This Commission promotes and coordinates efforts towards assisting blind and partially sighted people in developing countries.
Special priority is given to the establishment and strengthening of organisations of the visually disabled.
The Commission also explores other ways of assisting visually handicapped in developing countries - e.g. promotion of work in the fields of rehabilitation, braille production, technical aids, etc.
Membership list 2003-2007
Chair : John Heilbrunn (Denmark)
Vice-chair : Christian Hugentobler (Switzerland)
Board representative : Vaclav Polasek
Members :
Italy : Giuseppe Terranova
Norway : Arnt Holte
Portugal : José Antonio Esteves Correia
Spain : Rafael Gonzalez
United Kingdom : Christopher Friend
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Terms of reference 2003-2007
1. Consistently with the EBU constitution, EBU policies as laid down by the general assembly, and the instructions of the Board, the primary duties for the Commission to carry out are :
1.1 To cooperate with others with similar objectives in the setting up of national organisations of blind and partially sighted people in developing countries where they do not exist.
1.2 To assist and strengthen national organisations of blind and partially sighted people in developing countries so as to enable them to establish the rights of their members to education, rehabilitation, vocational training, employment, and the enjoyment of political and leisure activities.
1.3 To assist with the administration of the African Union of the Blind Solidarity Trust Fund and to administer the EBU Fund for Developing Countries.
1.4 To promote a culture of equality and diversity within EBU by making sure the interests and needs of particular groups of blind and partially sighted people in developing countries are addressed adequately.
2. As soon as possible after the beginning of the work period, the Board will provide the Chairperson of the Commission with a copy of the Board's Strategic Plan and of the EBU Equality Policy Paper "Towards a Culture of Equality".
3. Having considered the ways in which it can assist in achieving the objectives set in the Board's Strategic Plan and the EBU Equality Policy Paper "Towards a Culture of Equality", the Commission will immediately prepare its plan of action for the work period. Such plan of action must be consistent with the Board's Strategic Plan, and must be submitted to the Board for approval. The Commission may, during the work period, refer further matters to the Board for consideration, advice and, if appropriate, action.
4. In its plan of action, the Commission may propose the setting up of ad hoc subgroups to facilitate its work by carrying out specified tasks. Such proposal may not be acted upon until approved by the Board.
5. The Board may, during the work period, refer further matters to the Commission for consideration, advice, and, if appropriate, action.
6. In no circumstances does the Commission or any of its members have authority to make any commitment on behalf of EBU without the prior approval of the Board.
7. In carrying out its work, the Commission will comply strictly with the rules set out in the Status and Guidelines for EBU Commissions and Working Groups (revised January 2004).
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Plan of action 2003-2007
In its work for the quadrennium 2004-2007, the Commission will as its main point of departure follow the guidelines given in the Terms of Reference. According to this document, the commission shall endeavour to:
- Stimulate and/or act as a role model to the effect that an increasing number of countries within the European Blind Union are represented through their service delivery or self-help organisations targeting visually impaired to improve the situation and – if at all possible – enter into partnership with organisations in developing countries aiming at improving the plight for their members. Such partnership-activities or commitment otherwise may take place through making available resources as funds, manpower, or in kind.
- Serve as a forum for exchange of information, means of co-ordination in order to get the maximum of given resources and avoid duplication.
- Stimulate innovative and important activities through the available funding possibilities, if at all possible through twinning of resources.
Apart from the above main scope of the commission, it will in all ways adhere to the principles of diversity and equality and ensure that both sexes benefit from any programme or activity initiated by the commission. It will likewise be aware of the need to benefit blind as well as partially sighted and – if at all applicable - all age groups and language zones.
Whenever possible, information sharing or usage of competence from other EBU Commissions or external resources will be utilised.
During this quadrennium the following areas will enjoy special focus:
1. Work towards development of new organisations of the blind where such do not exist and strengthening existing but weak organisations. This should include supporting a policy towards the provision of basic facilities to meet requirements to enable the organisations to become fully functional.
2. The commission will utilise available funding to promote a process which will enable blind and partially sighted to benefit from mainstream programmes to combat and inform about issues related to HIV/AIDS. Priority should be given to activities to promote, bring together, and raise the profile regarding the need to make available information material – written as well as practical – targeting HIV/AIDS in Africa, and wherever possible in other continents.
3. Assist in improving the communication flow and co-ordination amongst leaders and resource persons in the African Union of the Blind.
4. The possibilities to seek external funding, be it from the European Union or otherwise, will be explored to fund activities and projects, including a European Development Conference within the European Blind Union.
5. The Commission attaches great significance to the African Decade of Disabled Persons and will monitor the process and development thoroughly and seek to support any development to the benefit of organisations of the blind on the African continent.
To adhere with the principle of diversity and equality, the commission will ensure that wherever action is promoted to benefit one community of blind people wherever it might be, it should be ensured that the lessons leant lead to the development of replicable models to be implemented in other parts of the world where the same need exists.
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Plan of action 1999-2003
Adopted by the Commission at its meeting in Rome on June 16-18 2000
1.To exchange information on all items related to the work of Commission members, their organisations or any other operation
relevant to the field of development. Examples might be
programme activities, workshops, training and funding possibilities or
manuals.
2.To explore and, if at all possible, make operational various types
of funding from the European Union or any other relevant source to
promote partnerships and twinning amongst European blind
organisations.
3.To implement the recommendation set forth in the EBU Plan of Action (item 4.2) on a
European Conference on development issues, with item 2 above in mind as a possible source of funding.
The conference should take place in 2001 or 2002,
depending on deadlines for submission of project proposals and for
payment of grants.
4.
To give priority to activities that will ensure unity and
transparency, co-operation and respect of representative bodies of
the blind in Africa, and which are designed to develop organisations
of the blind. The Commission should also give priority to activities
that promote co-operation between such organisations, other
relevant agencies and any specifically designed programme in this
area.
5.
To carry out the quadrennial European survey on development
work specifically targeting visually impaired persons.
6.
With due respect to EBU General Assembly 1999 resolutions 8
and 9, the principles therein should be promoted and a dialogue
should be strengthened regarding information
technology for the visually impaired and the quality of teaching and
training especially in integrated settings.
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