Sustainable Development Demands that Everyone is Included

A basic tenet in Shia’s work is “Nothing about us without us”. We mean that a rights-based work which will improve the living conditions for persons with disability must be based on the fact that they are themselves actively participating in the processes. It is then that we can achieve a long-term, sustainable result.

It is only the person who is him- or herself living in poverty, marginalised and discriminated who can change his/her situation. All support should therefore lead to people having their own tools which allow them to express their needs and demands. This can be about everything from increased self-confidence, fellowship, awareness about rights, knowledge and education about the opportunities to organize one self in an organisation.

A disability is not only a problem for the individual; it is to a large extent a problem in relation to society. It is discrimination, inaccessibility and lack of knowledge which makes a disability into a handicap.

We mean that it is important to have this point of departure in all work which aims at reducing poverty. It is then that the support can contribute to dealing with the reasons for the problem and not just alleviating the symptoms for a few individuals. Through international development co-operation between persons with disability we want to contribute to full participation, equality and respect for human rights.