Poverty causes disabilities: Toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

E-news for Week ending 14 December 2007

DPI wants to congratulate those countries that have used innovative ways to raise awareness among youth about issues related to poverty reduction worldwide. Youth are indeed our leaders of tomorrow.

We are, however, as always, aware of how much more that needs to be done. Poverty causes disabilities. For persons who are already living with a disability, poverty can lead to secondary disabilities due to poor living conditions, malnutrition, poor access to health care, and lack of education opportunities. Together, poverty and disability create a vicious circle. If the goal is to halve poverty by 2015, then all stakeholders need to contribute in more meaningful and tangible ways.

As a reminder, the Millennium Development Goals represent a global partnership that has grown from the commitments and targets established at the world summits of the 1990s. Responding to the world's main development challenges and to the calls of civil society, the MDGs promote poverty reduction, education, maternal health, gender equality, and aim at combating child mortality, AIDS and other diseases.

Working with youth in a cultural context

One of the most effective means of communications and advocacy is through the use of visual images. United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Country Offices around the world are bringing the message of the MDGs to the people by incorporating local traditions, sensibilities and experiences through diverse visual means.

UNDP Fiji collaborated with the UN to hold Tadra Kahani (which translates as dream story), a major multi-cultural event, to raise awareness on the MDGs. During this event, school children used creative dance and music to express their interpretation of socio-economic issues related to poverty and education.

As discussed previously in DPI, UNDP Malaysia organised a Poster Design competition for students, inviting aspiring artists to voice their opinions through art to address the following themes: Youth and Drugs, Drugs and its Link to HIV/AIDS, Reversing the Spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015, and Effects of Drugs and HIV/AIDS on Society. Winners are posted at http://www.undp.org.my/index.php?act=sec&sec_id=14

New Report on Poverty in UK

The Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion Report (2007) released this week in the UK points out that the number of people living in poverty rose between 2004/05 and 2005/06 by around three-quarters of a million, to almost 13 million persons. As this is the only occasion on which the number has risen since 1996/97, it is premature to conclude that poverty is now on a rising trend. However, with poverty in 2005/06 at the same level as it was 2002/03, it is clear that progress on poverty reduction has stalled. At 30%, the poverty rate among those aged 25 to retirement who are disabled is twice the rate for those who are not disabled. To download the Report free of charge go to http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/2152-poverty-social-exclusion.pdf

New Report on Disability in India

The stigma against persons with disabilities, particularly persons with a history of mental illness, in India is high. Overall, poverty is highest among persons with disabilities, and the need to increase education and employment opportunities for children and youth with disabilities is at an all time high. To read full report, go to http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INDIAEXTN/Resources/295583-1171456325808/DISABILITYREPORTFINALNOV2007.pdf

MDGs and Disability

Persons with disabilities worldwide need to be aware not only of their rights, but also of their responsibilities on issues related to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the MDGs as they relate to persons with disabilities. DPIs Ratification and Implementation Tool Kits on the Convention, and Handicap Internationals Report on Poverty Reduction Strategies are worthy of review, since they provide us with the tools on how to facilitate change. Contact DPI Headquarters for the former. Handicap Internationals Report is available at http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DISABILITY/Resources/280658-1172608138489/MakingPRSPInclusive.pdf

Leadership Opportunities with Mobility International USA (MIUSA)

MIUSA is looking for men and women with disabilities from Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru for a 21-day leadership exchange program in March 2008 in the USA. The International Leadership, Employment and Disability (I-LEAD) program will focus on expanding opportunities for employment among persons with disabilities. For the English, go to

http://www.miusa.org/miusa-exchange-programs/ilead2008/index_html