5.2 Profile of Non-governmental Organizations of/ for Persons with Disabilities

DPA is a voluntary organization whose main role is to advocate for the rights and promotion of the rights and abilities of people with disability. It was formally established in 1999 to specifically look at implementing actions during the Asian and pacific Decade of Persons with Disability 1993 ﾖ 2002.

The VSDP was established in 1986 and is a community based rehabilitation organization, which reaches out to people with disability in their own communities. They are a service provider providing assessment, rehabilitation, referrals, awareness and training to individuals, family members and the community.

VANDISPORTS is a national organization which encourages the participation of people with disabilities in sports and physical activities. It is a voluntary organization which was established in 1997.

The Christian Blind Mission, through its regional office in Manila, Philippines and its international headquarters in Germany currently provides administrative funding for the operations of the Vanuatu Society of Disabled People.

DPI is an international cross-disability, self-help, human rights organization of people with disabilities, which was founded in 1981. DPI works to promote and achieve the goal of human rights of disabled people with full participation in society, equality of opportunities and self-directed developments of person with disabilities as its major objectives. DPI has been granted advisory status with UNESCO, WHO and ILO of the United Nations.

Save the Children Australia has been working in Vanuatu since 1984 particularly in the areas of primary and village-based health care, community development and education and child rights training and advocacy. Save the Children is a non-profit, non governmental, non sectarian organization dedicated to upholding the rights reflected in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

UNICEF has established a sub-regional office in Port Vila and is currently funding CBR development through training materials and travel expenses for fieldworkers of the Vanuatu Society of Disabled People.