Brief background
Following CRPD and UNDIS principles, the UNCT in Indonesia wished to enhance its collaboration with OPDs in order to increase the participation of persons with disabilities in program and policy development with the UN and our Indonesian government partners.
As part of the project, we developed a database of OPDs from across the country to facilitate access for UN agencies to those organizations, and their participation in UN advocacy and other initiatives. The UN will also offer this database to government and private sector partners to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in consultation processes and other participatory initiatives.
Results
OPDs in Indonesia, as recognized and defined by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, play a critical role in advocating for and advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities. The disability stakeholder landscape in Indonesia is broad, including organizations exclusively for persons with disabilities, umbrella groups coordinating various disability-focused entities, disability service providers, special and vocational schools, community groups advocating for disability issues, and study centers at universities focusing on disabilities. The database highlights how these organizations function at different administrative levels, from local to national, and across varying levels of specificity in their activities.
It also classified OPDs by motivations and focus. These organizations can be interest-based, aiming to promote specific activities like sports and recreation, rights-based, with a focus on advocating for disability rights, or charity-based, focused on raising funds for healthcare services and assistance.
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.
The relationship between UN Indonesia and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) holds crucial role and must be continuously strengthened to advance disability inclusion across the country. The report highlights two powerful mechanisms through which this collaboration must be deepened and expanded. The first involves active and meaningful partnership with ministries, NGOs, INGOs, and OPDs to champion disability inclusion at every level of policy and programming. The second recognizes and must fully leverage the rich expertise that OPDs bring to the table by positioning them as trainers, consultants, and facilitators in UN workshops and initiatives, roles in which they must be given ever-greater visibility and leadership.
To unlock the full potential of this partnership, several areas must be urgently addressed and improved. National and subnational data on OPDs must be updated and made comprehensive, so that OPDs gain the visibility and recognition they deserve. UN partnership requirements — such as financial management experience, must be made more accessible and flexible, ensuring that local OPDs are not left behind. Disparities between urban and remote OPDs must be actively narrowed, so that no organization is excluded based on geography. The UN's support for collaboration must be clearly communicated and acknowledged, ensuring OPDs are fully aware of the resources and partnerships available to them. Crucially, all UN information and documents must be made fully accessible, so that every OPD can engage with and benefit from the UN's work without barriers.
The International Disability Alliance provides recommendations for UN agencies to enhance engagement with OPDs, including supporting their strategic involvement, ensuring accessibility, and actively implementing the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS). These guidelines establish the preconditions for genuine, equitable engagement. They call for systematic identification of relevant OPDs, the establishment of open and consistent channels of communication, and the meaningful involvement of OPDs from the very earliest stages of programme development. Most importantly, sustained and inclusive participation of OPDs throughout the entire policy and programme cycle must be ensured. By following these guidelines, UN Indonesia can build a partnership with OPDs that is truly sustainable.