Fostering an Inclusive Environment for the Disabled (FIELD)

Mercy Corps

www.mercycorps.org.mn

Designing DPO advocacy strategy

There are 70 operational Disabled People's Organizations (DPOs) in Mongolia representing the interests of people with various disabilities. While each has its own mandate, it is important for Mercy Corps to identify areas of agreement among these agencies, and to identify common viewpoints, strengths and experiences in legal advocacy. For this purpose, two DPO meetings were held - on February 4 and February 17 - to elicit the views of DPOs on advocacy issues and to agree on potential areas for collaboration among DPOs. Over 60 participants from 38 DPOs joined the meetings. As a result, DPOs agreed on six main areas for advocacy work to be carried out: education, transportation, infrastructure, social welfare, labour and media.

Most participants considered that reinforcing the implementation of existing laws, and amendment of certain articles, would be better advocacy targets than development of entirely new laws. It was commonly noted that there is no incentive or penalty system to support implementation or non-compliance with existing regulations and many government agencies and businesses simply ignore them. For example, construction companies are not penalized for not following accessibility standards. Other issues commonly cited were the higher levels of poverty among families with disabled members and the lack of access to public transportation which, while legally free for people with disabilities, is largely inaccessible to the disabled.

It was agreed that no single entity can effectively address all of these issues and that there is a need for greater collaboration among DPOs.  Disagreements and misunderstandings among DPOs have hindered efforts in the past, which is why the FIELD project is taking care to build up this advocacy effort through discussion with a range of DPOs to first improve the strength of networking amongst these organizations.

Arkhangai and Uvurkhangai aimag assessments

Mercy Corps conducted meetings with Arkhangai and Uvurkhangai DPOs and representatives of government agencies. Discussions focused on local priorities for people with disabilities and on recommendations for FIELD project activities. Priority issues identified by local DPOs and government agencies were similar to those expressed by DPOs in Ulaanbaatar.

The DPOs also proposed specific additional activities such as conducting regular meetings of relevant agencies (Aimag Department of Social Welfare and Labor, family clinics, other DPOs, Aimag Children's Center and the Education Department); issuing appeals for agencies to make their buildings more accessible for people with disabilities; conducting non-formal education and livelihoods training for people with disabilities; training teachers and parents in occupational and speech therapy; and changing public attitudes to disability.

Future events

• Design an advocacy campaign and form a Task Force;
• Conduct DPO capacity assessments in the three target aimags of Arkhangai, Dundgobi, Uvurkhangai; and
• Continue needs assessments and planning for the same three aimags.