UN Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) Promoting Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Ethiopia

Project background

In recent years Ethiopia has been taking positive policy and legislative measures for the promotion of the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the social, economic and political life of the Ethiopian society. Among the many steps taken, the ratification of the UN CRPD in 2010 heralds a new era in the Ethiopian history reflecting the country’s commitment to opening up the path to equal opportunities and full participation of its estimated 15 million people with disabilities.

To support this initiative, the UNPRPD Round 2 funding has chosen Ethiopia among other countries to implement a joint disability inclusion Project by ILO and UN OHCHR in the context of the One UN of the UNCT Governance and Human Rights Technical Working Group.

Project Summary

The UNPRPD project aims at promoting social inclusion of persons with disabilities in Ethiopia by achieving the following two outcomes in partnership with concerned government ministries, Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs), civil society organizations and the media.

1. Improve knowledge and technical capacity of authorities across the country on delivering better services to persons with disabilities and;
2. Fight social discrimination against persons with disabilities through awareness raising activities by national stakeholders.

The Project supports the country’s endeavor to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities and the National Plan of Action (NPA 2012-2021) for disability inclusion with particular focus on access to justice, inclusive education health and employment. The Project is jointly implemented by ILO and UN OHCHR whereby the ILO plays the role of Project Administrator responsible for funds management. Partners and beneficiaries of the of the UNPRPD project include the following:

• Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA)
• Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
• Ethiopian Institution of the Ombudsman (EIO)
• Ethiopia Broadcasting Authority (EBA)
• Federation of Ethiopian National Associations of Persons with Disabilities (FENAPD)
• Ethiopian Women with Disabilities National Association (EWDNA)
• Regional Bureaus of Labour and Social Affairs and Disabled Persons’ Organizations (DPOs)
• Men, women and children with disabilities

The UNPRPD project applies a variety of methods in prompting disability inclusion in Ethiopia. Providing disability equality Training (DET) to social partners, organizing disability policy and legislation workshops for law enforcement agencies, using media for public awareness on disability and organizing disability awareness events are among the key strategies for promoting disability inclusion. In addition, the Project provides social partners with disability guides on inclusive vocational training, employment and media reporting.