Media Release
BOB McMULLAN MP
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR FRASER
AA 08 67
24 November 2008
EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 25 November 2008
New strategy makes people with disability a priority for Australia’s aid program
The Australian Government has for the first time made people with disability a priority
for Australia’s international development program.
Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, will
today launch Australia’s first strategy to guide Australia’s aid program in supporting
people with a disability in the developing world.
An estimated 10 per cent of the world’s population, or around 650 million people, live
with a disability. Of these, about 80 per cent live in developing countries.
“Australia is committed to including people with disability in the fight against global
poverty and supporting them to improve the quality of their lives,” Mr McMullan said.
“People with a disability are among the poorest and most vulnerable in developing
countries,” he said.
The new strategy, ‘Development for All’, aims to improve quality of life for people with
disabilities, strengthen prevention efforts and promote international leadership on
disability and development.
It also seeks to improve understanding of disability and development across the Asia
Pacific region.
“With good leadership, attitudes towards people with disability can change, services can
be improved and people’s lives can be transformed – not only the lives of the person with
a disability, but their families and those around them,” Mr McMullan said.
People with a disability face many barriers preventing them from participating in society,
and are more likely to be socially excluded. Women and children with disability often
face the greatest challenges.
The Australian Government recognises that poverty and disability are linked and is
committed to ensuring that the benefits of development reach those who are most
excluded.
Australia has recently ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, and, in addition to launching the strategy is also preparing a national
disability policy to be released in 2009.
Media Contact:
Sabina Curatolo (Mr McMullan’s Office) 0400 318 205
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590
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