Implementing organizations:
- Albanian Disability Rights Foundation, Lead applicant, Albania
- Albanian National Association of Deaf, Partner, Albania
- HANDIKOS, Partner, Kosovo
- Polio Plus – movement against disability, Partner, North Macedonia
Summary of the project
ADRF and project partners from 3 WB countries, will combine their operational capacities in a common effort to assist organizations dedicated to the fulfillment of rights of PwD in 3 WB countries to develop working relationships, networking capacities and through their legislative assessment and policy advocacy in the area of accessibility and political and public participation, empower them to engage constructively with governments to address key challenges faced by PwD. By establishing and regional exchange amongst Legislative Working Groups (WGs) and Parliamentary Lobbying Groups (PLGs), the APWDs will enhance their participation in decision making processes, undertake effective policy and legislative advocacy and engage with, but also hold accountable their national governments to make political and economic reforms related to disability, preparing them for the rights and obligations that came with European Reform Agenda and EU membership.
Project goals
Overall goal (impact) To contribute to good governance, participatory democracies and inclusive societies towards Euro-Atlantic integration of Balkans countries by strengthening the disability organizations regional cooperation and their participation in decision and policy making processes.
Specific goal: Strengthen a regional network of CSOs and public authorities in 3 WB Countries, to advance issues of accessibility and participation of PwD in political and public life, to ensure the harmonization and implementation of national legal and policy framework to comply with the CRPD, the EU Strategy for the Rights of PwD 2021-2030.
Target groups and beneficiaries
- Associations of persons with disabilities (APWDs)and disability CSO;
- National Governments and parliamentarians;
- Public authorities at all levels.
Expected effects for the target groups:
- Promote the integration of self-regulation mechanisms by preparation of the reports on compliance and harmonization of legislation in the area of accessibility and participation of PwD in political and public life;
- Encourage cooperation and partnership among national and regional APWD and governments to prepare recommendations for harmonization of the legislation in the area of accessibility and participation in political and public life, in line with UNCRPD;
- Promote policy advocacy, government oversight, accountability and transparency by establishing and/or strengthening Parliamentary Disability Lobbing Groups PDLGs in 3 WB project targeted countries.
Main activities
- Establishment of two sectorial Working Groups (WGs) in Kosovo, N. Macedonia, Albania and their capacities to conduct analysis of the legal framework for its compliance with CRPD;
- Disability CSOs and APWD evaluation of policy compliance/harmonization with CRPD secured through organizing 3 rights-specific round tables in each project country;
- Working groups members from 3 project countries established closer links and empowered to actively participate in analysis, research and development of compliance/harmonization reports through participation in a cross-border rights-specific (accessibility and public and political participation) meetings (online /zoom);
- The report of legislation compliance/harmonization with CRPD in two targeted sectors
- 3 (three) capacity building training/ seminars organized for 60 disability CSOs and APWD representatives; (1 in each WB country)
- 3 (three) national and one regional coordination round tables (online/zoom) for the preparation of the Report with Recommendation for Harmonization of legislation with UNCRPD;
- The Report with Recommendation for Harmonization of legislation with UNCRPD;
- 3 National Conferences, 1 in each country organized for estimated 150 governments, public sector and APWD representatives where two documents will be presented;
- APWDs advocate for policy changes as per legislative harmonization recommendations focus on political and public participation and accessibility;
- Consultation meetings;
- Capacity building training seminars;
- Policy advocacy public debates;
- A regional conference to share the 2 reports, lessons leaned and plan ahead.
