Source, Handicap International, and the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) worked together to produce the CD-ROM, which aims to help aid agencies and development organisations to mainstream disability into poverty reduction strategies. The set of 120 resources on the CD, entitled “The Disability Convention – Making it work”, promotes the inclusion of disabled people in international development through the recognition and strengthening of human rights.

All three organisations believe that the promotion of human rights for disabled people is the one of the most effective strategies to improve the lives of disabled people in developing countries. Without including disabled people in development strategies a sustainable reduction of poverty in unlikely to be achieved.

As Sue Stubbs, the coordinator of IDDC says: “The UN Convention is about Rights for Disabled People throughout the whole world, and about getting governments to play their part in protecting and guaranteeing these rights. Currently 70% of the world’s disabled persons live in poorer countries, where the right to survival, food, shelter, clothing and basic health and education are a priority. This convention can help ensure that disabled children, women and men are included in all the international efforts to reduce poverty and provide a basic standard of living for all human beings.”

Stefan Lorenzkowski, the disability information officer at Source states: “The sharing and exchange of information can stimulate new efforts to consider disabled people in international development.”

The CD is available on request, while stocks last, or can be accessed online (please note: the following link will open in a new browser window) iddc.org.uk/cdrom/

For more information please contact source@ich.ucl.ac.uk

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