1. Internet, Digital Accessibility and SDGs:
How Accessible is our Digital Planet for One Billion Persons with Disabilities?
By Francesca Cesa Bianchi
Vice-President, Institutional Relations, G3ict
Internet Governance Forum
Guadalajara, Mexico
7 December 2016
One billion persons with disabilities
CRPD
SDGs

2. G3ict Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs
Formed in December 2006 upon adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by the United Nations General Assembly
To promote the dispositions of the CRPD on the accessibility of Information and Communication Technologies - now closely related to the SDGs
With the support of UNDESA, the ICT industry, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, Governments, Standards Development Organizations
Four divisions: Policy, Institutional Advocacy, Innovation, Training and Certification of IT personnel (IAAP)

3. CRPD: Impact in 166 Countries, A Blueprint for Digital and Internet Accessibility
Countries which have ratified the Convention
Countries which have signed but not ratified the Convention
Countries which have not signed or ratified the Convention

4. How Accessible is our Digital Planet? Impact on SDGs Implementation?
G3ict-DPI 2016 CRPD ICT Accessibility Progress Report
107 countries surveyed
Panels of local advocates
57 data points per country measuring:
Country commitments
Capacity to implement and
Actual outcomes for persons with disabilities
Consistent with UNDP Human Right monitoring framework, collects data on commitments, capacity to implement and outcomes
Allows to derive relationships between variables

5. How Accessible is our Digital Planet?
Four Key Facts
Measuring the Advances of Legislation and Policies around the World
Impacting Digital Accessibility
Today, we would like to present a simple series of facts
First 4 key facts on the actual development of legislative agendas, then 4 key facts as examples of various level of gaps in success factors

6. How Accessible is our Digital Planet?
FACT #1: 83% of Global South Countries have a constitutional article, law or regulation defining the rights of Persons with Disabilities 80% of Global North Countries
Considerable advance around the world of Disability Rights, setting the stage for CRPD implementation.
A testimony to the global impact of the CRPD.
A terrific result
Global South countries on par with Global North countries, in fact slightly ahead.

7. How Accessible is our Digital Planet?
Fact # 2: 48% of Global South Countries Have a definition of "Reasonable Accommodation" included in a law or regulation regarding the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 67% of Global North Countries
While 10 years ago, only a handful of countries has such definition in their laws or regulations, a majority of countries now do
A direct demonstration of the impact of the CRPD on shaping the legislative agenda of States Parties
Reasonable accommodation: a core foundation to exercise rights to equal access on the basis of non discrimination
Overall a considerable advance for persons with disabilities around the world

8. How Accessible is our Digital Planet?
Fact # 3:
37% of Global South Countries Have aligned their definition of accessibility with article 9 of the CRPD by including ICTs or electronic media in the country laws or regulations
67% of Global North Countries
States Parties are progressively adopting a definition of accessibility consistent with article 9 of the CRPD that includes ICT accessibility.
Global North countries ahead due in large part to more advanced ICT ecosystems
However, anecdotal evidence gathered though G3ict in-country programs suggests that a number Global South Countries are at the forefront of ICT accessibility commitments and actual results

9. How Accessible is our Digital Planet?
Fact # 4:
17% of Global South Countries
Have a definition of Universal Service Obligation in telecommunication legislation that includes Persons with Disabilities
47% of Global North Countries
As a further example of progressive implementation, diving into one specific element of legislation in the telecom field shows remaining gaps
Correlation observed between dates of signature or ratification of the CRPD
Country size and level of economic development also a factor
Opportunities for further progress and advocacy activities in the telecom field are significant, particularly among Global South countries
Pleased to report that ITU, United Nations’ agency covering this area is fully engaged with G3ict in working with States Parties to close such gaps
Joint model policies G3ict-ITU cover those areas

10. How Accessible is our Digital Planet?
Four Key Facts
Measuring Capacity to Implement and Success Factors

11. How Accessible is our Digital Planet?
Fact #5:
74% of Global South Countries
Have a government body specifically dedicated to Persons with Disabilities
100% of Global North Countries
With a few exceptions among smaller countries, States Parties have a government body dedicated to persons with disabilities.
While their influence and actual impact varies, their existence demonstrates that disability rights have become part of the mainstream political agenda of most governments among States Parties
A significant progress which G3ict and other international organizations welcome as we work with countries to promote the accessibility agenda of the CRPD
An essential relay for local policy and programmatic development

12. How Accessible is our Digital Planet?
Fact #6:
62% of Global South Countries
Have laws, policies or programs to ensure that Persons with Disabilties and their representative organizations are consulted in the development and implementation of legislation
93% of Global North Countries
Article 4 alinea 3 of the CRPD is also largely implemented by States Parties: « In the development and implementation of legislation and policies to implement the present Convention, and in other decision-making processes concerning issues relating to persons with disabilities, States Parties shall closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, through their representative organizations.
The disability movement moto “Nothing without us about us” has had considerable impact round the world
The presence of those mechanisms is further supported by the reporting processes required for country reports to the CRPD Committee
A great advance, giving more opportunities to disabled persons organizations to further their local advocacy activities

13. How Accessible is our Digital Planet?
Fact #7:
18% of Global South Countries
Provide financial support for DPOs and NGOs working on digital access for Persons with Disabilities
56% of Global North Countries
However, while most countries do consult with organizations of persons with disabilities for policy making and legislative activities, statistical evidence and anecdotal observations by G3ict around the world shows that organizations of persons with disabilities do not have access to minimum resources to exercise their responsibilities effectively in important domains such as ICT accessibility
Nor do organizations of persons with disabilities have the opportunity of developing expertise to be in a good position to influence policy making in a meaningful fashion for ICT accessibility

14. How Accessible is our Digital Planet?
Fact #8:
7% of Global South Countries
Have statistics or data accessible for the general public about digital access by persons with disabilities
36% of Global North Countries
Finally, the lack of monitoring across the board worldwide about results of policies and programs for persons with disabilities constitutes a significant obstacle to making progress since in most countries, there are no benchmarks to monitor effective implementation of policies and programs
Without proper monitoring and involvement of persons with disabilities in monitoring, real progress is difficult to achieve as the follow-up presentation serving as introduction to the second panel will demonstrate it
This is also an area covered by the joint model policies issued by ITU and G3ict with specific recommendations by area of ICTs

15. Digital Accessibility Outcomes for SDGs for Persons with Disabilities

16. SDG #4 - Guaranteeing Equal and Accessible Education
36% of Global South Countries
Have policies to promote digital accessibility in primary and secondary education Among those 36% among Global South Countries, 19% have minimum implementation
82% of Global North Countries
While most governments increasingly introduce the use of technology in education, Global South countries are left behind
Levels of implementation in Global South countries is also very limited with half of those countries with policies showing minimum levels of implementation

17. SDG #4 - Accessible ICTs in Higher Ed
56% of Countries have no policy in place
18% have a policy in place but minimally implemented =
74% of countries do not have effective dispositions in place to ensure that ICTs and digital contents in Higher Education are accessible

18. 35% of Global South Countries
SDG # 8 - Promoting full and productive employment allowing persons with disabilities to fully access the job market
35% of Global South Countries
Have policies to promote reasonable accommodation at the workplace
81% of Global North Countries
And actual policies and programs to promote workplace accommodation also show a considerable gap between Global North and Global South countries
CRPD and SDGs are closely inter-related
Without some key provisions of the CRPD implemented, notably accessibility, SDGs cannot be realized

19. Accessible Government Web Sites:
SDG #11 - Creating accessible cities, providing universal access to safe, inclusive, accessible public spaces
Accessible Government Web Sites:
60% of Countries have no policy in place
21% have a policy in place but minimally implemented =
81% of countries do not provide meaningful access to government web sites to persons with disabilities

20. 22% have a policy in place but minimally implemented
SDG #11 - Creating accessible cities, providing universal access to safe, inclusive, accessible public spaces
65% of Countries have no policy for accessible Emergency Response Services in place
22% have a policy in place but minimally implemented =
87% of countries do not have effective dispositions in place to ensure that Emergency Response Services are accessible

21. : Closing the Digital Accessibility Gap
ICT Accessibility Policy Center
M-Enabling Summit & Innovation Outreach
Institutional and Advocacy Support
Accessibility Training and Certification
- Model Policies
Web
TV - Multimedia
Public Access
Mobile
Education
Policy Toolkit
Advisory support to governments
Worldview Service
Global Programs: Smart Cities Procurement
M-Enabling Summit U.S., Australia, Italy, Russia
Good practices sharing: Financial Services Employment Higher Education
Reports and White Papers
Innovative solutions news highlights
CRPD ICT Accessibility Progress Report
Joint Activities for governments with UN Agencies:
ITU
UNESCO
UNDESA
ILO
OHCHR
WIPO
Capacity building with DPOs, IDA, DPI
International Association of Accessibility Professionals
IAAP Training and Certification Programs
IAAP Connections
630 Affiliated Testing Centers
1,200 members
International Chapters

22. Celebrating 10 Years of Advocacy
Thank You for Your Support
And Friendship on Five Continents!
Follow us on and on

23. Mobile Phones and Services
64% of Countries have no policy in place
24% have a policy in place but minimally implemented =
88% of countries do not have effective dispositions in place to ensure that accessible mobile phones and services are made available to persons with disabilities

24. Accessibility of Top 10 Commercial Web Sites
82% of Countries have none =
Persons with disabilities do not have access to essential private sector services in a majority of countries

25. CRPD: Sets ICT Accessibility Benchmarks for the Digital Age
Accessibility one of eight CRPD principles, condition for Persons with Disabilities to exercise their rights
Article 9 elevates ICT Accessibility obligations on par with those for the built environment and transportation
Applicable to all interactions with ICTs
Requires States Parties to:
Adopt standards
Ensure that public and private sector entities implement ICT accessibility for services to the public including web sites
Promote the usage of new technologies, assistive technologies and the Internet by Persons with Disabilities
Multiple CRPD articles reinforce the obligation of ICT accessibility in key sectors of activity (Culture, Television, Education, Employment etc.

26. Examples of Good ICT Accessibility Policies and their Implementation
Korea government web sites accessibility policy
Colombia Mobile Video Relay and Video Remote Interpretation Services - Free for all deaf persons
Canada television legislation including 24 x 7 audio described programs
U.S. Job Accommodation Network - Free support for workplace and school accommodation
Australia Implementation of the EN ICT Accessibility Standard in Public Procurement - Before most EU members