Declaration
The Fifth South Asia Regional Conference in CBR
Kabul Declaration
March 30th, 2010
The CBR Network South Asia was the 1st regional network initiative which started in 1993. There are 8 member countries in the network: Bangladesh India, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. The 5th South Asia CBR regional conference was organized in Kabul from 28th to 30th March 2010. The conference focused on the theme of the role of Community Based Rehabilitation an empowering women and children. More than 300 participants attended, including from member countries. Representatives from Tajikistan and Iran also participated. In compliance with the UN convention on the rights of persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and all other accepted and approved national and international conventions, declarations and covenants related to rights, inclusion of person with disabilities and other aspects of disability management, eight member countries and representatives of the Community Based Rehabilitation Network (South Asia) declare and commit to implement the following:
Focus Theme: Back to Grassroots-Rethinking Community Based Rehabilitation.
1. Build the capacity of National Networks and nodal organizations of respective countries to translate the vision and commitments stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability at grassroots level reality.
2. Promote Rights Based CBR for the effective implementation of UNCRPD with a focus on reaching unreached communities in south Asia
Focus: Pooling South Asian resources by networking with governments and other networks
3. Build partnerships with governments, SAARC secretariat and its networks in planning and implementation of CBR programme and in developing socially, politically, culturally, economically, appropriate, acceptable and sustainable strategies for the effective implementation of UN CRPD commitments.
4.Network with UN agencies, Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD), Disabled People’s International, world forums concerning disability such as Inclusion International, World Blind Union, World Federation of the Deaf, Rehabilitation International, universities, media, disability networks, Asia Pacific CBR network, other CBR networks, development agencies and other donors in scaling up both quality, quantity and accountability in the inclusion of persons with disabilities into mainstream and inclusive development programmes.
5. Network with universities in South Asia for human resource development and research and promote twinning collaboration between universities in developed countries and universities in South Asia for building global standards in human resource development in disability disciplines.
Focus: Promote a Rights Based Vision in CBR
6. Promote optimum utilization of corporate sector funding, social protection funds, and community resources to reach the unreached and most vulnerable and marginalized persons with disabilities in South Asia through effective rights based CBR programmes and approaches.
7. Advocate ‘Village Disability Registers’ to obtain reliable data on disability prevalence and individual needs in the rural areas of a country and promote decentralized computer-based disability registers in urban areas using information technology and mobile technology.
8. Organize training networks and programmes to build the capacity of local bodies, DPOs, CBOs, NGOs in translating UNCRPD into locally appropriate action in collaboration with governments, developmental agencies and donors.
9. Build a single window accessible website “CBR -A to Z” for use of governments, universities, self-help organizations, and families to access information related to UNCRPD and CBR and promote a CBR Partnership Market for mutual help and support.
Focus: CBR by Stakeholders
10. CBR by stakeholders: Advocate a “rehabilitation rainbow” based on the model developed by the Afghanistan national skill development programme (ANSDP) for comprehensive employment creation for persons with disabilities in all CBR programmes.
11. Advocate for equal opportunities in all development and CBR programmes, inclusive education from primary to higher education, skills development and employment for girls and women with disabilities.
12. Sensitization of policy makers and service providers to promote participation and address the needs of senior citizens with disability within the rehabilitation programmes.
13. Sensitize families, community and civil society on equal opportunities and full inclusion in social and personal life without any discrimination.
14. Promote, strengthen and sustain legal basis for CBR Programs at all levels of the government.
15. Promote women’s participation in general and women with disabilities participation in particular through a rights-based approach in all CBR network activities in South Asia.
16. Promote parents organisations, self-help and mutual aid group networks to ensure social justice, rights, equality, equity and empowerment through participation of all stakeholders in social, economic and political movement of the countries.
17. Promote Disability Rights citizen’s charters as an integral part of rights based CBR.
Focus: Evidence based Advocacy
18. Initiate civil society reporting system to the UN on the implementation of UNCRPD.
19. Develop and promote knowledge on “reasonable accommodation” in south Asian communities in building rights-based society and barrier free and accessible environment.
20. The commitments by the national governments already agreed upon regarding CBR are recognized.
Focus: Building and sharing knowledge
21. Promote locally appropriate research using technology and information technology to improve the quality of life and equal opportunities by building barrier free inclusive communities (computer aided inclusive schools, wheel chairs for use of farmers and women in villages, TV aided learning for children with sensory disabilities etc.).
22. Publish e- learning materials, CDs, manuals, books, and fact sheets relevant to meet the challenges of diverse needs of countries in the south Asian region.
23. Promote CBR networks in other regions in collaboration with governments and civil societies. Based on the expressed interest of Iran and Tajikistan the new countries are encouraged to join the CBR Network South Asia until they are able to set up and promote a CBR network in their own region.
24. Launch online learning training network in south Asian countries using both E learning and mobile learning technologies in CBR, inclusive education, Portage early intervention, NGO management, disability rights charters and UNCRPD with support from community based organizations and in collaboration with universities.
25. Promoting separate Ministry for Disability Affairs in South Asian Countries wherever feasible
The 5th South Asia Network Conference appreciates the contribution of the Mr Krishna Bhattarai outgoing regional coordinator for his outstanding contribution to strengthen CBR network South Asia. The national networks extends whole hearted support to Mr. Razi Khan Hamdard as the next regional coordinator to build an effective network to ensure dignity and respect to every individual with disability in south Asian countries.
Focus: 6th CBR Network Conference in July 2013
Host country: National CBR Network, Republic of Maldives
This declaration is approved and signed by the regional Coordinator and the national Coordinators of the countries mentioned below:
Regional Coordinator CBR Network South Asia
National CBR Network Afghanistan
National CBR Network India
National CBR Network Maldives
National CBR Network Pakistan
Approved by:
National CBR Network Bangladesh
National CBR Network Bhutan
National CBR Network Nepal
National CBR Network Sri Lanka
