How we went about it and findings

The relationship of the UN with OPDs in Indonesia and guidelines for consultations

The report examines the interaction between UN Indonesia and OPDs through two mechanisms. The first involves collaboration with ministries, NGOs/INGOs, and OPDs to promote disability inclusion. The second leverages OPDs' expertise in disability issues, where they act as trainers, consultants, or facilitators in UN workshops and initiatives.

However, there are several gaps in these relationships. The lack of a dedicated disability focal point in each UN agency hinders coordination and communication with OPDs. The absence of updated national and subnational data on OPDs also limits their visibility. UN partnership requirements, meanwhile, such as financial management experience, create challenges for local OPDs, and disparities exist between urban and remote OPDs. Additionally, visibility of UN support for collaboration often goes unrecognized by OPDs, while accessibility issues prevent OPDs from accessing UN information and documents.

To address these challenges and improve collaboration, the International Disability Alliance proposed guidelines for UN Indonesia. These guidelines focus on preconditions for engagement, identifying relevant OPDs, establishing communication, involving OPDs in programme development, and ensuring sustained participation throughout the policy or program cycle.

Gaps in the Government of Indonesia’s relationships with OPDs

The government officially recognises OPDs as essential partners, a necessity to secure their participation in planning, implementing, and monitoring processes that align policies and programs with the needs and aspirations of persons with disabilities.

However, levels of awareness and understanding of disability issues vary among government staff, leading to inconsistent interpretations of inclusion concepts. Capacity building initiatives are necessary to address this disparity. Regulatory complexities and discrepancies also hinder effective implementation of disability-related laws. Mismatches between agreed-upon texts and actual program activities pose challenges to addressing the needs of persons with disabilities, while inclusive participation of OPDs in planning, particularly through disability thematic forums, is hindered by inaccessible documents and venues. Meanwhile, stigma attached to persons with disabilities often limits their roles to beneficiaries rather than equal partners, and dynamics influenced by decentralization systems and shifting political priorities impact OPD engagement. Additionally, feedback mechanisms are not always accessible or inclusive. The report proposes guidelines for the government that offer a structured approach to engaging with OPDs and involving them in all stages of policy-making.

A workshop was held to address the discrimination and barriers persons with disabilities face when participating in policy-making processes.

Aligned with the CRPD and UNDIS, the workshop sought to promote the engagement of persons with disabilities, particularly young people, in policy and program development. Its primary objectives were two-fold: first, to understand current gaps in the participation of OPDs in policy-making processes at national and sub-national government levels, and in UN programs; and second, to create guidelines on how persons with disabilities can actively participate in program and policy development.