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Challenges in global Indigenous–Disability comparative research, or, why nation-state political histories matter

SOLDATIC, Karen
MELBOE, Line
KERMIT, Patrick
SOMERS, Kelly
2018

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Globally, Indigenous people, also known as First Peoples, have the poorest health outcomes of all population groups, resulting in significantly higher rates of chronic disease, ill-health, and disability. Recent research strongly suggests that Australian First Peoples and the Sami peoples of the Nordic region are positioned at opposite ends of the disability–health spectrum. Australia’s First Peoples, now experience the highest rates of disability in the nation’s recorded history, despite the significant government investment over recent decades in national Indigenous policy. Yet, Nordic Indigenous populations appear to have similar health outcomes and living conditions as the rest of the population in the region. In this paper, we compare some of the global assumptions of the two leading countries of the United Nations Human Development Index– Norway (ranked first) and Australia (ranked second)– and examine the ways in which such rankings act to hide the disparities of life trajectories and outcomes for Indigenous persons living with disability compared to the rest of the population in each country. The findings of the comparative analysis illustrate core areas for consideration when undertaking in-depth comparative research with First Nation’s peoples. This includes issues surrounding the differentiated political significance of national population data systems for local Indigenous peoples in their struggles for recognition, and the nuanced processes of population data categorisation that are developed as a result of First Nation’s localised struggles for recognition, respect and rights under processes of European colonisation.

 

Disability and the Global South, 2018, Vol.5, No. 2

Study on the situation of indigenous persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on challenges faced with regard to the full enjoyment of human rights and inclusion in development

UNITED NATIONS
February 2013

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"The study reviews the situation of indigenous persons with disabilities in the enjoyment of their human rights. It looks at the main relevant legal standards - the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - and how those standards interact to protect relevant rights. The study examines some areas in which, according to indigenous persons with disabilities, there is discrimination in the enjoyment of rights, such as political participation, access to justice, education, language and culture, and issues specific to indigenous women and children with disabilities. It is concluded that more attention should be paid to the rights of indigenous persons with disabilities"
E/C.19/2013/6

International expert group meeting on combating violence against indigenous women and girls : article 22 of the United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples

UNITED NATIONS NON-GOVERNMENTAL LIAISON SERVICE (UN-NGLS)
March 2012

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This newsletter presents the main themes and issues that were presented at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues conference. The conference applied a human rights framework to the issue of gender-based violence faced by indigenous women, while contextualizing its global manifestations in the context of States’ responsibilities under international human rights law, as articulated in Article 22.2 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
NGLS e-Roundup
International Expert Group Meeting "Combating violence against indigenous women and girls: Article 22 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples"
Geneva, Switzerland
18-20 January 2012

Ensuring the rights of indigenous children

MILLER, Michael
February 2004

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This Digest details how the rights of indigenous children in both rural and urban areas are often compromised or denied. Specific areas of concern include the rights of indigenous children to survival and development, to good health, to education that respects their cultural identity, to protection from abuse, violence and exploitation, and participation in decision-making processes relevant to their lives. At the same time, however, indigenous children possess special resources as custodians of a multitude of cultures, languages, beliefs and knowledge systems. As this Digest discusses, the most effective initiatives to promote the rights of indigenous children build upon these very elements. Such initiatives recognize the inherent strength of indigenous communities, families and children, respect their dignity and give them full voice in all matters that affect them. The child age group in this report is from 0 - 18, with some areas that focus on early childhood development. For example, the right to birth registration, a name and nationality (p 9), or intercultural initiatives for safe childbirth in Peru (p 15)

Education for all and children who are excluded

BERNARD, Anne
2001

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This thematic study was produced in preparation for the World Education Forum on education for all held in Dakar in Senegal in 2000. The final product was published in 2001 following the Forum. Millions of children are excluded from education through poverty, disability, ethnic difference and gender issues. Two thirds of the 130 million million primary school age children not in school are girls. This report discusses education at all levels from early childhood development through to primary school and secondary school with respect to the most vulnerable groups: girls, children in war, indigenous children, children with disabilities and children with HIV/AIDS. It looks at lessons from good practice and debates the way forward for a more inclusive approach. It is aimed at policy makers and programme makers

Effective learning issues for indigenous children aged 0 - 8 years

MINISTERIAL COUNCIL ON EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING AND YOUTH AFFAIRS
2001

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This is a discussion paper by the Taskforce on Indigenous Education within the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs in Australia. It focuses on the age group 0-8 years, looking at cultural inclusivity within early childhood education in Australia. It summarises advice on early childhood service provision and access, development and learning stages, cultural and linguistic diversity, literacy and numeracy, and the importance of mutual community capacity building. It identifies five issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands children. These are: (i) low levels of access and participation in early childhood education and parental enrichment programmes, (ii) uneven transition from early childhood practices to the primrary school curriculum, (iii) educators needs a better understanding of children's diversity of experience and diverse cultural capital, (iv) educators need a better understanding of how the literacy and numeracy development of children takes place amonst idigenous multi-linguals and (v) educators and parents need to acquire ' transitional cultural comptenencies' to create sense of community between the home and school.

Culturally or contextually appropriate?

SMALE, Jim
Ed
1998

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This edition of Early Childhood Matters is centred on an analysis of culturally relevant approaches in early childhood development undertaken by the Bernard Van Leer Foundation. The objective was to learn from the accumulated experiences of 11 projects. One aim was to explore how projects that work in culturally appropriate ways can pay special attention in their work with children and parents to factors such as language, cultural norms, childrearing practices and family relationships. The second aim was to highlight the ways in which projects working in different contexts handle relationships between cultures. The geographic spread covered Australia, Botswana, Malaysia, The Netherlands, USA, Colombia, Israel and the Palestinian Autonomous region. The chosen projects worked with indigenous peoples in their traditional settings, with migrants and in multi-ethnic environments

World declaration on education for all and framework for action to meet basic learning needs

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTATIVE FORUM ON EDUCATION FOR ALL
1990

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In 1990, delegates from 155 countries, as well as representatives from some 150 organisations agreed at the World Conference on Education for All in Jomtien, Thailand (5-9 March 1990) to universalise primary education and massively reduce illiteracy before the end of the decade. This is the World Declaration on Education for All: Meeting Basic Learning Needs, arising from the conference. Amongst other things, it recalls that education is a human right for all and recognises that traditional knowledge and indigenous cultural heritage have a value and validity in their own right and a capacity to both define and promote development

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