Accessibility and Development: environmental accessibility and its implications for inclusive, sustainable and equitable development for all June 2013 Accessibility and Development: environmental accessibility and its implications for inclusive, sustainable and equitable development for all 2 Department of Economic and Social Affairs The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: (i) it compiles, generates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which Member States of the United Nations draw to review common problems and to take stock of policy options; (ii) it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and (iii) it advises interested Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, helps build national capacities. Note The designations employed and the presentation of the material in the present publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitations of its frontiers. The term “country” as used in the text of this review also refers, as appropriate, to territories or areas. The designations of country groups in the text and the tables are intended solely for statistical or analytical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgment about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. Mention of the names of firms and commercial products does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations. Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. 3 Acknowledgements 1/ This paper entitled “Environmental accessibility and its implications for inclusive, sustainable and equitable development for all”, prepared by Mr. Clinton E. Rapley, is in collaboration with United Nations agencies, Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs) and other NGOs, as well as disability and development communities from around the world. In particular, we would like to thank the following: * Participants in the United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Accessibility: Innovative and Cost-effective Approaches for Inclusive and Accessible Development, organized by DESA in collaboration with the World Bank, Washington D.C, 28-30 June 2010 1; * Participants in the United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Building Inclusive Societies and Development through Promotion of Accessible Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs): Emerging issues and trends, organized by DESA in collaboration with the Nippon Foundation and United Nations Information Center, Tokyo, 19 – 21 April 2012 2. ________________________________ 1/ The paper is prepared based on outcome of the two recent United Nations Experts Group Meeting on accessibility issues and re-issued as a resource reference for the High Level Meeting on disability and development and ongoing discussions concerning Post-2015 Development Frameworks and Disability. Unless stated otherwise, the views expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not represent the official position of the United Nations. Products and service marks are presented for reference only and do not constitute endorsement by the United Nations. Product and service names are the property of the respective owner or copy right holder. 1 http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=46&pid=1596 2 http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1516 4 Executive Summary The paper reviews (a) norms and standards related to accessibility in the built environment, transport systems, and information and communications technologies, and (b) international development policies and programmes with reference to the objectives of sustainability, equity and inclusiveness. The paper notes that environmental accessibility is a major theme in international disability instruments, in the light of its contribution to promoting opportunities for all to participate on the basis of equality in development. Policy concern with accessibility remains, however, elusive in mainstream development strategies, policies and programmes. The paper proposes that one way to address environmental accessibility as a mainstream development issue is to recognize that environmental accessibility is a global public good, which provides universal benefits, covers multiple groups of countries and all populations. Accessible and usable environments are non-excludable - accessibility benefits all - and non-rivalrous – use by one person does not detract from use by others. The select review of national and regional experience in promotion and provision of accessible and usable products, services and environments indicates that a considerable and continuously expanding body of knowledge and extensive range of skills is available in countries. The challenge is to promote widely the view that provision of accessible and usable products, services and environments is an investment that benefits all and is reflected in value chains rather than to be viewed as social consumption for targeted populations. The discussion of environmental accessibility issues and options for the way forward examines the role of policies, structures, technologies, and production and distribution processes. The discussion concludes with a short list of key principles to reinforce accessibility and disability-inclusive concerns in mainstream development. 5 Table of Contents Page I Introduction 9 Norms and standards related to environmental accessibility and II 10 development A Accessibility as a human right 10 Environmental accessibility and advancement of persons with B 12 disabilities C Accessibility in the context of international development 19 International development policies, strategies and programmes at a D 26 crossroads E Accessibility: a global public good 27 Accessibility in policy and practice: select review of issues and trends III related to the built environment, transport and to information and 32 communication technologies A Introduction 32 Review of accessibility in the built environment, transport and public B 37 facilities 1 Top-down approaches to accessible environments 38 Bottom-up approaches and local initiative in promoting accessible 2 46 environments 3 Comparative study of Universal Design in practice 48 International standards related to accessibility in built environments, C 56 transport and public facilities Role of non-binding instruments: Standard Rules on Equalization of 1 56 Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and global 2 59 accessibility benchmarks Selected regional and global standards on accessible built 3 61 environments Review of accessibility in the field of information and communication D 83 technologies 1 Internet: a brief introduction 87 2 Technical guidance: Internet architecture, protocols and standards 90 3 Internet governance: a brief review 96 Selected trends in information and communication structures and 4 100 technologies 5 Implications for provision of accessible and usable Internet resources 108 Select review of regulatory guidance and technical standards 6 115 concerning accessibility on the Internet Accessibility in the general systems of society: issues and options for IV 124 the way forward A Options for post-2015 international development frameworks 124 B A global public good 126 C Capacity building, and engaging and empowering end users 134 Concluding remark: reconsidering accessibility in the context of V 138 mainstream development 6 I. Introduction This paper considers accessibility in the context of development. The United Nations General Assembly has long identified “accessibility” as a priority in measures promoting equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities.3 A substantial body of data documents the universal benefits that accessible and usable environments provide all populations. 4 The paper reviews and discusses accessibility in the built environment, transportation systems and public facilities, and in information and communication technologies. Assessments of issues and trends are forward looking and focus on international development agenda for the period beyond 2015, the end point of the period identified by the General Assembly to promote and implement and the Millennium Development Goals. The paper considers options to incorporate environmental accessibility in mainstream development to further achievement of the sustainable, inclusive and equitable development and poverty eradication priorities identified by the General Assembly 5 for all. The paper uses the concise and pragmatic definition of “accessibility” the Secretary-General presented in his report to the General Assembly on advancement of persons with disabilities: “Accessibility refers to provision of ‘flexibility’ to accommodate each user’s needs and preferences.” 6 The paper has three main sections. The first section reviews international norms related to environmental accessibility and advancement of persons with disabilities in development, and examines