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Living Independently


Remarks by the Hon. David Kilgour

Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) and MP for Edmonton-Southeast

On the occasion of the 6th World Conference of Disabled Peoples’ International

Sapporo, Japan, October 18, 2002

Chairman Joshua Malinga, Minister in the Presidency from South Africa, World Council Members, dear friends of the disability movement,

It is an honour to be here in Sapporo and to bring greetings from Canada’s Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien. My only regret is that I could not be here on Tuesday, when over 3700 people, from 109 countries, attended the opening ceremonies. The organizers and volunteers, 3400 strong I’m told, of this huge event deserve special recognition – they helped raise over $3.8 million and have done a remarkable service to the cause of disabled peoples.

It seems like only yesterday that many of us were in Mexico City. What more fitting place to be today than in Japan, a nation firmly committed to the cause of disabled peoples.

DPI

DPI is a unique organization that truly “celebrates diversity.” As a friend pointed out to me once, “DPI was conceived in Canada, born in Singapore and lives around the world.” Four years ago, you expressed with vigour and pride “a voice of your own” This week, you are breaking down barriers; you are celebrating diverse abilities; and are claiming full rights as human beings.

DPI is the only disability organization in the world that has its mandate the basic right to life, food, shelter, and education for persons with disabilities. This week, in over 40 workshops, you have tackled these issues head-on. Through your efforts, you are defending and promoting the human rights of people with disabilities. Nowhere is this more true than in the developing world, where over 80% of people with disabilities live. For these people, it is not only a question of human rights; it is a question of survival.

Two leaders of this movement, Alan Simpson and Dr. Henry Enns, tragically are not with us today, but their tireless efforts to advance the cause of people with disabilities around the world will always be remembered. Their leadership will be sorely missed, but their vision lives on in all of us. New pioneers for your movement will step forward.

This morning, my frame of reference might be Canada, but the message relates to the human family in general.

Canadian Experience

In 1996, Canada faced a situation that echoes the mandate of this conference, “Freedom from Barriers: Celebrating Diversity and Rights.” Community leaders from across Canada collectively agreed that the needs of many disabled Canadians faced significant barriers. It became clear to many how circumstances limited the inclusion of Canadians with disabilities into Canadian life.

They pointed to barriers that prohibited full participation in the country’s social and economic life.

They lamented public ignorance about disability and the inadequate support for disability organizations that could help effect changes.

They described communities that often seemed to blame individuals for the consequences of disability rather than looking for the causes of inequity in social environments.

They spoke of poverty, something too many knew all too well.

It was clear what kind of country Canadians with disabilities sought:

  • one that ensured people with disability input into policy, programs, and decision making
  • one that would demonstrate leadership on disability issues;
  • above all else, they wanted to celebrate their full rights as Canadian citizens.

Full Citizenship

Canadians with disabilities were demanding “full citizenship.” This involves the right to inclusiveness, equality, and the opportunity to achieve equal outcomes. Citizens in every land need the right to participate in their community and in its economic systems. Laws and public policy must foster genuine freedom for all.

Government programs that deal with disability must incorporate the individual and particular needs of persons with disability at their very core. All with disabilities should see themselves in the strategies of their government. Governments everywhere must focus on their abilities as full citizens.

Identifying such things as a function of full citizenship led to a dramatic shift in the way various levels of the Canadian government approached disability issues. We stopped looking at programs designed for people with disability in general, and started identifying ways to empower individuals with disabilities. They became participants in programs directed at them. Disabled Canadians were no longer labeled as unemployable, rather as people with unique work skills, to be developed and employed. Finally, programs were designed in close partnership with Canada’s disabled community rather than by governments alone. The paradigm shifted from one where disabled peoples were dependent on the government to one that promoted the idea of “independent living.”

Independent Living

The idea of independent living, as you all know, has been around since the 1970s. The passion and energy of its advocates around the globe, including Henry Enns and Alan Simpson, changed the way people view and respond to disability. Their primary goal was to improve the everyday life of those with disability. Independent living focuses on social, attitudinal, and environmental changes needed to make this happen – not on changing the disabled individual. Disabled individuals have the right to live lives with dignity and make decisions that others take for granted.

DPI

DPI embodies this principle, and is a key partner to all of us. Its roots in Canada run deep, back to the early 1980s. Brining disabled peoples together across national boundaries to develop a global concept of independent living is one of their main goals. Canadians contribute about $450,000 a year to DPI, which its offices skillfully leverage into almost $7 million. Canadians are rarely big on self-promotion, but we like to think that without our leadership, it would be fair to say that DPI wouldn’t exist. We’re very proud of DPI and will continue to support it.

Independent Living Movement

We also work closely with the Canadian Association of Independent Living Centers. It is represented here by President Paul-Claude Bérubé and National Executive Director Traci Walters. These two individuals represent the strength and vitality of the movement. It’s this vitality that prompted our Prime Minister to write to Kofi Annan, supporting the proposal that this year’s International Day of Disabled Persons (December 3rd) be celebrated under the theme of independent living.

Allow me to quote from our Prime Minister’s letter:

For millions of persons with disabilities around the world, one of their major goals is self-support, decent work, dignity, respect and self-determination. Celebrating the coming International Day of Disabled Persons under the theme of ‘Independent Living’ will signal to the entire international disability community that the United Nations and its member states are committed to the principles of self-reliance.

Proposed UN Convention

The universal need for self-reliance among people with disability will soon hopefully be enshrined in a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled Peoples. It is the product of your efforts and energy. Canada strongly supports the principles of the proposed convention. They are consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and with our other human rights legislation. Our official position will be made more clear after we’ve conducted consultations with provincial governments, the disabled community, and other concerned stakeholders. In the meantime, we think it important to make the best use of existing international instruments, such as the Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and the one on Civil and Political Rights.

As we all know, there is much work to be done. The number of persons with disabilities is increasing throughout the world, in part because of civil strife, declining preventative health programs and inadequate public education programs.

Indeed, I was recently told by the renowned disability specialist, Dr. Robert Steadwood, that the estimated number of disabled across the world in 1980 was 10%. In 2001, the figure was closer to 17% and by 2025, some experts are estimating it will be 25% of the world’s population. Two-thirds of the world’s disabled population lives right here in Asia-Pacific. About 80% of peoples with disabilities at present live in developing countries, and this number is growing. A recent Department for International Development (UK) study concludes correctly that “disability is the hidden face of African poverty.” My government in particular has been criticized for not adequately directing foreign aid programming at disabled communities in the developing world. We’re working on this, and my presence here illustrates the importance we place on the internationalization of disability issues.

In Closing

In conclusion, many people with disability are not heroes. They are no different than you and me – folks who have many dreams and lots of aspirations. Their abiding identity and most basic needs are met in community – where, like everyone else, they can thrive and build significant relationship. This will happen if we keep working together, sharing resources, technologies, and experiences.

I’ll leave you with an old adage that says there are three types of people in the this world:

  1. Those who make things happen
  2. Those who watch things happen;
  3. And those who wonder what happened.

I know that you will all keep making things happen.

God bless you all!

Thank you.

-30-

 
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