Challenges of Equal Employment Opportunity for Youth with Disabilities in the Middle East Ola Abu Alghaib Middle East Regional Project Coordinator Handicap International 17 th – June 09 Point of view of field practitioner …

Unemployment Rate Among Youth by Selected World Regions, 2005 (ILO), Global Employment Trends for Youth (Geneva: ILO, 2006)

Main challenges to reach Equal Employment opportunities Access to social services:Access to social services: (availability, affordability, accessibility,good quality, choice ) HealthEducation social Protection social ProtectionEmployment Policy makers Agendas. Disability Movements Societies perspectives.

Employment Poverty Reduction Safety net Integration in labor forceSafety net Integration in labor force

inadequate environment Inadequate education Lack of support services poor training Inadequate safety net poor quality jobs Low income poverty Impairment

Quotas (Palestine, Jordan, Egypt)Quotas (Palestine, Jordan, Egypt) Social development fund /disability fund (Yemen)Social development fund /disability fund (Yemen) Rights and Access Programs (Lebanon )Rights and Access Programs (Lebanon ) International agencies programs supporting work opportunities( UNDP Palestine/Lebanon).International agencies programs supporting work opportunities( UNDP Palestine/Lebanon). National policies addressing employment for PWD /challenges and good practices )

Weakness of Implemented Policies Gate keeping mechanismsGate keeping mechanisms Budgeting /sustainability.Budgeting /sustainability. Geographical coverage.Geographical coverage. Lack of awareness on rights and entitlement of peopleLack of awareness on rights and entitlement of people Exclusion of certain disabilities ( intellectual disabilities )Exclusion of certain disabilities ( intellectual disabilities ) Poor vocational training ProgramsPoor vocational training Programs Lack of inclusion in mainstream servicesLack of inclusion in mainstream services

Handicap International Strategy on the regional level to promote Employment opportunities for Youth with Disabilities Musawa ProjectMusawa Project “Strengthening self advocacy capacities for rights and equal opportunities of people with disabilities in Middle East” Main objective ( DPO's) develop sustainable capacities to advocate and become acknowledged counterparts of public authorities and other key stakeholders in the development and implementation of policies targeting the inclusion of PWD's at local, national and regional levels.( DPO's) develop sustainable capacities to advocate and become acknowledged counterparts of public authorities and other key stakeholders in the development and implementation of policies targeting the inclusion of PWD's at local, national and regional levels.

Types of activities Training and coaching.Training and coaching. Support to coordination among DPOs and regional exchange.Support to coordination among DPOs and regional exchange. Research and dissemination of good practices.Research and dissemination of good practices. Micro grants to support local initiativesMicro grants to support local initiatives Regional advocacy.Regional advocacy.

DMI ProjectDMI Project “ Disability Monitor Initiative ” Main objective The objective of the DMI is to be an advocacy tool to monitor and facilitate the sharing of knowledge on the ways local organizations, authorities, governments and international agencies develop and support reforms that promote and enable the full participation of persons with disabilities.

Activities Good practice awardsGood practice awards A regional legislative reviewA regional legislative review Production of Regular journals (UNCRPD,Social protection, Access to Education etc..)Production of Regular journals (UNCRPD,Social protection, Access to Education etc..) Development of an information platform on the internet for DMI activities and disability resources ( )Development of an information platform on the internet for DMI activities and disability resources ( )

Case Study from Palestine Women with Disability in the West Bank “ A Baseline Survey of living conditions ” Stars of Hope Society Stars of Hope Society

Proposed Recommendation to the World Bank and International Agencies Integrate disability within the mainstream of its development policy and practiceIntegrate disability within the mainstream of its development policy and practice Support the development of social protection policies and gate keeping mechanisms.Support the development of social protection policies and gate keeping mechanisms. influence governments’ policies towards Inclusive educationinfluence governments’ policies towards Inclusive education Support to access to services based on rights based approach.Support to access to services based on rights based approach. increase the resources for enabling PWD to have their own micro business enterprises.increase the resources for enabling PWD to have their own micro business enterprises. supporting specific initiatives to enhance the empowerment of people with disabilitiessupporting specific initiatives to enhance the empowerment of people with disabilities