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5th National Conference 2016

1. Legislative Advocacy & Accountability

  • The Disability Bill: A primary focus was the urgency of passing and implementing the national Disability Bill into law.

  • Parliamentary Representation: Delegates discussed the need for a reserved quota for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Parliament, similar to other minority groups.

  • Reporting Obligations: Speakers emphasized that the government has a mandatory obligation to report on CRPD progress and encouraged Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to produce “Shadow Reports” to ensure transparency.

2. Data & The National Census

  • The Data Gap: Participants identified the lack of authentic statistics as the biggest hurdle to progress.

  • Washington Group Questions: There was a strong call for the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics to incorporate the “Washington Group of Questions” in the 2017 National Census to accurately map the PWD population.

3. Inclusive Development & Infrastructure

  • Universal Design: The conference advocated for the implementation of universal design in all public infrastructure and the built environment to ensure accessibility for all.

  • Social vs. Medical Model: Speakers pushed for a shift in perspective—moving away from viewing disability as a medical “loss” and toward seeing PWDs as effective, contributing members of the GDP.

4. Gender Equality

  • The conference highlighted that socio-economic conditions in Pakistan cannot improve without involving women in the process. Legislative reforms specifically targeting the rights and empowerment of women with disabilities were deemed essential.

5. Strategic Synergies

  • Experts shared insights on creating synergies between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UNCRPD to ensure that “no one is left behind” in Pakistan’s development agenda.

Conclusion & Outcomes

The conference concluded with the formal adoption of a National Declaration and a group commitment to work in a more coordinated, channelized manner. High-profile attendees, including Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and the High Commissioner of Pakistan to India, pledged their support to coordinate within Parliament to safeguard the rights of the disability community.

Organized by: CBID Network Pakistan
Supported by: CBM, Sightsavers, CHIP, and DFID.

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