MAKING IT WORK LAUNCHED - www.makingitwork-crpd.org
September, 1st 2009.
Handicap International and partners are proud to be launching new Making it Work (MIW) Initiative, aimed at implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Visit: www.makingitwork-crpd.org
Making it Work (MIW) is a global multi-stakeholder initiative to promote effective implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) – Making the CRPD Work! We support research and advocacy projects at local, national and regional levels, which promote inclusive policies in line with the CRPD.
The MIW International Coordination Team and International Advisory Com¬mittee oversee and guide the global direction of the initiative. MIW projects are driven by steering committees composed of NGOs and disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) from each region. Projects have already started in South-East Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America and West Africa. Additional projects are in development.
The CRPD entered into force on May 3, 2008. This human rights law represents a significant step towards addressing the poverty, social exclusion and discrimination faced by people with disabilities worldwide. For most countries, however, there are significant gaps between the standards set by the CRPD, national policies and the reality on the ground for people with disabilities.
In all countries of the world there are innovative projects and good practices that have achieved real impact in addressing the barriers experienced by people with disabilities. Making it Work projects document and exchange these examples of good practice – and use them to make recommendations for policies that uphold the principles of the CRPD. The MIW approach is focused on constructive advocacy, where civil society organizations can utilize their knowledge and experience of what works to promote strategies for inclusive development. MIW is designed to influence policies reflecting the disability rights approach.
A key achievement of MIW has been the development of the MIW Methodology: a step-by-step Guideline that supports civil society (in particular DPOs and disability & development NGOs) on “How to set up and manage a MIW project.” A practical Toolkit will complement the information in the Guideline.
Our aim is to provide a global platform for sharing experiences from different MIW projects around the world.