Description
The project will lead to the implementation of the program, aimed to support NGOs of people with disabilities to respect human rights under the UN Convention on the rights of people with disabilities. The project provides a regular and long-term participation of the disability NGOs in policy-making and decision-making process at both national and local levels. It will strengthen local and regional disability NGO's institutional and human resource capacity. To achieve this goal contact information will be collected and structured about local and regional disability NGOs, their capacity will be increased by providing information on governmental activities in relation to disability on local and national levels, by giving skills and knowledge on preparation of opinions and representation of their views together with other organizations. The project implementation will lead to more organized civil society, activate advocacy NGOs for people with disabilities increasing their capacity to represent interests of this target group at various levels of decision making process.
Summary of project results
The Project was necessary because the non-governmental organisations of people with disabilities are still quite week in Latvia. The capacity of these organisations especially in the country side is quite low and they are not always able participate in the local or regional decision making process on the same bases as everybody else. Aim of the project was to support non-governmental organisations of people with disabilities to respect human right of this target under the UN Convention on the rights of people with disabilities. The following activities have been carried out: 1. The contact information of 76 local and regional disability organisations was collected and structured to start local and regional networks of different organisations. 2. 4 meetings with SUSTENTO member organizations representative were organized (23 participants per each meeting). 3. Participation in 2 meetings of European Disability Forum. 4. The Conference for the leaders of the non-governmental organisations of people with disabilities was organized, 57 participants. 5. The International Day for people with disabilities with 70 representatives was organized in the Parliament of Latvia. 6. Participation in 3 working groups of the Ministry of Health. Two opinions were provided. 7. Participation in 2 working groups of the Ministry of Welfare. Two opinions were provided. 8. 2 workshops of capacity building for local and regional NGO of people with disabilities were organized, 73 participants. 9. Three new organizations joined to the SUSTENTO association. 10. Three projects proposals were created and submitted to different donors. 11. There was one enterprise which donated EUR 1000.00 for SUSTENTO operational work. As result stronger and more knowledgeable local and regional disability organisations now are part of the national disability network. It is very essential for successful and efficient work of umbrella organisation to represent both the greater diversity of opinions and views of all Latvian regions. Thus the civil society in Latvia was strengthened, as well as a regular and long-term disability NGOs participation in policy-making and decision-making process at both national and local levels was provided. SUSTENTO widely disseminated information including publicity materials about the significant role of EEA Financial Mechanism in Latvian non-governmental sector development.
Summary of bilateral results