Effective policy setting SUSAn b. Parker, MSW/MSP WELLINGTON, New zealand

1. Effective policy settingSUSAn b. Parker, MSW/MSPWELLINGTON, New zealand Mapping Some RI Policy Possibilities

2. Who says what to whom matters … some feasibility questions • Premise: #1: it takes many to maintain and sustain an organization serving as a platform to advance policy benefitting people with disabilities . • Premise #2: such platforms or organizations are only as strong as their ability to legitimately represent people they say they are helping. • Premise #3: the most effective platforms thrive best when working closely with engaged in policy –making, implementation and evaluation at the level closest to grass roots. • Who wins and who loses from a proposed policy change? • What is the short term and the long term cost of loss to a group or organization? • Can the organization or the group afford to lose this fight? • What are the short term gains? To Individuals? To Groups?

3. INTERNAT’ L POLICY ACTION STEPS: UN CRPD • UN CRPD POLICY - NOW THE ACTION IS AT THE COUNTRY LEVEL TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAMS CONTAINED IN THE CRPD POLICY . • UN ACTIONS CAN ONLY BE AS EFFECTIVE IF THE MEMBER STATES PARTICIPATE. IT’S EASY TO SIGN A DOCUMENT PLEDGING ALLIGIANCE . MEMBERS STATES KNOW THAT RATIFCATION BY THEIR COUNTRY IS IMPORTANT … SLOW PROGRESS IS BEING MADE. MAIN CHALLENGE FACED BY COUNTRIES IS THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO DESIGN AND CARRY OUT THE PROGRAMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY. EASIER SAID THAN DONE. • WHAT CAN RI AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS DO? 1. SURVEY THE COUNTRIES TO SEE WHAT HELP THEY NEED. 2. CATEGORIZE THE HELP NEEDED INTO ACTION GROUPS, RELATED TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE . 3. DRAW ON THEIR MEMBERS TO LINK WITH AND TO ASSIST WITH THE SUPPLY OF NEEDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

4. RI EFFECTIVENESS: THREE LEVELS • INTERNATIONAL : UN POLICY OVERSIGHT, - HOW? UN STANDING COMMITTEES (1ST AND 3RD), UN MEMBERSTATE CONVENING POINTS: NYC, BANG KOK, GENEVA, • JOINT PROJECTS WITH WHO, ILO, UNDP, UNICEF • INTERNATIONAL, NGO’S – JOINT PROJECTS WITH – REHABILITATION TARGETED TO WORK & EMPLOYMENT ISSUES; EDUCATION AIMED AT WOMEN & GIRLS, CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES; EFFECTIVE REHABILITIATION POLICIES AIMED AT SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMS, UNDERSERVED SUB GROUPS, FIRST PEOPLES. • NATIONAL LEVEL: KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER OF EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS TO COUNTRIES WHO NEED THE KNOWLEDGE; SEND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE – PEOPLE - TO TEACH AS PEERS COLLEAGUES IN OTHER COUNTRIES. • LOCAL LEVEL: IDENTIFY THE LOCALLY EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS, PACKAGE THEM FOR “EXPORT” TO A SPECIFIC COUNTRY .

5. Action: construct program PACKAGES • PREMISE #1: NATIONAL LEVEL TAKES THE IDENTIFIED EFFECTIVE PRACTICE, BRINGS IN TO THEIR COUNTRY STAFF TO LEARN HOW IT’S DONE, PAIRS THE NEW COUNTRY MINISTER WITH A MINISTER IN THE COUNTRY NEEDING HELP AND DESIGNS A PRACTICAL FOREIGN AID PACKAGE. • ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ? 1. MARSHAL FORCES TO PROMOTE DISABILITIY POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AS A TRUE PRIORITY WITHIN COUNTRIES NEEDING HELP. 2. IDENTIFY PRACTICAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COUNTRY X,Y, & Z. • WHAT’S IN THE GAME FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS? (1) COUNTRIES WILL “GET IT” THAT AN ORGANIZATION IS WILLING TO STRETCH ITSELF AND HELP THEM OUT. (2) COUNTRIES WILL UNDERSTAND THAT A BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP IS STAYING VERY WELL INFORMED ABOUT INTERNATION’L ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR WELL BEING.

6. SPEAKER CONTACT INFORMATION • SUSAN B. PARKER, MSW/MSP • P.O. BOX 577 • GREENLAND, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03840 USA • EMAIL: SPARKERSKI@AOL.COM • TELEPHONE: 001 603 436 5183 • SBP 3/30/2014