Disability and Development Report - United Nations

1 Disability and Development Report _____ Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals by, for and with persons with disabilities _____ 2018 Department of Economic and Social Affairs Disability and Development Report Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals by, for and with persons with disabilities 2018 United Nations New York, 2019 Department of Economic and Social Affairs The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: (i) it compiles, generates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which States Members of the United Nations draw to review common problems and to take stock of policy options; (ii) it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and (iii) it advises interested Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, helps build national capacities.

2 Note The designations employed and the presentation of the material in the present publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitations of its frontiers. The term country as used in the text of this Report also refers, as appropriate, to territories or areas. The designations of country groups in the text and the tables are intended solely for statistical or analytical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgement about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the Development process. Mention of the names of firms and commercial products does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations . Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Disability and Development Report Published by the United Nations New York, New York 10017, United States of America Copyright 2019 United Nations All rights reserved All queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to: United Nations Publications 405 East 42nd Street, S-09FW001 New York, New York 10017 United States of America E-mail: website: Requests to reproduce excerpts should be addressed to: ISBN: 9789211303797 eISBN: 9789210479035(PDF) ePUB: 9789213582800 United Nations Publication Sales No.

3 Design and layout Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations , New York Chapter II. Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals for persons with disabilities Disability has been included in various targets and as a cross-cutting issue in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development . Efforts need to be stepped up to ensure that the goals and targets will be achieved for persons with disabilities too, in line with the CRPD. This chapter reflects on overall progress towards the SDGs from the perspective of persons with disabilities. In particular, the following SDGs are addressed in detail in the following sections of this chapter: poverty and hunger (SDGs 1 and 2), health and well-being (SDG 3), sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights (targets and ), education (SDG 4), gender equality and empowerment of women and girls with disabilities (SDG 5), availability of water and sanitation (SDG 6), access to energy (SDG 7), employment and decent work (SDG 8), access to ICT (target ), inequality (SDG 10), inclusive cities and human settlements (SDG 11), disasters, shocks and climate change (targets and and SDG 13) and finally violence against persons with disabilities, inclusive societies and institutions, representative decision-making, birth-registration and access to justice and to information (SDG 16).

4 These sections provide an overview of the selected SDGs from a Disability perspective, discussing relevant international normative frameworks; the current situation of persons with disabilities; and current practices with particular attention to highlighting best practices, all with the aim of informing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for persons with disabilities. 31 A. Ending poverty and hunger for all persons with disabilities (Goals 1 and 2) This section reflects on the situation of persons with disabilities with respect to poverty and hunger, in line with Goals 1 and 2. Goal 1 makes a call to end poverty in all its forms and Goal 2 to achieve zero hunger . This section presents various international normative frameworks on poverty, hunger and Disability , provides an overview of the situation of persons with disabilities vis- -vis Goals 1 and 2 and discusses national policies and best practices in these areas.

5 The section includes recommendations for achieving these two SDGs for persons with disabilities. The section focuses on selected Goal 1 and Goal 2 targets relevant for persons with disabilities: reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions (target ); end hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round (target ); implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable (target ); and ensure access to financial services, in particular to the vulnerable (target ). Achieving these targets for persons with disabilities remains a path full of obstacles. Persons with disabilities face physical, social, economic and/or environmental barriers to participation, which may lead to poverty and hunger.

6 For instance, lack of accessibility in the physical environment and discrimination may prevent persons with disabilities from entering the school system, restricting their skills, knowledge and future ability to work and produce economic value. Those same barriers may prevent persons with disabilities from entering the labour market, or may limit the kind and amount of work they can do, lowering their incomes. In addition, increased expenditures related to Disability may have an adverse impact on financial resources and push persons with disabilities into poverty. Though social protection schemes can help alleviate poverty, persons with disabilities encounter various barriers in accessing social protection These barriers include lack of accessible information provided to persons with disabilities about social protection programmes and how to apply for them; absence of the requisite documentation; limited accessibility of grant offices to persons with disabilities; pervasive discrimination by grant offices, in particular, towards those with psychosocial disabilities; and lack of clarity in the Disability evaluation International normative frameworks on poverty, hunger and Disability The eradication of poverty and hunger are key commitments of the SDGs, reflected in Goals 1 and 2.

7 Goal 1 commits to end poverty in all its forms and Goal 2 to achieve zero hunger . The universality of these goals covers all, including persons with disabilities. Although there are no direct references to Disability in Goals 1 and 2, indicator measures the proportion of the population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing persons with disabilities, among others. 32 The international normative framework on Disability and Development , consisting of the CRPD and other international instruments, also includes provisions/references concerning poverty, hunger and social protection for persons with disabilities (Figure ). Poverty among persons with disabilities is a key concern in the CRPD and Disability -specific legislation. Article 28 of the CRPD calls on States Parties: to ensure access by persons with disabilities, in particular women and girls with disabilities and older persons with disabilities, to social protection programmes and poverty reduction programmes.

8 The CRPD emphasizes equality in social and economic dimensions, including equal remuneration for work of equal value (article 27, paragraph1(b)) and equal access to retirement benefits and programmes (article 28, paragraph 2 (e)). The CRPD also stresses autonomy the right for persons with disabilities to control their own financial affairs and to have equal access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit (article 12, paragraph 5), and rights to an adequate standard of living and social protection (article 28, paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 (b)(c)) and also connects with Goal 2 through provisions for adequate food, standards of living (article 28, paragraph 1), and land control (article 12, paragraph 5). Other international human rights instruments contain provisions concerning the right to social protection of persons with disabilities. For example, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)40 and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966)41 contain a general recognition of this right.

9 Figure International normative frameworks relevant for the achievement of SDGs 1 and 2 for persons with disabilities. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006), articles 12, 27, and 28 Ending poverty and hunger for allpersons with disabilities (SDGs 1 and 2) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) 33 The situation of persons with disabilities regarding poverty, hunger and nutrition Poverty Persons with disabilities, and their households, are more likely to live in poverty. The evidence is based on hunger indicators, traditional poverty indicators (income, household expenditures, asset ownership) and multidimensional poverty, that is, the experience of multiple deprivations by the same households or individuals. Regarding the traditional poverty indicators, data from 2011 2016 for six countries and areas, showed that a higher percentage of persons with disabilities was living under the national poverty line;42 in some countries, the difference reached 22 percentage points (Figure ).

10 Using international poverty lines, persons with disabilities were more likely to be poor in three countries in 2010 2011 (Figure ), with the highest gap of 12 percentage points between persons with and without disabilities in Uganda. Figure Percentage of persons living under the national poverty line, by Disability status, in 6 countries, in 2011-2016. 11% 29% 35% 19% 24% 27% 24% 1% 11% 13% 15% 20% 21% 13% 0% 20% 40% Macao, United Republic of Indonesia Georgia Mongolia AVERAGE China States Korea Persons with disabilities Persons without disabilities Source: ESCAP8 and Brucker et al (2014).43,44 34 Figure Percentage of households with and without persons with disabilities living under the international poverty line (US$ a day), in 3 countries, in 2010-2011. 70% 35% 0% Tanzania*(WG) Uganda* (WG) Malawi* (WG) With persons with disabilities Without persons with disabilities Note: (WG) identifies countries with data collected using the Washington Group Short Set of Questions.