African movement and psychiatric users still active
This week’s E-news includes an update on activities relating to the African Decade, along with opportunities for men and women with disabilities in Africa. As a reminder, the Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (SADPD) offices opened in Cape Town in 2004. Work started in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda and Senegal. Since then the Secretariat’s work has spread to Burkina Faso, Cap Verde, Mali and Mauritania. Work has also been initiated in Burundi, Namibia and Tanzania. SADPD seeks to extend and broaden the scope of its work to directly include and involve more of the 53 African countries over the next five years. During 2007-2008 the intent is to launch activities in Lesotho, Zambia, Uganda, Malawi, Gambia, Cameroon, Chad, Tunisia, Togo and Ghana.
The mission of the Secretariat of the African Decade is to empower governments, Decade Steering Committees, Disabled People's Organisations and development organisations to work in partnership to include disability and persons with disabilities in policies and programmes in all sectors of society in Africa. Work focuses on capacity building, advocacy and lobbying of governments.
Nigeria comes under the Umbrella of Disabled Peoples International
The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria (JONAPWD) became the 144th member of Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) in 2007. JONAPWD hopes that this will increase the visibility of the organization and open up opportunities for potential partnerships with other disability groups, in Africa and beyond. The organization has just released a report on its 2007 activities. To read this report and open up a dialog, please contact Danlami Umaru Basharu, National President (JONAPWD). Tel.: 01-8126463; Mobile 0802-3051705. Email:duhkb@yahoo.com
The Convention and What it Means to Psychiatric Survivors
In an interview with Linda Lindblom (posted on the Secretariat of the African Decade website), David Stolpher, a psychiatric survivor and advocate for persons with psychosocial disabilities, shares his views on the Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities and its impact on psychiatric survivors. He states, “I think it gives us a legal framework and something on paper that will be binding. It is a dramatic shift from what we have had before. . . . The law has been an instrument of our oppression. The Convention says that it is time that the government and people around us drop this notion that we cannot think for ourselves. Article 12 . . . talks about legal capacity, and this is a key feature for us. We have the right to choose and have self-determination, or at least support the decision-making around our treatment and lives.”
He adds that there has to be “a shift towards respect for human rights: in everything from medication, forced treatment, length of stay in hospital to access to proper legal support. As I understand it, we don’t have [in Africa] any mental health legal specialist or law firms specializing in these issues. That is something that can be addressed by the government.” Full article available at
http://www.africandecade.org/reads/articles/legalcapacityarticle/view
Scholarship Opportunity for Students in Nigeria and West Africa
JONPWD wants to share information about an international scholarship open to all persons, including people with disabilities. This is a 1-3 year scholarship open for any one who already has a first degree and wants to go on to complete graduate studies anywhere in the world. Applications are on line at www.pathfind.org/ifp All applications must be submitted by the end of February 2008. Further information from JONPWD at duhkb@yahoo.com
Women and Leadership
Mobility International USA (MIUSA) is looking for women with disabilities from Africa and other countries around the world to participate in a leadership program in Eugene, Oregan, USA. Approximately 25 women will strengthen their leadership skills, create new visions, and build international networks of support to explore new leadership opportunities for women and girls with disabilities. Financial assistance provided. Application deadline is 4 April 2008. For more information go to http://www.miusa.org/admin/wild-2008