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FINNISH ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES (FPD)

Disability Rights and realityVilnius, Lithuania

28.-31.10.2010Marja Pihnala

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Content of the presentation

1. The Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities

2. Our advocacy work

3. A quick look at disability policy in Finland today

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Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities

• Established on 16th of January 1938• FPD has:

–Organisational activities– Advocasywork in local, regional, national and

international level

– Supporting local associations (162/33000)

–Service activities: rehabilitation and housing services

• Decision making bodies: General council, 57 members and Federal government, 13 members

• Non-political organisation

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The foundations of our work

• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - adopted on 13 December 2006 at the UN Headquarters in New York- Finland signed on 30th of March 2007, but has not ratified-> aim to get the Finnish legislation in sync with the convention

• Rules of the FPD • Association's policy - vision and strategies• General council's policies

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Operations idea

Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities aims at operating in the society in such a manner that functional everyday life will enable an independent and good life for physically disabled persons.

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Operational units and member organisations

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Finances

• Financing of FPD acivities is primarily based on grants from the Finnish Slot Machine Association and on the support of businesses and private individuals

• Municipalities, central hospitals, Social Insurance Institute and insurance companies pay housing and rehabilitation services

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Awareness raising activities- Defending the rights of disabled people

• We work to influence on political decision makers, public authorities as well as the disabled people themselves, so that- constitutional and human rights are ensured - disabled people know their rights e.g to all different forms of support available (benefits, financial aids, rehabilitation, physical aids and tools)- services are available for the disabled people - promote the right of disabled people to work, receive training and participate in cultural activities

• Through advocacy work disabled people can live freely and take an active part in society! Nothing about us without us!

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Awareness rising – how we do it

- Communicating information on disabilities and the rights of disabled people. Convey the needs of individuals to the society’s decision making bodies- Influence attitudes and promote change - Comment on legislation being made - Organize seminars and courses- Promote the work of our member organisations -> training, education and consultation- Accessibility work- EU and international co-operation- Individual guidance e.g. by telephone or via internet

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Regional and local activities

Regional activities -8 Finnish and 2 Swedish speaking regions - regional activities in conjunction with member organisations operating in the area- networking, discussion forums, training, dissemination of information and joint leisure activities.

Promoting the activities of the member organisations (local)

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Peer support

- is the basis of all -> we create opportunities for the disabled people to spend time together and share experiences.

-organised peer support: individuals as well as families trained to give peer support e.g. amputees, spinal cord injury

- always voluntary, free of charge and reciprocal!

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Peer support

- is the basis of all -> we create opportunities for the disabled people to spend time together and share experiences.

-organised peer support: individuals as well as families trained to give peer support e.g. amputees, spinal cord injury

- always voluntary, free of charge and reciprocal!

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How the view on disability has changed

• Disability as a object of charity• Disability as a medical problem and disabled people as objects of care who need a cure • Social viewpoint on disability -> changing the environment to meet the needs of the individual• Slowly disabled people are seen as independent subjects and we talk about their rights • Judicial viewpoint concentrates on human rights and on respecting human value

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Background to VAMPO

• In 2006, the government of PM Matti Vanhanen (Vanhanen I) gave out the Government Report on Disability Policy : equality of persons with disabilities, right to participation and right to necessary services and support•Government programme of II Vanhanen government (2007-2011) included a reference to drafting of VAMPO, or the Government Disability Policy Programme• The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities signed by Finland in 2007; ratification process still ongoing• The Council of Europe Action Programme on Disability Policy 2007-2015: dignity and human rights of persons with disability; paradigm shift; persons with disabilities are subjects with rights, or rights holders, and no longer just objects for care and charity

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The drafting process

• Kick off seminar in 2008, public hearing in 2009• Regional public hearings across Finland (6) • Co-operation between ministries of foregn affairs, justice,

interior, education and culture, finace, transport and communciations, employment and economy, environment, social affairs and health

• Key social partners and civil society actors were involved: Finnish Disability Forum, The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, social partners, The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), National Council on Disability (VANE)

• Thematic meetings • Guidance group under Minstry of Social Affairs and Health

1.9.2008-31.3.2010 (10)

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The Objectives of VAMPO

• To increase the equality, independence and self determination of persons with severe disabilities, and improve their opportunities to take part in different activities within the society •VAMPO is a key instrument that guides the process of ratification of the CRPD, including its transposition into national law

• Key objective is to ensure that persons with disabilities have an equal and just place in society through tackling the drawbacks by concrete corrective measures and development actions

• Strong support and direction offered to both municipal and regional disability policy• Sustainable and responsible disability policy: long term goal oriented – sustainability in social, ecological and economic terms

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The main content

1. Preparation and implementation of the legislative amendments necessitated by the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

2. Improving the socioeconmic status of persons with Disabilities and combating poverty

3. The availability and high quality of special services and support measures will be ensured across the country

4. Accessibility in society will be strenthened and increased

5. Disability research will be reinforced

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The Structure of VAMPO

• Concrete measures: 122 concrete measures• Content areas: 14

• Responsible administrative sectors: relevant ministries or other central actors• Timetables: measures to take place concurrently

• Need for financing: expressed in general terms – no funding necessary /funding necessary• Indicators for implementation and monitoring: measure completed or under review • Legal obligation or basis: relevant articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) or relevant EU legislation, the Constitution of Finland or other national legislation.

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What is required for VAMPO to become a reality ?

• In Finland, preparation for the necessary legislative changes needed before the CRPD can be ratified and implemented nationally are ongoing at full speed

• Key ministries have committed to the implementation of the VAMPO (Government Disability Policy Programme) and the necessary co-operation across administrative sectors

• The realisation of the programme requires smooth co-operation, commitment and monitoring from other actors, as well

• More than half of the measures can be realised without extra costs to the administrative sector implementing them, but other types of resources are needed.

• Quarter of the measures are dependent on the Government decision on spending limits in force and are realised within the budget, - a question of political will.