Gift of Being - Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network
Transcription
Gift of Being - Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network
September - December 2014 Gift of Being: Called to be a Church of All and for All IN THIS ISSUE l Inclusive Development Preplanning Project l Engage Disability India l African Disability Forum Launch Contents 14 2 Editorial 3 It’s the Coercion, Stupid! 5 Gift of Being: Called to be a Church of All and 7 8 for All 7 EDAN Regional Coordinators and Reference Group Meeting 8 Inclusive Development Preplanning Project 10 Inclusion and participation of persons with disability promoted in Evangelical seminaries in Peru 12 African Disability Forum Launchs 13 6th The Deaf Ministry International Conference Report: 14 International Day of Persons with Disabilities 16 CollaborativeResponse to Ebola crisis 17 Clubfoot Care for Kenya programme (CCK) 18 Engage Disability India 19 Bread for the World – Regional Conference 13 East and West Africa on Intercultural Communication and Cooperation 20 St. Andrews Ministry for Persons with Disabilities (Kenya) Edan is a programme of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on Persons with Disabilities within the Unity, Mission and Ecumenical Relations. Issues and views in this publication are opinions held by the members and contributors and not neccesarily of EDAN or WCC. Managing Editor: Dr. Sam Kabue • Editors: Syovata Kilonzo / Angeline Okola For information and Contribution please contact: EDAN P.O. Box 22, 00300, Nairobi - Kenya Tel: +254 444 58 37 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] • Website : www.edan-wcc.org/ www.edan.or.ke Design & Printed by: Pann Printers Ecumenical P.O. Box 29276, Nairobi Disability Advocates Network Tel: 254 20 225236 / 214348 1 editorial I t will already be the New Year 2015 by the time you read this September to December publication of our newsletter. One over writing theme in the many articles is the resilience to move ahead with our advocacy work for the inclusion of persons with Disabilities in all aspects of the Spiritual, social, economic and structural life of the church and society. I am convinced of the hope ahead of us. In his January 1st Weekly devotional message, Edward Culpepper reminded us that “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. {26} It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD,” (Lamentations 3:25-26 NRSV) and allow ourselves to be lulled to sleep in the quiet of waiting. Sometimes we rouse enough to protest that what looks like shirking our calling to work in God’s vineyard is instead waiting upon the Lord”. We continue to wait upon the Lord with hope and faith coupled with our labour which we believe will not be in vain. As an expression of that hope and in putting our faith into action, we enter 2015 with a four years strategic plan and commitment from our main partners to continue to accompany us. Three distinct strategic pillars will guide our work in this strategic plan. These include deepening disability discourse in the church and theological institutions; human rights of persons with disabilities; and, social inclusion. We will continue to maintain and create networks in our work both internally within the World Council of Churches and externally with the international disability sector. We are 2 Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network proud of our involvement in many of the World Council of Churches structures like the Central Committee, Executive Committee, Faith and Order Commission, Commission on Church and International Affairs and the Comission on World Mission and Evangelism. However, there is still more to be done for our visibility within WCC an example being the absence of our representation at the Ecumenical Education Formation Commission with which we are supposed to be very closely attached and on which we continue to advocate. At programmatic level, we will continue to increase our endeavour to work with all departments and projects in the World Council of Churches. We will also with greater intencity reach out to other Regional and National ecumenical organisations as well as individual churches. We still hold that these institutions and Churches are not complete without the involvement of persons with disabilities. Their inclusion practice should be an integral part of their characteristic. Dr. Samuel Kabue, EDAN Executive Secretary Sometimes we rouse enough to protest that what looks like shirking our calling to work in God’s vineyard is instead waiting upon the Lord VIEW POINT It’s the Coercion, Stupid! David Cohen B ecause of psychiatry’s power to coerce, society gives psychiatric theories a free pass.Both Michel Foucault and Thomas Szasz dated the beginnings of a distinct European institutional response to madness to the late 1500s-early 1600s. For Foucault it started in France with the creation of the public “hôpital général” for the poor insane. For Szasz it began in England with for-profit madhouses where upper class families shut away inconvenient relatives. Despite their different ideas on the beginnings of anything resembling a mental health system, both authors agreed that it was characterized by the coercive incarceration of a specially labeled group. Since its origins, the psychiatric system has coerced its lunatics and madmen and madwomen in madhouses, its inmates and patients in mental hospitals, its consumers and users in the community. (Yes, for a brief moment in the 1800s, British asylum superintendent John Connolly started a movement to ban all physical restraints within his establishment, but it didn’t last long.) The coercive element of psychiatry has persisted despite all changes in treatments, despite all changes in places for treatments. This is the invariant part of psychiatry. My colleagues Tomi Gomory and Stuart Kirk and I argue in Mad Science: Psychiatric Coercion, Diagnosis, and Drugs that the only constant in psychiatry has been coercion. We also argue that no other treatment can compete with coercion — nothing. According to some psychiatric discourse and doctrine, for those who “need treatment the most,” only coercion makes the administration of a treatment possible. Not to mention that coercion itself has often been called a treatment. I venture to suggest that most practicing psychiatrists, if pressed, would choose to replace or discard any existing treatment or intervention save one: the power to impose a treatment or intervention. It seems to me that this coercive function is what society and most people actually appreciate most about psychiatry. That families and other people in crisis can call upon the police to restrain someone acting in a seemingly incomprehensible or dangerous way and have that person taken by force to a place run by psychiatrists is truly where psychiatry as a profession distinguishes itself. It’s the distinguishing service it offers or function it meets as a helping profession (aside, today, for the prescription of psychoactives). (I hasten to add here that coercion is probably necessary for the survival of a social group, as we discuss in Mad Science, following the insights of author Morse Peckham. The questions are when is it used in a disagreement between parties, and by whom.) In my view, society’s appreciation — its gratitude — for psychiatric coercion, for psychiatry’s extra- and intra-legal police function, has a largely unappreciated consequence: it supports the socalled knowledge base of that discipline. That means that without the shock and awe of a coercive medical discipline, the flimsy theories and continually-refuted hypotheses of physiological defects as causes of distress and misbehavior would have to truly fend off on their own in the marketplace of ideas about what ails people, what makes them tick, and how to help them overcome their problems. Psychiatric theories would have to compete squarely against other theories and schools of thought, and it’s doubtful to me that they could do so successfully. Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network 3 VIEW POINT Society’s appreciation for psychiatric coercion subtly, but radically, imbalances the playing field. Because of psychiatric coercion, society gives psychiatric theories a free pass. These theories never need to pass any rigorously devised tests (as we expect other important scientific theories to pass), they only need to be asserted. Here I am turning on its head the often-expressed idea that society supports psychiatric interventions because people believe that psychiatric theories are valid. And since “evidence” fails to support these theories and the hypotheses derived from them, so the belief goes, one therefore needs to debunk the theories by critical analysis of the evidence and the continual stream of findings. But it’s the opposite in my view. The knowledge is not supporting the power. The power to coerce is what excuses the lack of valid knowledge. I’m not discounting the influence of the biomedicalindustrial complex, like a fish might discount water. But after decades of engaging in critical analysis of the psychiatric and other evidence, I conclude that there has never been good evidence to support psychiatric theories. Psychiatry has never ever needed scientific evidence to spread its ideas and practices, and possibly never will. Indeed, its top experts can state today that they have found no biomarkers of expertly diagnosed mental disorders and falsely promised the American public for decades that biomarkers were just around the corner. Let’s face it: No one cares that psychiatric research of the past 50 years failed to turn up one finding of use for a scientific clinical psychiatry. The business of psychiatry continues with barely a pause. In order to prosper, all psychiatry (and, increasingly, other mental health professions whose formerly distinctive training and theories are slowly blurring into one psychiatrized whole) needs is the social support for its coercive practices. If so, removing formal coercion from the helping enterprise should be an investment that will yield the greatest actual return in terms of debunking the “psychiatric knowledge base.” Limiting mental health professionals’ option to coerce their patients and clients will open up the “mental health system” to a multiplicity of choices and interventions based on diverse schools of thought. ***** Note: Adapted from a talk given at Mad in America’s International Film Festival in Arlington,VA, October 12, 2014. David Cohen Beyond Health and Illness: David Cohen, a researcher, author, a professor of social welfare at UCLA and a practicing clinical social worker for over 30 years, writes about social and cultural constructions of reality. 4 Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network IN FOCUS Participants during discussions on the new statement Gift of Being: Called to be a Church of All and for All F rom 12-15 October at the Mennonite Conference Centre, Elspeet, Netherlands staff members of the EDAN, the WCC Faith and Order Commission and the WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism, among other participants held a meeting to develop a new statement with the working title “Gift of Being: Called to be a Church of All and for All”. The new document, which aims to build on the WCC interim statement on disability “A Church of All and for All” issued in 2003, is founded on the premise that even a decade later, persons with disabilities experience marginalization both in societies and in the church communities themselves. Hosted by Professor Hans Reinders of the Free University of Amsterdam, the meeting initiated theological reflection on both disability and the place of disabled persons within the life of the churches as part of just and inclusive communities. These reflections served as a basis of EDAN’s new statement. The meeting observed that Churches have moved on issues of disability in the last ten years, but there are still continuing challenges that must be addressed. The new statement will give churches a fresh momentum to address the issue of disability. Discussing WCC’s new mission statement Together Towards Life, the Faith and Order convergence text The Church: Towards a Common Vision and the WCC’s Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, Dr. Kabue EDAN Executive Secretary said the issue of disability poses a clear challenge to the churches in terms of its unity, mission and witness. “The communion of the churches in unity and diversity is impaired without the gifts and presence of all people, including persons with disability. The mission of the church is to proclaim God's reign of justice and peace and is less than credible if the churches do not actively and visibly receive the diverse gifts of all its members, including persons with disability.” The inclusion of persons with disability is not an option but a defining characteristic of the church. Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network 5 VIEW POINT At the meeting, Rev. Dr Gordon Cowans, EDAN’s Caribbean coordinator, drew attention to the working title of the document. He said since “life is a gift, every life has intrinsic value”. Aikaterini Pekridou, a Greek Orthodox doctoral student from the Irish School of Ecumenics, affirmed these views stressing the significance of EDAN’s contributions in ecumenical and ecclesiological dialogue. “If communion is the gift by which the church lives, and the gift that God calls the church to offer to a divided and wounded humanity, ecclesiological reflections from EDAN provide a concrete challenge and opportunity to live into a common vision of the church as communion,” Pekridou said. Fadi El Halabi, a Maronite Christian from Lebanon and EDAN’s Middle East coordinator, said, “the new document from EDAN will challenge churches in the Middle East to address disability from a theological perspective and find new ways of making the church an inclusive community at all levels.” A significant contribution to the statement was received in a colloquium hosted by the Faculty of Theology’s Centre for Dogmatics and Ecumenical studies at the Free University in Amsterdam on 14th October. In the discussions a research group comprised of faculty, students and ministers in formation engaged with the text, providing a stimulating critique to help shape the draft. The statement will be finalized in February 2015 and will be presented to the WCC governing bodies for approval. T he Regional Coordinators and Reference Group of the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (EDAN) under the leadership of Executive Secretary Dr. Samuel Kabue met at Mennorode Conference and retreat Center, Elspeet, Netherlands on 15th October 2014. A review of the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan highlighted the significant role played by EDAN during the Assembly and in the inspiring preAssembly EDAN meeting. It celebrated the movement towards increased representation in most WCC Commissions but regretted that the commitment to include 3 advisors in the Central Committee was not honoured during the last meeting of the Central Committee. The consultation also learnt of the establishment of the Education and Ecumenical Formation Commission on which EDAN is not represented. Given the importance of this Commission and the historical working relationship of EDAN and the Ecumenical Theological Education (ETE) commision, the participants urged that representation in the Commission be addressed. The Executive Secretary presented the Secretariats report which highlighted the range of activities accomplished since the Assembly including an adopted three year strategic plan 2014-2017 The meeting focused on the four year strategic plan which emphasised the transitional nature of this period in the network’s fifteen year journey. Discussions considered the three main strategic objectives for the 2014-2017 period namely: i. Deepening disability discourse in churches and theological institutions. ii. Promoting and protecting disability rights iii. Fellowship and networking for social inclusion The Coordinators shared efforts of the activities in their regions since the 10th Assembly and continued to demonstrate the significant impact of the organisation in local churches and communities. 6 Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network INFOCUS Group photo of the participants EDAN Regional Coordinators and Reference Group Meeting With a dogged determination to accomplish the ambitious objectives in the most cost effective way, much of the discussion revolved around the levels of interaction which could minimize the need for air travel to attend face to face meetings, improved inter-regional communication and co-ordinators committed themselves to more efficient use of emerging information communication technology. It was observed that new opportunities are likely to arise through the initiative of the “community of practice on disability” of ACT Alliance into which EDAN has been admitted to full membership. It is hoped that this collaboration will open additional areas for complementary action. Another opportunity has arisen in an invitation from Joni and friends – a US based disability organisation who has invited the Latin America Co-ordinator to share in a conference to be held in California in February 2015. This initiative could open further opportunities for collaboration. Regional reports were presented by cocoordinators, and adopted by the meeting. The meeting agreed on the need for new leadership in pivotal positions in the regional structures. Succession planning in regard to the Central Coordination, Regional Coordination and reference Group was greatly advanced in the discussions. During the meeting, Rev. Kathy Reeves from the United Methodist Church stepped down as the North American Regional Coordinator in favor of Rev. Kelli Parrish Lukas of the United Church of Christ who now becomes the new North America Regional Coordinator. Rev. Reeves offered to accompany and mentor her into the new responsibility. Other changes in the Regional Coordination are anticipated in the near future. A change was also agreed on the Reference Group to be announced later after some consultation. Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network 7 IN FOCUS Inclusive Development Preplanning Project O ver the years, persons with disabilities have continuously been excluded in development processes being implemented by governments, civil society, churches and church organisations. This situation can be attributed to a number of factors including: low capacity of actors within the disability movement to do advocacy work; inadequate implementation of the existing legislations and policies regarding persons with disabilities; and lack of knowledge among the general public when it comes to the rights and needs of persons with disabilities and the necessary measures to meet them. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has also brought about a paradigm shift from charity to development and human rights. During our various workshops on human rights around the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, affirmation has been made that disability issues need to be viewed from a Uganda Focus Group Meeting 8 Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network development perspective. The discussion on the lack of participation on the MDG has called for greater need to ensure practical steps for inclusion both at planning and implementation stage. This has further been strengthened by the open space internationally to contribute towards post 2015 development agenda. In partnership with Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM) we have just completed implementing a three year (July 2011-June 2014) project in the five East African countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda). This project on Advocacy for the Promotion of Rights and Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities was planned to promote inclusive good governance through strengthening disabled peoples’ organisations to hold government to account for the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities, with a focus on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Summative evaluation of this project was done in April 2014 and one of the recommendations was that EDAN should endeavor to strengthen its relationship with IN FOCUS Development partners, church organisations and the civil society including disabled peoples’ organizations (DPOs), to ensure issues of rights and development of persons with disabilities are given equal attention. EDAN needs to continue to initiate and/or support ongoing capacity building/development programmes for persons with disabilities and their organisations. To do this, EDAN conceived the idea of a disability inclusive development project to be implemented in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from 2015-2017. The project is expected to start in January 2015. EDAN conducted a six months vigorous preplanning phase whereby different stakeholders were involved. These included EDAN members of staff, representatives from organisations of person with disabilities in the three selected project countries, churches and church organisations implementing development programmes, nongovernmental organizations and government representatives. The aim of the preplanning project was to prepare a framework application (project proposal) which was submitted to one of our partners in November 2014 for funding consideration. The objectives of the Pre-Planning Process were: ensure project ownership by the target group; selection of the appropriate in-country working partners; establish the capacity of all involved partners and to ensure best use of the resources with positive impact. The process was led by a joint Preplanning Steering Group (PSG), composed of EDAN staff, and one contact/liaison person in each of the focus countries identified through the national federation/ organisation of persons with disabilities. The main role of the pre planning steering group was to shape the information collected in the various preplanning activities and identification of practical steps of implementing an inclusive development project. The first PSG meeting which took place mid August 2014 in Nairobi besides identifying various stakeholders to participate in the preplanning process designed a road map for the preplanning process. Phase two of the process was marked by Focus Group meetings in each of the participating countries comprising twenty participants who included 8 persons with disabilities; 5 representatives of church related development Discussion Group during Kenya Focus Group Meeting programmes; 5 representatives of development nongovernmental organisations and 2 representatives from government departments that deal with development issues. Through discussions, the forums identified thematic areas to be addressed by the disability inclusive development project. The forums also provided a platform for sharing experiences on disability inclusive development projects in the project countries; identification of key actors to be involved in implementing the disability inclusive development project as well as outcomes, indicators and impact of disability inclusive development project to be implemented. The third phase of the process involved analysis of focus group reports to generate a wider contextual perspective on exclusion of persons with disabilities from development policies and programmes in the three countries. This was followed by preparation of the draft proposal by EDAN staff members which was shared with all stakeholders for their inputs. The draft proposal was reviewed in a validation meeting which marked the final phase of the preplanning process. The validation meeting was held on 10 and 11 November in Nairobi. It was composed of participants from each of the three countries (one from the federation/ organisation of persons with disabilities, one from church organisation and one from a civil society/ nongovernmental organisation doing development work), and EDAN members of staff. The final product which is a draft proposal has been submitted to one of our development partners for funding approval. Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network 9 IN FOCUS Inclusion and participation of persons with disability promoted in Evangelical seminaries in Peru A s a result of the sensitization and training activities carried out by EDAN Latin America and Urban and Rural Mission (MUR) of Peru in the cities of Lima and Chiclayo over the last years, representatives and/or members of Evangelical Christian theological institutions in Peru, churches and evangelical associations, pastors, students of theological seminaries, representatives of state institutions and civil society met from 6-9 September to share ideas and experiences, and coordinate efforts, with a view to incorporating the theme of disability into their curricular plans and promoting the socio-ecclesial participation of persons with disability in their institutions. In Peru, according to figures from the National Statistical Institute’s first National Specialized Survey on Disability, 2012, there are 1,575,402 persons with some kind of disability, that is, 5.2% of the total population, 754,671 being men and 820,731 women. This same source points out that less than 20% of persons with disability in the country have any form of remunerated employment, 80% do not have access to education and more than 90% do not have a disability certificate. This initiative called together important allies, gaining the support of the Ministry of Education’s General Management of Special Basic Education, the National Council for the Inclusion of Persons with Disability, through expert professionals in the field of inclusive education and the issue of disability in the country. 10 Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network The Charitable Society of Lima, the Office of the Member of Congress John Reynaga and the Pilgrims Church Biblical Seminary of Chiclayo also endorsed this initiative from the outset. In this regard, Oscar Bravo, Coordinator of the Coalition EDAN-MUR, pointed out that the commitment and contribution of different social agents do not only create social capital, but also represent a significant achievement as they will contribute to the sustainability of the initiative. One important achievement of this campaign for inclusion was the receptivity obtained in diverse theological institutions in Lima, Chiclayo and Trujillo. In Lima, five theological institutions have become committed in one form or another, to the task of including the theme of disability in their curriculums, while in Chiclayo there were three, and one in Trujillo. All will give continuity to the theme in which the Coalition EDAN-MUR commits itself in assessment and collaboration. The intention of the initiative is to continue incorporating other centres of theological studies. There is no doubt that an adequate theological formation requires that the theme of disability constitute a curricular tool in said institutions. To assist in the institutional processes of including disability in their curriculums EDAN-MUR printed and disseminated a book titled “Teología y Discapacidad: Hacia la inclusión socio-eclesial de las personas con discapacidad” [Theology and Disability; Towards socio-ecclesial inclusion of persons with disability) to the participants. IN FOCUS Introducing Disability Discourse in Catholic Theological Institutions in the Middle East F rom December 3rd – 6th, 2014 the EDAN Executive Secretary visited Lebanon as part of a series of interactions with Deans of Faculties of theology from select Universities to discuss the possibility of introducing disability discourse in their institutions. Since the Association of Theological Institutions in the Middle East remains inactive, the EDAN Executive Secretary, accompanied by the Middle East Regional Coordinator visited individual theological colleges and met with the institutions top leadership. The institutions visited are: Near East School of Theology, Ecclesiastical Sciences la Sagesse University, I’Institute Superieur de Sciences Religieuses at Universite Saint Joseph de Beyrouth, St. Paul Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Faculty Group photo - Training of Trainers workshop participants. E DAN and the South Pacific Association of Theological Schools (SPATS) held a Training of Trainers on Disability Curriculum from 8th to 12th December, 2014 at the Fulton College, Nadi, Fiji Islands. The aim of the training was to develop confidence and enhance capacity of the trainers to interpret and implement disability and theology curriculum in church institutions. 33 participants from 8 countries in the Pacific region representing Round table discussion in the Middle East. of Theology at the Holy Spirit University and Theological Institute of the Antonine University. Interactions with the theological colleges provided face to face discussions that were able to remove fears from some of the Deans and also correct some misconceptions that most of them had regarding disability and theology course. The idea of introducing the course was well received by the leaders met. EDAN through the Regional Coordinator will make follow up on the recommendations reached. Training of Trainers on Disability Curriculum for the Pacific Region theological institutions and disabled peoples' organisations attended this training. One of the main achievements of the training was the reviewing of the disability curriculum developed by EDAN Pacific in collaboration with SPATS in 2011. Whereas some theological institutions have difficulties in introducing the curriculum immediately, they committed to infuse some of the curriculum in their theological institutions in the short term Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network 11 Advocacy African Disability Forum Launch Forty regional and national leaders of organisations of persons with disabilities (DPOs) in Africa, congregated at the UN Conference Centre, Addis Ababa from 17-19 November 2014 in a meeting which saw Africa region launch the African Disability Forum (ADF). O n realization that Africa is one of the two continents without a recognized representative regional disability forum of Disabled People’s Organisations, the other being North America, consultative meetings led by the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability of the commission for Social Development with the support of the UN Department of Economic and Social Development (DESA) and in partnership with the UN Economic Commision for Africa(UNECA) , African Disability organisations, academic institutions and development partner have been held since 2012 with the aim of establishing a DPO-led , multi-stakeholder forum to advance the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Africa. The need for a unified representative voice of DPOs and persons with disabilities in Africa has become more acute with the advent of the African Union “Disability Architecture” (AUDA), adopted by the 12 Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network AU Conference of Ministers of Social Development (CAMSD) in November 2012. Despite the creation of Pan African Federation of the Disabled (PAFOD) which was thought to become African Regional Disability Forum, it has not been accepted as such by other continental Disabled Peoples Organisations. The establishment of ADF was steered by an Interim Working Group composed of 10 leaders of African Continental, sub-regional and national Federations of DPOs. Dr. Samuel Kabue, EDAN Executive Secretary was a member of the working group. The group held meetings to review options and reach consensus on the organizational structure and functioning of ADF and its immediate priorities. The ADF will seek to strengthen and unify the representative voices of DPOs and persons with disabilities in Africa. It will seek to be inclusive and engage with all existing pan-African, sub-regional and national federations of DPOs. The ADF governance structure will be light. A small ADF office will focus on communications and member organization development and capacity-building activities. advocacy ADF membership will include Pan African, subregional and national federations of DPOs and other organizations and will focus on the following objectives: 6th The Deaf Ministry International Conference Report: 1. Promote awareness of disability rights and disability inclusion among persons with disabilities, DPOs, development NGOs, governments, public and private employers and the general public in Africa; 2.Strengthen the capacity of continental, subregional and national federations of DPOs to promote disability rights and empower persons with disabilities, and strengthen regional networking and partnerships; 3.Represent the voice of Africans with disabilities and their families to the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities and to other African as well as international organisations, and at regional and international conferences and meetings; 4. Promote the ratification and implementation of the CRPD by all African countries; 5. Promote implementation by African governments of the African Decade Continental Plan of Action, 2010-2019, in collaboration with the African Union and the African Disability Alliance (ADA); 6.Advise the African Union Commission and Department of Social Affairs on implementation of the African Union Disability Architecture (AUDA); 7.Advocate for the inclusion of disability issues and persons with disabilities in all development programs and projects in Africa funded by the World Bank, the UN and its specialized agencies, the African Development Bank and by bilateral donor agencies; 8. Promote disability studies and research by African universities and research institutes, and advise on research priorities, collaborate on research projects and disseminate research findings. W ith the objective of strengthening work among the deaf and sharing of experiences among deaf persons in the ministry, more than 200 deaf persons from 30 countries all the world attended Deaf ministry International (DMI) 6th International Conference from 7th -11th October 2014 in Seoul Korea. Deaf Ministries International is a Christian Mission to the deaf started in Korea in 1979 by Neville and Lill Muir in the historical city of Inchon, Korea in 1979. The international conference is held every 3 years since 1999. The 1st one was held in Philippine; 2nd in Thailand, 3rd in Uganda, 4th in Egypt, 5th in Australia and the 6th in South Korea. EDAN sponsored Mrs. Patricia Mulongo, a deaf woman from the Immanuel Church of the Deaf in Kenya to participate in this 6th Conference. The conference provided an opportunity for the ministry to review its vision as set in 1979 and celebrate its 35th anniversary. It also received reports of its work in the field and deliberated ways of expanding its work in Asia. Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network 13 IN FOCUS S International Day of Persons with Disabilities ince the United Nations proclaimed 3rd December as the international Day of Person with Disabilities in 1992, its observance provides opportunities for participation by all stakeholders – Governments, the UN system, civil society and organizations of persons with disabilities to focus on issues related to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in development, both as beneficiaries and agents. The theme for 2014 was Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology . The focus was on the role of technology in: Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Responses; Creating Enabling Working Environments and Disability-Inclusive Sustainable Development Goals. This year, the day was commemorated at a time when disability is referenced in various parts of the draft proposal on the SDGs and specifically in 14 Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network parts related to education, growth and employment, inequality, accessibility of human settlements, as well as data collection and monitoring of the SDGs. Technology should be used to open doors for an inclusive society for all in implementation of the SDGs. To mark the day, various events, performances and forums are implemented internationally, regionally, nationally and at grassroot levels. At the UN Headquarters in New York, various panel discussions were held which emphasized the importance of technology for persons with disabilities. “Technology can greatly impact the achievement and outcome of the SDGs for persons with disabilities, and for people everywhere. The SDGs can be used to promote the impact and benefits of assistive technology, accessible information and communications technology, technological adaptations and other policy and programmatic measures to improve the well-being in focus and inclusion of persons with disabilities in society and development.” Observed one panel discussion on “Accessible Technologies for Persons with Disabilities: Crossing the Digital Divide” organized by UNDESA. In Kenya, the National Council for persons with disabilities organized a forum at the Kenyatta International Conference in Nairobi which was attended by persons with disabilities, government representatives, development partners, representatives of disabled people’s organisations and other stakeholders. The forum was used to promote an understanding of disability issues and to mobilize support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of persons with disabilities. It also increased awareness on the gains derived by including persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The Nyeri county government in partnership in Partnership with Girl Child Network organized two days medical camp for the general public with health talks and one stop service centre for persons with disabilities to celebrate the day. The Celebrations brought together National and County Government officials, Policy makers from the County Assembly of Nyeri, Private Sector players, Opinion Leaders, Civil Society, Disabled Persons Organizations and Persons with disabilities. Hundreds of Persons with disabilities benefited from free Education Assessment and referral for placement in Education and Training Institutions; Medical Assessment; Registration of PWD by the National Council for Persons With Disabilities as provided for in the PWD Act, 2003. Other activities were Exhibitions by Service providers and displays of work done by PWDs in Nyeri County. Speaking during the event, the Nyeri County Assembly Speaker, Hon. David Mwangi Mugo, advised Persons with Disabilities to prove their abilities whenever opportunities are offered to them, so that they can change the attitudes and mindsets of employers who view them as liabilities rather than assets. He urged all stakeholders to mainstream disability in their activities, more so by adapting the modern technology which makes accommodation of persons with disabilities much easier. Responding to calls by Persons with disabilities for equal opportunities, the members of County Assembly made a commitment to enact County legislations providing for equal opportunities, accessibility and a fund for the empowerment of Persons with disabilities. Emphasizing the constitutional foundation of rights for persons with disabilities, Dr. Laibuta, a commissioner with the Commission for the implementation of the Constitution Kenya reminded the participants that disability is not a sector, but a cross cutting issue, and therefore it is a responsibility for all, both at the national level and the County level. The MCA representing PWD in the Nyeri Assembly, who was also the event patron, Hon. Joseph Kanyi King’ori, called on partners to support drafting of laws, which requires extensive research and consultation with all stakeholders, considering that disability is a crosscutting issue. Mr. King’ori, who is a member of the ecumenical fraternity championing for the rights of PWD decried the impact of poverty and neglect on persons with disabilities. He called on the County Government of Nyeri to carry out a census and establish a database for Persons with disabilities saying that the 2009 national census results are unreliable for effective planning and interventions. Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network 15 ADVOCACY Collaborative Response to Ebola crisis U pon the invitation of World Council of Churches Health and Healing programme, EDAN 2 staff members attended a consultation on collaborative response to Ebola crisis held at the All Africa Conference of Churches, Nairobi from 24th- 26th November 2014. The consultation drew together 70 participants representing health professionals and church health associations, Councils of Churches, religious leaders, theologians, representatives from the Africa Christian Health Associations Platform (ACHAP), Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN), All Africa Conference of Churches, the World Council of Churches, Theological Institutions, UN agencies, ACT Alliance, Faith communions , Caritas Internationalis, and other critical stakeholders to share experiences and expertise, dialogue and strategize on the following: and timely information; Promoting commitment of faith-based organisations to collaborate with the multistakeholders in community mobilisation, destigmatization and addressing cultural barriers to medical access; collaborating to ensure essential services for conditions such as HIV, TB, Malaria, sexual and reproductive health and other non-communicable diseases are not sidelined during emergency management; considering proactive responses in neighbouring countries to which Ebola might cross the borders. 1.Sharing of most up to date information on Ebola and alignment of advocacy messages through: updates on the current responses to Ebola, by the representing organisations, and the current emerging challenges, including challenges in coordination and collaboration; Advocating to ensure that responses, including burial rituals and procedures, are safe, compassionate and afford people dignity whilst addressing the common good ; Ensuring channels of communication between critical stakeholders are identified and established where absent The outcome of the consultation was increased awareness and enhanced understanding of the Ebola virus, its impact and the need for the faith community to respond effectively, compassionately, proactively and with life affirming responses; understanding of the role, current functions and responses of the various represented stakeholders in the response to Ebola; enhanced understanding of the on-going and planned contribution by Faith Based Organisations to the current Ebola crisis and other health challenges, particularly in affected countries: Recognition of the risks to all countries and need to proactively prepare to prevent or mitigate against such crisis. 2. Coordination of roles among faith-based organisations in the response to Ebola, through: identifying the role the WCC and others can play as intermediaries between the faith-based health service providers and community and international organisations as a conduit for accurate At the end of the consultation, participants developed a statement of intent of effective collaboration between all key stakeholders in the response to critical health and disaster emergencies, such as the Ebola crisis. 16 Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network ADVOCACY Clubfoot Care for Kenya programme (CCK) T he year 2014 saw EDAN accompany AIC CURE International Children's Hospital Clubfoot Care for Kenya programme (CCK) to provide treatment to clubfoot patients. Clubfoot Care for Kenya concerns itself with ensuring that every child born with clubfoot in Kenya has access to affordable treatment before celebrating 2nd birthday. The initiative offers less expensive, yet most effective, approach in dealing with clubfoot deformity among children. In the light of this, EDAN with a specific financial grant from our partner the United Church of Canada in 2014 is accompanied Clubfoot care for Kenya in the provision of treatment to clubfoot patients by providing braces for children undergoing corrective surgery in the year 2014. This work started in January has seen over 300 new patients brought on board and are continuing with treatment. Apart from provision of the braces, the funds have been used to conduct 2 refresher trainings (medical and Counseling) and a fresh training (targeting medical and clinical officers) to ensure clinics are self sufficient in terms of giving tenotomy services to patients. In addition to the trainings, a total of 20 visits were made to program clinics to give much needed support and supervision of treatment process. The following is a story of Wellington, one of the patients who has benefited from this funding Wellington was born at home on 10/12/2012. His parents were shocked, and really saddened, when they realized their first born had clubfoot. Other family members were amazed, too. From fear of being stigmatized, his parents decided to hide him. The mother narrated how she was ashamed of uncovering the child because of the ridicule that she received from neighbors. When his mother visited children clinic at Kitale District Hospital, she was referred to C.C.K clinic Baby Wellington with his mother. (within the hospital) the same day. After warm and assuring reception by the counselors and proper diagnosis, the doctors recommended her to stay at home for a week since the child was still very young. A week later, the child was brought back to the hospital and treatment was started. With 5 cast changes, the deformity was successfully corrected. The correction was so successful that, no tenotomy procedure was necessary. Upon completion of the casting process, he was put on braces. The foot has been corrected well, something that has greatly encouraged the parents all along. The correction of Wellington’s foot has made it possible for him to lead a normal life like any other child. His parents appreciate the intervention Wellington received through CCK program. Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network 17 in focus Engage Disability India F uelled by desire to model inclusion to the world, churches and individuals throughout India organized a conference titled Engage Disability India at Crowne Plaza, Rohini, New Delhi from 25th to 27th September, 2014. This conference was designed to inspire and strengthen efforts to see people, regardless of ability, engage with faith communities. Over 400 people participated with great enthusiasm and the delegates included 210 pastors/theologians/ church leaders and 154 members from various NGOs working in Community Based Rehabilitation and other disability programs. During the conference, 4 sessions were held that progressed from looking up at God, into our church, around us at our families and out to the world. The sessions were: 1. Disability and Theology (looking up at God): a number of superb speakers covered what Jesus, the Church and the Bible says about disability as well as how can the church be more inclusive? Participants were introduced to frameworks on inclusion of persons with disabilities. Being created “in the image of God” meant that we should take pride in our ability and disabilities as they reflect God. 2) The Inclusive Church (looking inwards) covered how Bible colleges, pastors and church members can work together so that people with disability are included in all aspects of church life. The need for social ramps, referring to the church examining social and attitudinal barriers and not just physical barriers discussed. Participants were introduced to the Beyond Suffering course which gives a Christian approach to disability. Jayakumar Christian, World Vision International challenged the church to transform India by its love for the most marginalized. Pastors shared their stories about inclusion. One church in Nepal had 50 people who had mobility issues, and another church had sign language interpretation at every service and special services reaching out to the deaf. There were also stories of congregations in Mumbai where the Churches were competing to be the most inclusive church. Inclusion was not seen as a burden but something to be cherished and aspire to. A recurrent theme was that this is not the job of a few inspired pastors, although we heard from many, but the role of every Christian in India! We are the church! 3) Disability and Families looked at the lived reality (looking around) of parents, siblings and carers. There were many heart wrenching stories of exclusion but an equal number of stories of families being welcomed and helped by the Christian community in India. The plenary session had a powerful testimony from a participant who explained how his church had come to accept and celebrate the uniqueness of his child who has autism. Another participant spoke about how their adoption of a child with severe disabilities had transformed their family and impacted the community around them who asked “why do they love that child?” ..... this is not the job of a few inspired pastors, although we heard from many, but the role of every Christian in India! We are the church! 18 Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network ADVOCACY 4) Faith and Disability Inclusive Development (Looking out to the World). The final day was opened by Dr. Dave McComiskey, the international head of CBM, who delivered a presentation Ways of reaching persons with disabilities in India through disability inclusive health, education, and vocational training were also explored. Many well-known Christians gave their greetings and well wishes including Joni Eareckson Tada (Joni and Friends), Nick Vujicic (Beyond limits), The conference saw participants sign a petition to the government demanding it fully enshrine the UN Convention on the Rights of the People with Disability in Indian laws. The petition will be presented to the Prime Minister of India. Intentional networking sessions were held where people from different regions were grouped together, shared ideas, appointed regional facilitators and planned a way forward. 13 sub-regional groups were formed as follows: NEPAL, NORTH 1 (Uttarakhand), NORTH 2 (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh), NORTH EAST (Assam, Arunachal, Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura), DELHI, Uttar Pradesh, CENTRAL Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, EAST 1 (Bihar, Jharkhand), EAST 2 (West Bengal, Odisha), WEST (Rajasthan , Gujarat , Goa , Maharashtra, Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli), SOUTH 1 (Tamil Nadu, Kerala), SOUTH 2 (Telangana / Hyderabad), SOUTH 3 (Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh). These regional networks will be facilitated to create a platform for unity, prayer and synergy. Three hubs were also created: A Communication Hub led by World Vision to facilitate intra-regional, interregional and international communications; Resources Hub led by Catholic Health Association of India to compile and create different tools to help the Christian community move towards inclusive Christian communities and a Coordinating hub that supports and facilitates the functioning of the other hubs. Bread for the World – Regional Conference East and West Africa on Intercultural Communication and Cooperation E DAN was invited to be part of a Regional Conference of Bread for the World for East and West Africa to discuss issues of intercultural communication and cooperation. The objectives of the meeting was to provide the appropriate environment to exchange and keep each other informed on the new and burning issues that are occurring in the region and to discuss probable solutions for difficulties and potential conflicts; to strengthen the networking by the participants to create new contacts, enhance existing relationships and to exchange knowledge and experience on intercultural cooperation; and enhance intercultural dialogue and communication in the context of the personnel service and partner system of Bread for the world. The conference realised that the church is well placed to insist on intercultural accommodation since she doesn’t chose who joins it and therefore has a big potential to influence this much needed change. The conference provided an opportunity for EDAN to engage partners during an open space created to share on various projects and activities. Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network 19 NEWS UPDATE Dr. Kabue (second from left) during the dinner. St. Andrews Ministry for Persons with Disabilities (Kenya) T This year the disability awareness week took place from 17th to 23rd November, 2014. On the 21st, there was a fundraising walk as well as dinner that took place at the Church Hall with the aim of raising Ksh. 1,000,000 (1 million shillings) to enhance the support services geared towards the improvement of quality of life for persons with disabilities supported by the PCEA St. Andrews Church and to establish self employment support fund for persons with disabilities. EDAN accompanied the activities UPCOMING EVENTS of the week by attending the dinner where Dr. Kabue was the guest of From rights to inclusion Venue: Arusha honour while Angeline Okola and Dates: 21st – 23rd January Dorothea Gauland took part in the 12km fundraising walk. EDAN Gathering of information on inclusive development was also able to suggest preachers Venue: Secretariat for the various services on the Dates: 12th – 30th January 23rd November 2014 as a way of Inclusive development planning forum for Kenya supporting the initiative by churches Venue: Nairobi to utilize the gifts of persons with Dates: 9th – 13th February disabilities in their congregations while at the same time facilitating Inclusive development planning forum for Tanzania their spiritual growth. Venue: Arusha he Ministry at the PCEA St. Andrews was started in 1992 with the sole purpose of ministering to the needs of persons with disabilities and more particularly to the hearing impaired. EDAN has been partnering with this Ministry for the last 4 years more so during their annual disability awareness week. Dates: 23rd – 27th February 20 Ecumenical Disability DisabilityAdvocates AdvocatesNetwork Network DIRECTORY EDAN Directory Sponsor Unity, Mission and Ecumenical Relations World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney P. O. Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Phone: +41 22 791 602111 Fax: + 41 22 791 0361 Executive Secretary Dr. Samuel N. Kabue EDAN C/O All Africa Conference of Churches P. O. Box 22, 00300, Ronald Ngala Nairobi, Kenya Tel: + 254 20 4445837 Fax: 254 20 4445835 Email: [email protected] Website: www.edan-wcc.org EDAN Reference Group Rev. Arne Fritzson Svartriksslingan 94 16739 Bromma Sweden Telfax: 46 8 808 189 Email: [email protected] Ms. Carolyn R. Thompson 46 Rawson Road, # 2 Arlington, MA 02474 USA Rev. Noel Fernandez Collot, Chicho Valdes 423, Entre 3y4 Ciego de Avila 65100Cb Cuba Tel (Office): 53-33-225223 Telfax: 53-33-227129 Email: [email protected] Ye Ja Lee 808ho 107 dong Boram APT, Sang Geyo 9 Dong 685, Nowan Ku 139-768 Seoul Korea Tel(Office): + 82 11 342 1089 (Home): + 82 2 932 1081 Email: [email protected] EDAN Regional Coordinators Africa: Prof. Rev. Abraham Adu Berinyuu University of Development Studies P. O. Box 1276 Tamale, Ghana Telfax: 233-71-22748 Email: [email protected] Asia: Ye Ja Lee 808ho 107 dong Boram APT, Sang Geyo 9 Dong 685, Nowan Ku 139-768 Seoul Korea Tel (Office): + 82 11 342 1089 (Home): + 82 2 932 1081 Email: [email protected] Europe: Torill Edoy Church of Norway Council Postbks 799 Sentrum 0106 Oslo Norway And Ms. Simone Poortman Madoerahahof 8 3742 SH Baarn Netherlands Telfax: 31-3554-20840 Email: [email protected] Latin America: Rev. Noel Fernandez Collot, Chicho Valdes 423, Enre 3y4 Ciego de Avila 65100Cb Cuba Tel (Office): 53-33-225223 Telfax: 53-33-227129 Email: [email protected] Pacific: Setareki S. Macanawai Chief Executive Officer Pacific Disability Forum Tel: 679-3312008, + 679-3307530 Fax: 679-3310469 M/Vodafone: + 679 -9921486 M/Digicel: + 679-7082891 Email: [email protected] Website: www.pacificdisability.org S: Setareki Macanawai 24 Des Voeux Road GPO Box 18458 Suva, Fiji Islands Fiji Caribbean: Rev. Dr. Gordon Cowans Knox College P. O. Box 1735 Spalding Clarendon Jamaica Tel:987 8080 Tel/Fax: 987 8045 Email: [email protected] Middle East: Fadi Halabi Beirut, MCC Office Achrafieh, Sioufi, Ghazali Road Mimosa Building, 8th Flr Lebanon Network Partners Bread for the World-Protestant Agency for Diakonia and Development P. O Box 40164 10062 Berlin, Germany The United Church of Canada 3250 Bloor Street West Suite 400 Etobicoke, Ontario M8X 2Y4 Canada Tel: 001 416 2315931 Website: www.uccan.org Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network 21 EDAN is a Programme of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on Persons with Disabilities within the Unity, Mission and Ecumenical Relations. P.O. Box 22, 00300, Nairobi - Kenya Tel: +254 444 58 37 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Website : www.edan-wcc.org/ www.edan.or.ke