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The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Pacific has engaged Ms Sainimili Tawake and Daniel Stubbs to conduct a review of the challenges facing women and girls with disabilities (WWD) in the pacific and the policies/programs that respond to their challenges. (further information is set out below.)your assistance is sought to gather relevant information, research and policies.

The issues faced by women with disabilities are now receiving increased attention in the pacific. This year, for the first time, the issue was raised and discussed at the Women’s Triennial Conference at SPC Noumea (June 2007). It was agreed that further work is needed in this area. With this study UNDP is seeking to map the issues and possible strategies for women with disabilities in the pacific.

Please send information you believe is relevant to the issues of WWD in the Pacific by email to dstubbs@lagoon.nc. Please do not hesitate to contact Ms Tawake or myself (all details below) if you have any questions or would like to discuss this review further.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Background

Ms Sainimili Tawake and Mr Daniel Stubbs are preparing a study on women with disabilities in the 22 countries of the pacific for UNDP. We are seeking your assistance in gathering the limited information that already exists that relates to women with disabilities (WWD) in the Pacific We need to be sure that we don't miss a single thing which has already been written down or ever spoken about this important, highly discriminated against and often disadvantaged group. anything you have or know about can be sent to either Mr Stubbs (dstubbs@lagoon.n) or Ms Tawake (sainimili_t@yahoo.com).

People may also simply send us thoughts or experiences as this too is very valuable information. To ensure confidentiality we undertake to keep such information non-identifiable.

To give you an idea of the sort of thing we're after we will look into :

* the existence of data on WWD in the pacific.

* challenges faced by WWD in the pacific - which may include issues relating to access to health care, sexual and reproductive rights, roles in the family and the broader community.

* double discrimination of WWD in a range of areas such as employment, education and community participation.

* the existence of any government, NGO or other programmes designed to alleviate the above challenges for WWD.

* existing research, studies or articles discussing the above in the pacific or in other regions or countries.

More detailed information about the review

The study is to research, draft and present a study on women and disabilities in the Pacific. The objective is to identify:

(1) the challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities in the Pacific,

(2) social and economic factors leading to these challenges,

(3) existing policies and programmes by national and local governments, civil society and the private sector as well as development partners to address the challenges faced by women with disabilities, and

(4) recommendations for regional and national action by all partners. It will be based on a desk review of published and unpublished studies and the analysis of national and regional data on women with disabilities in the Pacific from existing sources. It will also consider national, regional and international best practices.

The time frame requires the completion of:

1 a detailed outline and compilation of all existing sources, data and relevant information by 30 September;

2 a draft report will be submitted to UNDP in early November;

3 In late November a small round table will be convened to review and critique the study.

4 the final report is due on 31 January 2008.

We will recommend that copies of the review be provided to countries that respond in any way to our requests for assistance.

This is an important opportunity to place some key issues facing women with disabilities on the regional agenda. We are grateful to those who have already contributed ideas, comments and resources. We urge you to please take this opportunity to make sure issues you are aware of are not overlooked.

Kind regards

DANIEL STUBBS SAINIMILI TAWAKE

Noumea, New Caledonia Suva, Fiji

dstubbs@lagoon.nc sainimili_t@yahoo.com

+687 25 35 43 +679 947 2836

DANIEL STUBBS
PH:             (+687) 25.35.43
Address:        Apt 101 Les Amarantes 2
                19 Rue Tardy de Montravel 
                Port Plaisance
                98800 NOUMEA CEDEX
                New Caledonia

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