27^th October 2010: The ILEP Secretariat has heard from colleagues participating in the 4^th Community-Based Rehabilitation Africa Network Conference that the new CBR Guidelines have been launched in Nigeria that will empower persons with impairments by supporting their inclusion in all services.

Developed over seven years, these new Community-Based Rehabilitation Guidelines are the result of collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Office (ILO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), in close consultation with other key stakeholders on disability and development globally. ILEP Members made substantial contributions to the chapter on leprosy.

 

These Guidelines advocate a multi-sectoral approach involving all sectors of government in partnership with social organisations, persons affected by disabilities, their families and communities to address health, education, livelihood, social and empowerment issues identified by the CBR matrix*. Guidance is given to community-based rehabilitation programmes on how to:

• implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability in low and middle income countries;
• promote a strategy for community-based inclusive development;
• ensure that persons with disabilities are empowered by facilitating their involvement in all aspects of their lives and decision-making; and how to
• promote dignity and rights for all.” 
  

The Nigerian Government is supportive of the 4^th Community-Based Rehabilitation Africa Network Conference that began on 26^th October. It signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability and the Optional Protocol on 24^th September this year.

Whilst Ms Joan Okune, the Executive Director of the Community-Based Rehabilitation Africa Network, noted that these Guidelines could help make a fundamental difference to the lives of up to 80 million people with disabilities in Africa, it is hoped that they will help make a fundamental difference to the quality of life of millions of persons around the world who are affected by impairments.

 

The CBR Guidelines are available for download from WHO’s Disability and Rehabilitation pages:

http://www.who.int/disabilities/cbr/guidelines/en/print.html

 

Further information can be obtained from:

Chapal Khasnabis, WHO: + 41 792493545

Karen Heinicke-Motsch: +1 541 515 8535 (Co-Editor, CBR Guidelines)

Svein Brodtkorb, NAD: + 47 99624407 (Chair, CBR Task Group, International Disability and Development Consortium, IDDC)

Joan Okune, CAN: + 234 (0)813 889 3947

Barbara Murray, ILO: + 4176 3984554

 

*CBR Matrix: http://www.who.int/disabilities/cbr/matrix/en/index.html

 

Article about 4^th CAN International Conference on CBR & Links to Background to the Guidelines:  

http://www.ilep.org.uk/news-events/article/view/4th-can-international-conference-on-community-based-rehabilitation/449/  

Categories: International Collaboration, News and Notes, Technical information