Role of Governments in Disability Rights Movement

The following are some quick notes about governments as entrepreneurs in disability rights.

1) In 2001, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution titled Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disability. It uses a human rights approach and recommends the formation of two UN Ad Hoc Committees: One for the development of a convention and the other for a convention including a strong statement about discrimination (Kanter 2003). Ireland and Mexico took leading roles in the committees.

2) Strong links between Rehabilitation International (RI), one of the most important NGO entrepreneurs in disability rights, and national governments may be an indicator of entrepreneurship on the part of the country. After RI restructured in the early-mid 70’s, national governments and organizations were more included. As a result, certain countries began funding RI. Germany was among the first (RI’s President during reconstruction was Kurt Jochheim of Germany). Canada followed. (Groce, 2002)

3) It was a UN delegate from Libya, Mr. Mansur R. Kikhia, that suggested the timing may be right for the United Nations to have an International Year of Disabled Persons (IYDP) (Groce 2002, 74). Since the IYDP and the International Decade of Disabled Persons that followed was so instrumental in the movement, Mr. Kikhia and therefore Kenya, are one entrepreneur.

4) From 2002-2005, countries with "experienced disabled politicians and lawyers on their delegations were being looked to for leadership in both substance and suasion" (Duncan & Geagan 2005, ii). I could not find information beyond that, yet it still provides an important clue to the agenda-setting process in the disability rights movement.

5) The use of the American with Disabilities act as a model for constructing and evaluating disability policies means the United States plays an important role (Cook, 2005). However, it is probably better termed "capacity-builder" than "entrepreneur".


References

Cook, R.L. (Ed). (2005). International Disability Rights: an overview and comparative analysis of international and national initiatives to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Washington DC: Library of Congress. (Reference format may be incorrect)

Duncan, B. & Geagan, J. (Eds). (2005). Change from within: international overview of the impact of disabled politicians and disability policy bodies on governance. Oakland, CA: World Institute on Disability.

Groce, N. (2002). From charity to disability rights: global initiatives of Rehabilitation International, 1922-2002. New York: International Rehabilitation Foundation, Henry H. Kessler Foundation (New Jersey).

Kanter, A.S. (2003). The Globalization of Disability Rights Law. In P. Blanck (Ed.), Disability Rights (pp. 489-517). Burlington, VT: Ashgate.