The Australian Government Supports International Day Of People With Disability

THE HON BOB McMULLAN MP

Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance

THE HON BILL SHORTEN MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

The Australian Government supports International Day of People with Disability

On International Day of People with Disability (IDPWD), the Australian Government is proud to report on progress towards improving the quality of life of people with disability through Australia's international aid program.

Approximately 10 per cent of the world's population, some 650 million people, are living with disability. People with disability make up the world's largest and most disadvantaged minority and are increasingly recognised as the poorest and most marginalised in developing countries, accounting for at least 20 per cent of the most impoverished in developing countries.

The theme of this year's International Day of People with Disability focuses on development "Making the Millennium Development Goals Inclusive: Empowerment of persons with disabilities and their communities around the world."

"We cannot be serious in our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals unless we ensure global efforts include a focus on the needs of people with disability and their communities," Mr McMullan said.

"Australia is working hard with UN agencies, multilateral banks, and other donor partners to increase understanding of the importance of including people with disability in development efforts."

In November 2008 Mr McMullan launched Australia's first comprehensive disability strategy for the international aid program: Development for All: Towards a disability-inclusive Australian aid program 2009-2014. The strategy reflects Australia's commitment to accelerating progress towards the MDGs and aims to improve the quality of life of people with disability by ensuring they are included in, and benefit equally from, Australia's aid program.

The Strategy focuses on targeted initiatives to meet the specific needs of people with disability, building the leadership skills of people with disability and their organisations, and ensuring major programs in sectors such as education and infrastructure meet the needs and priorities of people with disability. The Strategy also includes programs to reduce preventable disability through support for avoidable blindness and road safety.

Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities Bill Shorten said that Australians should be proud of the work being done to include people with disability in Australia's aid programs.

"Across the world people with disability face the same problems of isolation and exclusion from society," Mr Shorten said.

"Improving the civil rights, and economic independence of people with disability is a key goal of the Rudd Government's policies both in Australia and in our region."

Media Contact:
Sam Casey, Mr. McMullan's Office,
0421 697 660

Ben Ruse, Mr. Shorten's Office,
0407 030 808

SOURCE: AusAID