For the Kind Attention of:
Mr. Kofi A Annan
Secretary General
United Nations

Draft Petition for Appropriate Inclusion of Disability in the MGDs

Social Protection plays a crucial role in reducing the vulnerability of all groups of the population; yet, it has found hardly a mention in the strategies to achieve all Millennium Development Goals.

The goals are a measurable set of targets to focus the efforts of the international community on achieving improvements in people's lives. Though, the overall impact of achievement of these goals is a better quality of life for people of poor countries, many of these goals seem to be completely out of reach. Even those countries, which appear to have lesser problems, certain groups will be left behind. In order to achieve the goals, various facets of human conditions need to be explored and addressed.

This is even truer for goals relating to education, health and gender equality, where issues are not confined only to their particular areas. Considering social protection as vital to reduce the vulnerability of the poor to enable access to health and education will translate into more effective achievement of the MDGs.

Social protection includes policies that provide social safety nets, social funds, labor market interventions, and social insurance (including pensions).

Social risk management (SRM) is a new conceptual framework that views social protection as a set of public measures that support society's poorest and most vulnerable members and help individuals, households and communities better manage risks.

It includes three strategies to deal with risk (prevention, mitigation and coping), three levels of formality of risk management (informal, market-based, public) and many actors (individuals, households, communities, NGOs, governments at various levels and inter-national organizations) against the background of asymmetric information and different types of risk.

This view of social protection emphasizes the double role of risk management instruments- protecting basic livelihood as well as promoting risk taking. It focuses specifically on the poor since they are the most vulnerable to risk and typically lack appropriate risk management instruments, which constrains them from engaging in riskier but also higher return activities and hence gradually moving out of chronic poverty1

It is with this perspective that we, the participants from countries in Asia, Africa and Europe having attended Round Table II on Mainstreaming Disabilities in Development in Ahmedabad, India wish to bring to your notice our concern about non-inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Millennium Declaration as well as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
List of Participants

We agree, in philosophy, on the agenda of the MDGs and it is with this spirit that we recommend that certain amendments be made to the existing MGDs as they are framed.

Suggested Modifications

The sheer number of Persons with Disabilities in developing and/ or poor countries makes them the largest of people vulnerable to extreme poverty and hunger. We urge the UN to acknowledge that disability is one of the key indicators of poverty.

According a UNESCO report, approximately 98% of children with disabilities in developing and/ or poor countries are out of school. Yet, no specific mention has been made of this overwhelming fact. Within the 2% who are in school, an abysmally low number are girls with disabilities or children with mental retardation. We propose due attention from the UN on the plight of this group.

Women with disabilities face dual discrimination: of being women first and then of being women with disabilities. We appeal to the UN to recognize this aspect in their agenda in mainstream gender issues.

The risk of death "in utero" and after birth is greatest for "high risk" children as well as those with disabilities. We consider no specific mention of this group quite disconcerting and appeal to you to safeguard their Right to Life and Living.

Appeal

We, the undersigned, people and organizations of different countries, unanimously agree on the above and submit this petition for consideration and due action to ensure a rightful place for persons with disabilities in the MDGs.

Bibliography

1The Contribution of Social Protection to the Millennium Development Goals

The Contribution of Social Protection to the Millennium Development Goals