Disability Rights Promotion International: A Holistic monitoring methodology for evidence-based data collection on human rights violations Radoš Keravica DRPI Regional Officer for Eastern Europe

In other words, “monitoring” is: Finding out what is going on Fact-finding Uncovering information Collecting data Using indicators to measure progress Measuring progress toward justice for people with disabilities

Process is equally important as a result!

(a)Tracking (monitoring) Individual Experiences (b) Tracking (monitoring) Systems (laws, policies, programs and services) (c) Tracking (monitoring) Attitudes

What makes DRPI’s approach to monitoring unique? a) It uses a holistic approach (that is, it tracks human rights in more than one way and brings the information together) b) It puts persons with disabilities in the lead or the other target group c) It considers human rights principles when assessing the specific rights d) It recognizes that human rights monitoring has to be an ongoing, long term process

Holistic Monitoring

Dignity Dignity refers to the inherent worth of every person. Human rights are intended to promote human dignity! Autonomy is the right of an individual to make his or her own choices independently.

Participation, Inclusion & Accessibility Inclusion involves organizing systems of society, both public and private, to enable all people to participate fully and effectively. To achieve full participation, an accessible, barrier free physical and social environment is necessary.

Non-Discrimination & Equality The principle of non-discrimination means that all rights are guaranteed to everyone, without distinction, exclusion or restriction based on disability or race, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, age, or any other status. Equality, in the context of disability requires creating societal conditions that allow for difference in order to guarantee the equal participation and inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society.

Respect for Difference Respect for difference involves acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity.

DRPI’s Sustainable Monitoring Approach DRPI’s monitoring projects are designed to be sustainable so that persons with disabilities and disabled people’s organizations are able to gather, on an on- going basis, evidence-based information about disability rights. Costs are kept low and monitoring capacity is built and fostered so that monitoring activities, led by persons with disabilities and their organizations, are able to continue into the future.

Clearly structured timeframe of the project and the monitoring activities Sample of interviewees is balanced Snowball technique Free and informed consent to interview Confidentiality of data

Ways to Balance the Sample: 1. Define the characteristics used to ensure the diversity of the sample in each monitoring site. 2. Consider the diversity characteristics when selecting people to be interviewed.

Analyzed domains of life Social participation Information and communication Access to justice Income security and support services Education Employment Privacy and family life Health and rehabilitation

Systemic monitoring involves looking at whether the legal and policy frameworks of a country meet a country’s human rights commitments and whether they meet international principles of human rights. Based on UNCRPD Systemic monitoring template

Systemic Monitoring What is the scope of the investigation? How are existing laws and policies in country x addressing the human rights of target group? How does existing law and policy protect and promote the specific rights of target group? How effective is existing law and policy in protecting and promoting the specific rights of target group in rural areas?

● What are the legal sources in a country? ▪ Constitutions ▪ Legislation ▪ Case Law ▪ Policies ▪ Programs

The experiences of target group are at the centre of the holistic report and bring together information from systemic monitoring and societal attitudes monitoring. Societal Attitudes Monitoring Information Personal Experiences Monitoring Information from interviewees Systemic Monitoring Information on law, policy and programs

What does the holistic monitoring report provide? Filling the gaps It gives voice to the way persons with disabilities live and the way in which they are able to enjoy their rights It links rights that governments and policy makers say people have and the everyday experiences of persons with disabilities It examines the impact that societal attitudes towards disability (reflected in media reporting) has on the exercise of rights It provides the information needed to start the conversation between government representatives and members of the disability community to develop laws, common policies and programs that are responsive to the human rights violations faced by persons with disabilities It emphasizes fact-based monitoring vs. impressionistic monitoring

Adaptations of methodology Different target groups including PLHIV (project in Serbia) Focusing on particular domains Coverage of countries and different local contexts Non-exclusiveness Way to unite social movements and open the dialogue between them

“Nothing about us, without us”

Thank you for your attention! Radoš Keravica Regional Coordinator for Eastern Europe Disability Rights Promotion International - DRPI Center for Society Orientation – COD /