State of Palestine
Country Programmes

Raising awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities and developing capacities to mainstream disability in the State of Palestine

Start DateOngoingEnd Date
 
 
29 Aug 201330 Jun 2015
Programme Status
Closed
Programme Budget
US$ 349,890
Financial Information
Thematic focus: Access to Health, Disability Policy and/or Law, Employment, Inclusive education

Implementing Partners

UN Agencies

  • UNDP
  • ILO
  • WHO
  • UNICEF

Government Organizations

  • Ministry of Education
  • Ministry of Health
  • Ministry of Higher Education
  • Ministry of Labour
  • Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC)
  • Ministry of Social Affairs
  • Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics

Organizations of Persons with Disabilities

  • A Higher Council for People with Disabilities
  • Palestinian General Union for Persons with Disabilities
  • Stars of Hope

The Programme

The proposed programme aimed to raise awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities and develop capacities to mainstream disability in the education, health, employment, and social sectors in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) in compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
In the past, most programmes for persons with disabilities had been charitable and needs-based in character and segregated in their approach; this programme prepared the ground for future interventions to be rights-based and inclusive.

The goal of the programme was to strengthen the respect for the human rights of persons with disabilities through legislation, services, and social and economic empowerment in compliance with the Palestinian Disability Law and the CRPD. This was achieved through a close partnership between government ministries, UN agencies, international donors, Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs), and other key stakeholders.

Approach

The three main outcomes of this programme:
Legislation, policies and practices of six key ministries were reviewed for compliance with the CRPD and the Palestinian Disability Law, focusing on health, education and livelihood.
Equal opportunities were created for children with disabilities in selected pilot schools (selected by the MoE) – As a first example of good practice
Access to job creation programmes and business development schemes for women and men with disabilities were improved – As a second example of good practice
The programme partners recognised that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple and overlapping forms of discrimination, and aimed to take all appropriate measures to ensure their full participation in all programme activities.

Programme Documents