the implementation of Quota System to Provide More
Employment to PWDs as required by Government Regulation Number 43 Year 1998: A Case Study in
Padang City West Sumatera Province Indonesia. (Made available through personal communication with
author)
› United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2006). Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities. Retrieved from
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/ConventionRightsPersonsWithDisabilities.aspx.
› United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. (2012). Incheon Strategy to
“Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved from
http://www.unescap.org/publications/detail.asp?id=1523
› United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. (2007). Biwako plus five: further
efforts towards an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for persons with disabilities in Asia and
the Pacific. Retrieved from http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/convention/biwako5.htm
› World Health Organization. (2011). World report on disability: World Health Organization. Geneva
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15. Centre for Disability Research and Policy
www.sydney.edu.au/health_sciences/cdrp/
Email: disabilitypolicy.centre@sydney.edu.au
Phone: 61 2 9351 9721