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Call for urgent funding for disability aid

3 December 2010

19/2010

Call for urgent funding for disability aid

As the world celebrates the International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), the peak body for Australian aid and development organisations said the Government’s own disability-inclusive strategy for the aid program is shockingly under funded.

ACFID is calling for the urgent injection of $100 million to fund initiatives which align with the strategy Development for All: Towards a disability-inclusive Australian aid program.

"Currently over 650 million people in the world, or 10% of the entire world population, have a disability. Persons with disabilities are the largest minority group in the world," said Marc Purcell, Executive Director of ACFID.

According to the UN, around 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing countries. Many live in our near Asian and Pacific regions.

"Overall, the strategy only received $30 million over four years in the 2010/11 Federal Budget. This means people with disabilities in the developing world will receive less than $7.5 million a year on average until 2015, from the Government’s growing multi-billion dollar aid program, which this year totalled $4.3 billion," he said.

"This is unacceptable."

"The Government’s aid and disability strategy has been recognised internationally as world class, but they need to put their money where their mouth is,” Mr Purcell said.

"Strong foundations have been built by the Federal Government on engaging with people with a disability in the developing world. Significant achievements have been made during the first two years in implementing the Government’s strategy.

"Australia has world-class expertise in disability-inclusive development. Our leadership draws on the experience and expertise of Australian disabled people’s organisations, disability service providers and aid and development agencies."

"We can reach out and help disabled people around the world if the Government puts in the substantial funding required to back its strategy into the future," he said.

"An injection of aid funding similar to that given to preventative health initiatives such as eye care in developing countries is needed."

"This will ensure Australia is a world leader in disability-inclusive development and make a positive difference to the lives of people with disabilities in developing countries,” Mr Purcell concluded.