APPG for Disability Meeting 7th March 2018
Committee Room 6, Westminster Palace, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Minutes
Note: our speech-to-text reporter was unable to get their equipment working during this meeting, so while we have strived for total accuracy, this report may contain some omissions.
1.0 Introduction
Dr Cameron opened the meeting on International Development by noting that, although this is only the APPG’s first foray into the international disability agenda, we are pleased to have the Secretary of State for International Development present to talk about the upcoming Global Disability Summit, and that we hope to continue to engage with inclusion and equality on an international level.
2.0 Jimmy Innes, of ADD International, on Disability and International Aid
Jimmy started by noting the history of the International Disability Movement, which spent 20-30 years knocking on a door “that wouldn’t open” – it was a painstaking and arduous journey before that door began to even open ajar. The adoption of the CRPD by the UK paved the way for two key developments: 1) National level commitments to disability inclusion (in national legislation, policies, strategic plans, etc.); and 2) helping to ensure that disability inclusion is enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030. Now, Jimmy went on to say, the international disability movement is entering its next phase: defining what is on the other side of that door. The conversation has made a step change from “why” to “how” for global disability inclusion.
Jimmy then stated that DFID and international aid must play an integral part in helping to define the agenda for the next phase. DFID has been a global leader on disability inclusion – eg, through the development of its Leave No One Behind agenda, its Disability Framework, and the upcoming Global Disability Summit – and DFID is now beginning to put financial commitments in place for disability inclusion – eg, Aid Connect and DID programmes now in progress. It is a level of funding for international disability inclusion that we have never seen before.
Jimmy then noted, however, that DFID cannot achieve everything by itself. Many other actors are needed to fund disability inclusion, and to step up to the plate like DFID is doing. This is the main outcome of the Summit that Jimmy wished to see later this year – funding commitments by donor agencies, and commitments by national governments to take inclusion to the next level (helping the movement to define what is on the other side of that door).
But in this, it is vital to ensure that also the most marginalised and vulnerable people with disabilities are reached, most notably in the global south. We need to be able to say with confidence that No One has been Left Behind. We are not there yet. In preparation for this event, Jimmy consulted with some of his DPO partners in Uganda and Bangladesh, to seek their thoughts for what he should present here tonight. Three quotes stuck with him: 1) “Not enough aid gets down to the grassroots”; 2) “Aid is not as close to the disability movement in my country as it should be”; 3) There is no momentum in the disability movement without momentum at the grassroots level”.
He closed by saying that, in order to define and drive the next phase in the international disability movement (on the other side of that door), aid needs to work harder and do more for the people with disabilities who are still left behind – the marginalised poor, who are still the underserved majority of people with disabilities in the world.
3.0 Dr Lisa Cameron MP, Chair of the APPG for Disability
Dr Cameron then spoke briefly, before giving way to the Secretary of State once she arrived due to time constraints. Dr Cameron spoke of the UK’s existing obligations under the Global Goals, and how the rationale underlying them is as strong as ever. Disabled people cannot be excluded from the benefits of aid meant for the benefit of all. She also drew attention to difficulties with data – for many developing countries we do not have accurate data on the disabled people living there. This is tied to DFID’s Leave No One Behind agenda, since many of the world’s worst off disabled people are the unknown, who are not found in the data. To the extent that aid should be used to help those who need it most, it must be a priority to ensure the collection of accurate data for disabled people around the world, to better inform and influence our policies.
4.0 Penny Mordaunt MP, Secretary of State for International Development
After apologising for her late arrival, Penny introduced the current framework operating at DFID. She clarified her pledge that disability will be put “at the heart” of everything DFID does, and will be regarded as a global priority. All aid provided by the UK government to other countries must be used in a way that benefits disabled people just as much as non-disabled people. Projects financed and supported by UK aid must be inclusive of disabled people and take equal account of their interests as well, from the point of planning right through to delivery.
To this extent, the Disability and Inclusion Team within DFID is growing in size, and DFID plan to take a leading role in disability worldwide. The Global Disability Summit will be an opportunity for the UK to take the helm in fighting for global disability inclusion and equality. Penny hopes that lasting, genuine and effective commitments are taken on by a number of countries and bodies present at the Summit.
Penny further admitted that she is not an expert in International Development – unlike many of the attendees present – and that DFID know that it has a lot to learn about how best to encourage, establish and preserve inclusive and non-discriminatory practices in developing countries. As such, DFID are planning to collaborate extensively with DPOs in their work, and she welcomed feedback and advice from those present. The Summit itself will also be co-hosted by the Global Disability Alliance.
Four questions were asked to Penny herself:
Q1: What are the four priority areas to which she referred?
A1: The main areas that DFID are concentrating on are education; economic empowerment; stigma; discrimination. Disabled people in developing countries are regularly excluded from education as children, have diminished job prospects as an adult, and suffer stigma and discrimination due to social conditions. All of these outcomes must be challenged.
Q2: In large parts of Africa 98 per cent of disabled children are outside of education. They also face violence and abuse. What can be done to address this?
A2: The summit will be co-hosted with Kenya, and will prioritise the protection of individuals (the ‘invisible’ people on no-one’s radar). For example, community-led schemes which identify households with vulnerable disabled people. New technology can help with this. A focus will also be placed on protecting disabled people in conflict zones.
Q3: What will the role of civil society organisations be in the disability summit?
A3: Civil society organisations need to shape the agenda. It is not the place for DFID or the government to determine the agenda regarding disability and inclusion. Political buy-in and buy-in from donors is important, but things also need to happen at the grassroots level.
Q4: Philip Connolly, of Disability Rights UK, asked whether the Secretary of State would look at his proposal for a “Digital Paralympics”, a project to run alongside the Olympics that could have benefits for disabled people worldwide.
A4: Having met Philip in the past, the Secretary of State affirmed that she would certainly consider his proposal.
5.0 Dr Lisa Cameron – Questions and Answers
After the questions which the Secretary of State answered herself, the meeting then became a question and answer session. Penny Innes, head of Disability Inclusion Team at DFID was present to provide some answers; other questions were taken away and forwarded on to DFID after.
Questions asked after the Secretary of State departed (which have been forwarded on to DFID):
-ADD International are bringing over eight activists from the developing world. They will be able to articulate the problems they face. How should they be best used? What is needed is to get them into conversation with the relevant decision-makers. In fact, the APPG are currently looking at whether they may meeting with the activists for their viewpoints to be taken forward.
- Given that 46 per cent of people over 60 have a disability, how will the Summit reflect the rights and needs of older disabled people, as a very prominent group within the disabled community?
-Will social protection be included in the summit?
-How do we stop initiatives from becoming ‘tick box’ exercises? How do we reach groups that still need to be won over? International Development has sceptics and, as also said by Lord Bruce of Bennachie, it is important for examples of success and best practice to be publicised to demonstrate the positive effects that international aid can have.
-How do we ensure the voice of DPOs comes through at the summit? They are often not involved in the large-scale/ high-level discussions, and they lack access to transportation etc. to attend. It is therefore often left to participants at the global level to represent them. Could the summit identify a pathway to ensure their voices are heard? This was answered in the room by Penny Innes:
-In terms of social protection, central to what we are seeking to achieve is economic empowerment and supporting people into employment. Social protection is an inherent part of this.
Lisa Cameron: Are we looking after the most vulnerable refugees?
Penny Innes: We do support refugees via humanitarian programmes. Helping people understand their rights is inherent to this (as in Uganda, from where she has just returned).
-How can we influence the scope of the data the World Bank collects? There are currently many children worldwide in institutional care. Disabled children are over-represented in this number, but they are hidden as there is no accurate data on this. The World Bank could help address this issue. Insofar as DFID’s policies should be inclusive, we must have clear data on who is to be included and how best to reach them.
-The conference needs to address the needs of disabled deaf children among refugees in Europe.
-Family carers of disabled people often suffer isolation, health issues, financial issues. The important role they play needs to be recognised and addressed at the Summit.
-What role will arts and culture play at the summit? A four year programme is just coming to an end in Norway that seeks to use arts/ cultural events to help build disabled people’s confidence and employability skills. Scope for similar initiatives elsewhere (notwithstanding the need to ensure such initiatives are culturally appropriate to different national contexts).
-In relation to getting disabled people into employment there is an important role for technology to play. The role of employers is essential here in pursuing a social rather than a medical model of disability (technological solutions can be essential in enabling a social model to be pursued). The Global Disability Summit will have a focus on assistive technology and the role it has to play in supporting disabled people around the world.
-In measuring the extent of disability-related problems, how can we make sure that countries take a consistent approach to how disability is defined and measured? In India, for example, a person with one leg missing is not classed as disabled – there must be accurate and consistent data about disability before DFID measures can be considered measured and appropriate.
-Why is Kenya co-hosting the conference? Penny Innes responded that Kenya themselves had demonstrated a positive interest in co-hosting, in learning about inclusion and disability equality, and have been doing a lot of domestic disability development.
-Will the summit be making funding commitments as well as policy commitments? Penny Innes responded saying that the intention is for there to be both funding and policy commitments – but what is more important is action beyond those commitments.
6.0 Lord Bruce of Bennachie
Lord Bruce was asked by Dr Cameron if he had any thoughts on the meeting. As a previous chair of the International Development Select Committee from 2005-2015, Lord Bruce said as his main point that it is critical for examples of best practice to be identified and spread around international development. The examples should be both of individuals and projects. In sharing examples of practice, the Summit will provide an opportunity for the exchanging of views, knowledge and experience. He praised the approach being taken by the Secretary of State, and said that engagement with DPOs and disabled people themselves is critical to successfully developing inclusive policies.
7.0 Dr Lisa Cameron MP
Dr Cameron then drew a close to the meeting. She thanked those attending for their contributions and expressed a desire to look more at international development and international disability policy in the future.
8.0 Open meeting closed