1. Overview
Since its establishment in 1986, DPI-Japan has taken leadership
of the grass-root disability movement. Especially, following
the success of the DPI 6th World Assembly in 2002 in Sapporo,
DPI-Japan has expanded its activities considerably. The new "monetary
support system" for persons with disabilities started in
April 2003. DPI-Japan devoted its activities related to this
new system for the whole year.
With regard to legislation related to human rights for persons
with disabilities, the process of the amendment of the Fundamental
Law for Disabled Persons took two years in the Diet (Japanese
parliament). In line with this process, the movement to enact
anti-discrimination law for persons with disabilities is increasing.
In order to combat such challenges that all persons with disabilities
are facing, the preparatory committee of the Japan Disability
Forum (JDF) was formed in October 2003. This Forum aims to create
a coalition consisting of DPI-Japan and other disability-related
organizations.
With regard to international activities, the elaboration process
of the international convention on human rights of persons with
disabilities accelerated in 2003. DPI-Japan played an active
role in this process.
DPI-Japan has successfully created close relationships with other
parts of the world. DPI-Japan and DPI-Korea exchanged many members
in several training courses. It also conducted the second training
course to empower and mainstream persons with disabilities in
Southern Africa.
2. “A voice of our own” in national disability policies
(A) To ensure deinstitutionalization and independent living in
communities
This activity includes a survey of new monetary support system
for persons with disabilities and a lot of dialogues with government
in collaboration with other NGOs.
(B) Amendment of Fundamental Law for Disabled Persons
The governing coalition submitted its amendment bill in July
2003. DPI-Japan, in collaboration with other disability NGOs,
requested both governing and opposition parties to commit the
enactment of anti-discrimination law in 5 years. As a result,
the amended fundamental law has a clause to "take necessary
measures in 5 years, considering the effectiveness of this amended
law and changes of social and economic circumstances surrounding
persons with disabilities."
(C) To realize anti-discrimination law
DPI-Japanﾕs project team announced the revised ﾒdraft of anti-discrimination
law for persons with disabilitiesﾓ in December 2003.
(D) Disclosure of name of companies not meeting the employment
quota
DPI-Japan Advocacy Center requested the disclosure of the names
of companies not meeting their employment quotas from the Tokyo
Labor Bureau in October 2001. Following the decision made by
Cabinet Office and Tokyo Local Court, the bureau disclosed the
names of 9,040 companies in Tokyo which did not meet their quotas
(1.8%) as of 2000.
(E) Amendment of the Domestic Violence Prevention Law
In the process of amendment of the Domestic Violence Prevention
Law enacted in 2001, DPI-Japan participated in several gatherings
organized by a network of NGOs providing shelters for the victims.
As well, DPI-Japan, in collaboration with such NGOs, made lobbied
actively. As a result, the amended law includes the accommodation
for DV victims with disabilities.
3. DPI-Japan and the disability movement in the world
(a) DPIﾕs regional and international executives from DPI-Japan
Since the 6th World Assembly in October 2002, DPI-Japan has sent
Mr. Shoji Nakanishi as the DPI Asia and Pacific Regional Chairperson
and the DPI Treasurer.
(b) International convention on human rights of persons with disabilities
DPI-Japan coordinates this issue at the Japan Disability Forum,
a new coalition of disability-related NGOs in Japan. In May
2003, disability-related NGOs had the first dialogue with the
Japanese Government with regard to this convention. As a result,
Mr. Toshihiro Higashi, a board member of DPI-Japan and an attorney,
became an advisor of the Japanese Governmental Delegation to the
2nd session of the UN Ad Hoc Committee in June 2003. Since then,
DPI-Japan executives have participated in the governmental delegation
as an advisor/observer and have contributed a lot of input from
the viewpoint of the disability movement.
(c) JICA training course to empower and mainstream persons with
disabilities in Southern Africa
In February 2003, DPI-Japan launched a new training course funded
by JICA, targeting 10 leaders with disabilities from Southern
African countries: Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland,
Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, the Republic of South Africa and Malawi.
This is a 5-year project continuing until 2006.
Its 2nd course was conducted in November 2003 for 4 weeks both
in Japan and Thailand. During the training in Japan, the potential
leaders studied topical issues including cross-disability organization,
the independent living movement, peer counseling and strategy
planning. The one-week additional training in Thailand was excellent
because they experienced how such concepts learned in Japan are
realized in developing countries. The south-south cooperation
is mandated in the Biwako Millennium Framework which is a plan
of action for the 2nd Decade of Persons with Disabilities in Asia
and Pacific Region (2003-2012).
(d) Inclusive Education workshop in Latin America with the World
Bank
Started in early 2003, the collaboration with the World Bank
is bearing a lot of fruit in the Latin American region. By the
end of fiscal 2003, DPI-Japan successfully launched 2 projects
in that region: Inclusive education workshop/study in Brazil and
Inclusive education workshop/study in Argentina.
Among them, DPI-Japan dispatched executive/staff to Brazil (March
2003). In Rio de Janeiro, they directly worked with local consultants
and logistic team whom DPI-Japan employed to conduct the project.
Mr. Shoji Nakanishi and the participants at the seminar could
share knowledge and experience in the Asia-Pacific Region and
the Latin America.
(e) Partnership with DPI-Korea
After the 6th DPI World Assembly, the partnership with DPI-Korea
has been growing increasingly. In July 2003, DPI-Japan dispatched
Mr. Ryo Misawa, the then secretary-general, to the 3rd ﾒSchool
for Youth with Disabilitiesﾓ organized by DPI-Korea. In autumn,
its follow-up training was conducted in Japan in collaboration
with DPI-Japan.
(f) Creating a network in Northeast Asian sub-region
In October 2003, the first DPI Northeast Asia Sub-Regional Meeting
was held in Korea with attendance from DPI organizations in Japan,
China, Korea and Mongolia. At the meeting, it was agreed that
the sub-region should encourage participation from North Korea.
It was also agreed that this sub-regional meeting should be held
every two years. The next meeting will be held in Japan in 2005.
(g) Wheelchair donation to Afghan people with disabilities
The Support Project for Afghan with Disabilities provided 400
wheelchairs in Kabul, the Capital of Afghanistan in May 2003.
In Kabul, DPI-Japan affiliate memberﾕs staffs worked together
with Afghan Society of Persons with Disabilities for providing
wheelchairs to individuals with disabilities.
4. Organizational strength toward a strong leadership
(a)Public Relations
In fiscal 2003, DPI-Japan published 10,000 copies of quarterly
magazine "DPI-Warera Jishin no Koe (a voice of our own)".
It contains discussions with government and professionals with
various topics, international convention on human rights of persons
with disabilities, employment, People First movement in Japan,
peer support of persons with psychiatric disabilities and other
events both internationally and domestically. DPI-Japan asked
companies for contributing advertisement for this magazine.
DPI-Japan has also an e-mail magazine which was sent 27 times
in fiscal 2003. DPI-Japan has approximately 1,500 readers for
this e-mail magazine.
With regard to the web site, in average, DPI-Japan received 1,500
hits a week. This web site is a library of resources which cannot
be covered only by the quarterly magazine. The update, done almost
weekly, was noticed by the above-mentioned e-mail magazine.
(b)Creation of Hokkaido Local Assembly
During the preparation process for the 6th DPI World Assembly
in 2002, DPI-Japan organized a nationwide campaign to strengthen
grass-root levels. In order to make a network at the grass-root
level and to reflect the voice of grass-root movements effectively
to the DPI-Japanﾕs movement both at national and international
level, DPI-Japan set up a regulation that enables member organizations
to establish DPI Local Assemblies. In October 2003, the first
local assembly was created in Hokkaido where the DPI World Assembly
had been held.
(c)New Memberships in 2003
During fiscal 2003, DPI-Japan welcomed five new full memberships.
Thus, as of March 31, 2004, DPI-Japan has a full membership of
49 with 10 nationwide organizations and 39 local organizations.
(d) Merger of BEGIN and moving the headquarters office
DPI-Japan merged with ﾒBEGINﾓ, Basic, Essential and Genuine Information
Network which was a DPI-Japanﾕs full membership. It is expected
that DPI-Japan will utilize the information/human resources possessed
by BEGIN more effectively.
In conjunction with this merger, DPI-Japan moved to a larger
office located in the same city, Chiyoda, Tokyo in February 2004.
(translated by Taisuke Miyamoto)