Persidangan Incheon Strategy 2013 -2022: A New Decade for Persons with Disabilities in Malaysia

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera

Sejak entri terakhir tentang keberadaan saya di Kuala Lumpur kerana menghadiri satu persidangan, Inilah hasilnya setelah saya mendapat email daripada pihak jawatankuasa. Saya masih menunggu resolusi persidangan dan akhirnya............Inilah yang dirumuskan dan diserahkan kepada Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat sewaktu majlis penutup di Berjaya Convention Centre. Sebak bila resolusi ini dibacakan oleh seorang profesor dari salah sebuah universiti awam tempatan yang juga seorang OKU. Oh ya...mohon diingat, dalam persidangan tersebut telah diputuskan istilah OKU ialah "Orang Kurang Upaya" dan bukan istilah lain-lain yang kononnya jadi penyeap bahasa. Istilah ini bertepatan dengan Akta OKU 2008 dan diiktiraf oleh wakil-wakil OKU yang hadir di dalam persidangan tersebut. Justeru, istilah kelainan upaya dan sebagainya secara rasmi seharusnya tidak digunapakai sama ada dalam penulisan atau percakapan.

Berharap dengan resolusi yang dijanjikan akan dikemukakan di dalam kabinet akan mendapat perhatian setiap ahli dewan agar kebajikan dan hak OKU di Malaysia akan terpelihara sebagaimana insan lain.

The Resolution of the Conference on the “Incheon Strategy 2013 -2022: A New Decade for Persons with Disabilities in Malaysia

on 1st - 2nd July 2013,

at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel & Convention Centre,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

We, the delegates of the Conference declare our collective statements as follows;

1. Recognize the Government’s commitment via their presence in this Conference.
2. Support the Malaysian Government on the endorsement of the Ministerial Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013-2022, and the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific as it provides the Asian and Pacific region, and the world, with the first set of regionally agreed disability-inclusive development goals.
3. Believe the Incheon Strategy will enable Malaysia, as part of the Asian and Pacific region, to track progress towards improving the quality of life, and the fulfillment of the rights, of Malaysia’s persons with disabilities.
4. Believe the Incheon Strategy comprising of 10 goals, 27 targets and 62 indicators which is built on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action and the Biwako Plus Five, will move us towards an Inclusive, Barrier-Free and Rights-Based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific.
The Incheon Strategy goals and targets are time-bound. To facilitate the achievement of the goals and targets in the new Decade, 2013-2022, the Government will need to put in concerted and coordinated efforts and we recommend the following:

1. REDUCE POVERTY AND ENHANCE WORK AND EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS
 More awareness programs on minimum wage.
 The government has to ensure elements of security and working conditions for PWDs to be implemented.

2. PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL PROCESS AND IN DECISION-MAKING
 Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) to relook at systems/mechanisms in place to enable all PWDs to exercise their rights as a citizen.
 SPR to redesign Form A to capture PWD’s registration to vote.
 SPR to work with Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs) and NGOs to address the PWDs needs during election.

3. ENHANCE ACCESS TO THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC TRANSPORT, KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
 Highlight the importance of pressure groups for advocacy.
 Recommend the Government to commit to have in place an effective accessible national transport policy with involvement of PWDs.

4. STRENGTHEN SOCIAL PROTECTION
 Ensure productive welfare approach to be effectively implemented.
 Government agencies to work together with NGOs to strengthen all efforts focusing on both availability and accessibility of social protection.

5. EXPAND EARLY INTERVENTION AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
 Strengthen early detection network within relevant agencies (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Heath, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development).
 Enhance access to early intervention services.
 Enhance service quality and effectiveness.
 Captured data immediately upon diagnosis in Ministry of Health to be shared with Ministry of Education and Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.
 Ensure enrolment of 75% of children with disabilities into inclusive school setting by 2025.

6. ENSURE GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
 Advocate education opportunities for women with disabilities.
 Advocate equal opportunities for women with disabilities in employment.
 Ensure health care professionals are equipped with the knowledge on the needs of disabled women’s diseases and medical needs.
 Educate families and societies on violence against disabled women.

7. ENSURE DISABILITY-INCLUSIVE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
 To educate related authorities to incorporate skills and knowledge in handling PWDs in rescue and emergency situations.
 To establish a monitoring system to ensure building by-laws are adhered to.
 To allocate resources to equip PWDs in disaster preparedness.

8. IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY AND COMPARABILITY OF DISABILITY DATA
 The Government to consider the suggestion to make the registration of PWDs mandatory.

9. ACCELERATE THE RATIFICATION AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND THE HARMONIZATION OF NATIONAL LEGISLATION WITH THE CONVENTION
 To establish a task force for strengthening and reviewing:
a) Existing law related to Disability/PWDs.
b) Federal Constitution (Article 8) to include no discrimination to PWDs.
 To establish Disability Right Tribunal at National/Local level.
 To set-up information centre to collect and promote disability right to the community.
 To strengthen enforcement on existing law.
To continue giving cooperation at sub-regional, regional and interregional levels, for facilitating mutual support including through sharing lessons learned, good practices and innovative solutions.
The NGOs will work together with the government to come up with a Malaysian Report on the progress of the Incheon Strategy.

Meskipun isu-isu yang diketengahkan adalah isu-isu lapuk yang tidak berkesudahan, sekurang-kurangnya persidangan ini memberi ruang dan pentas kepada OKU untuk menyuarakan masalah, kekangan serta cabaran yang dihadapi dalam memastikan penglibatan mereka secara aktif dalam masyarakat. Mereka tidak mahu kerajaan atau pihak-pihak berwajib melakukan sesuatu untuk mereka sebaliknya.....LAKUKAN SESUATU BERSAMA-SAMA MEREKA! Participation itu sepatutnya sudah lama berlaku kerana hanya mereka yang memahami apa yang mereka alami. Saya yang datang sebagai seorang pelajar rasa seronok sebab sekurang-kurangnya saya mendapat bahan untuk kajian saya. 

Tatkala saya hadir sebagai seorang ibu kepada OKU, hati sebak, semuanya bercampur aduk. Sukarnya mereka hendak memperjuangkan nasib mereka....Janganlah kita beria-ia hendak menjadi peneraju tanpa membuat kajian terlebih dahulu hanya kerana ingin dilihat berada di depan, sebaliknya tidak melihat ke dasar masalah. Kadang-kadang kita pandai membuat sesuatu yang baru, inovasi kononnya tetapi kita tidak terfikir siapakah sasaran kita, apakah halangan yang akan dihadapi dan apakah sesuai inovasi tersebut dihasilkan? Begitu jugalah dengan usaha untuk menyediakan dekad baru untuk OKU. Apakah selama ini usaha kerajaan masih belum cukup? JAWAPANNYA PASTI BELUM sehingga perlu bersetuju untuk pelaksanaan Incheon Strategy. Tidaklah mengatakan ianya tak bagus tetapi biar ada hasilnya yamg mahu dilihat....Kayu ukurnya ialah apabila OKU mendapat hak yang sewajarnya dan tidak perlu lagi melaung ke sana-ke sini menuntut hak seakan mengemis di bumi sendiri. Itu juga yang saya rasakan sebagai seorang ibu kepada anak OKU. Terlalu banyak cabaran yang dilalui hingga ada kalanya hati kecil ini tewas dengan persekitaran, bukan kerana lemahnya semangat yang sedikit.

Semoga ada dekad baru yang lebih cerah dan membahagiakan buat setiap warga OKU di negara bertuah ini..............