AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES NEW DISABILITY-INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
27 May 2015
The Australian Government this week launched a new strategy to strengthen the inclusion of people with disabilities in developing countries.
Development for All 2015-2020: Strategy for strengthening disability-inclusive development in Australia’s aid program will support people with disabilities in developing countries to find pathways out of poverty and realise their full potential. It builds on the first Development for All strategy, launched in 2008.
At the launch, Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP said
“Ensuring our aid investments include people with disability is good development practice – contributing to poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth and creating better development outcomes for all.”
Through the strategy, Australia will continue to promote disability-inclusive education, help remove physical barriers through our infrastructure investments, and work with partner governments to enhance access to vital services. Australia will also continue to support disabled people’s organisations in developing countries, which play a vital role in giving people with disabilities a voice.”
In Timor-Leste, Australia supports Asosiasaun Defisiensia Timor-Leste (ADTL) and Ra'es Hadomi Timor Oan (RHTO) to increase leadership of people with disability, accessibility of services and participation by people with disability in livelihoods and employment.
Australia’s support to people with disabilities cuts across our programs in community development, governance, health, education, rural roads, water and agriculture, aiming to ensure that no one is left behind in Timor-Leste’s development.
Development for All 2015-2020: Strategy for strengthening disability-inclusive development in Australia’s aid program is available at http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Pages/development-for-all-2015-2020.aspx
Development for All Workshop: Australian Government Disability Strategy launch and coordination meeting in Dili, Timor-Leste