On the 28th of November, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs; the Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific; and the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Social Services, launched the Australian Government’s new International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy.
The new strategy has been launched to drive meaningful improvements for people with disability through Australia’s international engagement. It is the first international disability strategy released by the Australian Government in almost a decade. During the strategy release, the Hon Pat Conroy said, “Australia’s new Strategy goes beyond disability inclusion to focus on equity and rights – addressing structural barriers that impact the dignity of all individuals”.
The strategy focuses on five key areas:
- Invest in partnerships and movements to enable a strong, effective disability-rights movement.
- Address discrimination and exclusion in all sectors across all societies.
- Promote the preconditions for inclusion to build more equitable and inclusive systems.
- Support equity in humanitarian assistance and climate action informed by the expertise of people with disability.
- Strengthen the evidence base on what works to inform policies, programs and decision-making.
Disability Inclusion at FemiliPNG Australia and FemiliPNG
FemiliPNG Australia believes everyone has value and should be treated with dignity. We support the rights of people with disabilities to take part in social, economic, and political life on equal terms with others. We uphold and endorse the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and support the new Australian International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy.
Through our work, partnerships and programs, we apply a lens of intersectionality to ensure that people with disabilities who experience compounding disadvantage can equally access our programs and projects.
FemiliPNG Australia’s Disability Inclusion Policy and practices adhere to the following guiding principles:
- Human rights: People with disabilities have the right to access opportunities and engage in full and meaningful participation on an equal basis with others, as guaranteed under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (INCRPD).
- Awareness: FemiliPNG Australia is committed to supporting staff and representatives to be aware of disability rights and disability inclusive development, and have the skills, knowledge and tools to support FPNGA to operate as an inclusive and rights-focused organisation.
- Meaningful participation of people with disability, and their representative organisations, are essential for genuine empowerment and change. Meaningful participation may require that the barriers to access and participation are identified and addressed.
- Women and girls with disabilities frequently face additional barriers to participation, and it is necessary to account for this through gender sensitive approaches to development.
FemiliPNG Australia’s partner, Femili PNG, aims to make support services accessible for survivors of family and sexual violence who live with a disability. Over the last decade, of the more than 7,000 survivors who have received support services from Femili PNG, 10% live with a disability. The number of clients with a disability has increased over time, which is consistent with Femili PNG’s growing focus on the issue. FemiliPNG Australia and Femili PNG have improved disability inclusive practice through training for Femili PNG staff and by developing a strong disability inclusion policy. Together we are working to dismantle barriers to access for people with disability. Between 2023-24, a total of 84 people with a disability received case-management support from Femili PNG and 71 people with a disability attended outreach sessions.
We are committed to developing partnerships with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (or their equivalent) in the contexts in which we work, and reflecting on our practices and those of our partner and consider how accessible we are as an organisation and what ways we can improve or extend our accessibility.
United Nations International Day of People with Disability
The United Nations International Day of People with Disability occurs on the 3rd of December each year. It’s a day to a understand and respect people with disability. Here are some ideas for how you can get involved:
- Browse resources on the International Day of People with Disability website to learn how you can be more inclusive at work, school and in the community.
- Support people with disabilities, and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities – groups led by and for people with disabilities that advocate for their rights and inclusion – on your social media.
- Connect with disability organisations in Australia via the Disability Australia Hub.
- Support international organisations working to strengthen locally-led services designed to assist people with disabilities.