Introduction

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is a pivotal international treaty designed to ensure equal opportunities and fundamental freedoms for individuals with disabilities. Since coming into force in 2008, it has helped persons with disabilities navigate a society that has often overlooked their unique needs and experiences. Indonesia, recognizing the importance of this global initiative, ratified the UNCRPD in 2011, beginning a transformative national journey towards disability inclusion.

Implementing the UNCRPD in Indonesia has been a dynamic process, marked by significant progress and challenges. As of April 2020, an evaluation of Indonesia's adherence to the Convention by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) highlighted critical areas of concern. These included the alignment of national laws and policies with the UNCRPD, to derive consistency from the Convention on the disability concept within the national documents, the status and implementation of Indonesian disability Law No. 8/2016, the lack of resources for meaningful government consultation with persons with disabilities, and the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention.

The CRPD Committee's 2022 review also underscored the enduring plight of people with psychosocial disabilities, who are still subjected to inhumane practices like shackling, seclusion, and restraints in some communities. Pervasive stigma surrounding mental health in Indonesian society necessitates urgent action to transition towards non-coercive, community-based mental health services and establish an independent monitoring and complaints mechanism accessible to persons with disabilities. Additional recommendations were made to adopt a deinstitutionalization strategy and strengthen support for the National Commission for Disability in caring for individuals, including children, placed in residential or social care institutions, hospitals, halfway homes, and rehabilitation centers.

The United Nations in Indonesia plays a crucial role in advancing disability inclusion through the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS). Initiated in April 2018 by the Secretary-General, the strategy’s comprehensive framework stresses that the human rights of individuals with disabilities are inseparable from broader human rights and freedoms. It commits the UN system to integrate these rights both externally through programming, and internally by fostering an inclusive workplace environment where individuals with disabilities can participate on equal footing with their peers. The strategy aligns with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and other international human rights agreements and development commitments.

This strategy is underpinned by a robust accountability framework comprising 14 indicators for entity accountability and a United Nations Country Team (UNCT) accountability scorecard for disability inclusion. These components provide timelines and technical guidance, and delineate responsibilities, ensuring the strategy is effectively implemented.

The UN Disability Inclusion Scorecard outlines 14 indicators within four core areas: Leadership, Strategic Planning and Management; Inclusiveness; Programming; and Organizational Culture. This comprehensive approach encompasses both programming and internal operations, enabling UNCTs to plan and report on their disability inclusion strategies. It serves as both a planning and accountability tool, with UNCTs required to provide annual progress updates on each indicator. UN Indonesia implements the Disability Inclusion Scorecard annually and reports on all core areas and dedicated indicators. All UN in Indonesia initiatives and activities on disability inclusion directly support progress in meeting and exceeding the scorecard requirements.

In this Knowledge Management Product, we examine the dynamic landscape of disability inclusion in Indonesia. We cover progress made, challenges encountered, and ways forward. In doing so, it becomes clear that a concerted effort is essential to create a society where all individuals, regardless of their abilities, can thrive and participate fully in all aspects of life.

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