Plan of Action 2007-2011
The following priority themes take their outset in
The
EBU Strategic plan for 2008-2011 (items 26-31)
The previous work and Plan of Action for the past term
Recommendations made in the Commission report to the 7th General Assembly
Ongoing discourses and issues highlighted on the development scene of
interest for organizations and other stakeholders dealing with visual
impairment in a development context.
The recommendations and resolutions contained in the two documents that
were provided after the 3rd Development Conference, Madrid 2006.
We assume as a precondition that issues related to Central- and Eastern
European countries - although very important and surely with strong
connotations to the development world problem complex - will be attended to
by a forum different from the Development Commission and, hence, that the
EBU Strategy plan, items 28 and 29 are considered outside our remit.
1. To strive towards support to stimulate the establishment of new organisations of the blind, where such do not exist, and strengthening of
existing but weak organisations. This should include devising ways of
supporting a policy towards the provision of basic facilities that meet
requirements enabling the organisations to become fully functional.
2. To encourage more EBU Organisations to become involved in development
work, if conducive, through mentoring and twinning arrangements with more
experienced organisations within the EBU. In promoting the development issue
within the EBU, the Commission will consider and where suitable take actions
to make itself and development work more visible.
3. In promoting and strengthening organisations of the blind, assistance
should be considered to improve the communication flow and co-ordination
amongst leaders and resource persons within regional unions including
African Union of the Blind. In putting focus on improved communication, duly
consideration should be made not only to technical issues such as the
availability of mainstream and compensating (assistive) equipment and
software, but also to the acquisition of general skills of a personal nature
on the part of the leaders and resource persons to be able to utilize the
facilities adequately and effectively.
4. To assist blind and partially sighted people through their organisations
and other relevant stakeholders to benefit from mainstream health care
programmes which, amongst others, aim at combating and informing about HIV /
AIDS and to inform about eye care and the prevention of eye diseases.
5. To mainstream and update the page on affordable technical devices and
equipment on the Euroblind Website and to investigate the possibility of
providing the information in languages other than English, such as French,
Spanish and Portuguese. In examining the options, the Commission will take a
closer look on the pros and cons in recycling equipment in order to provide
low cost but appropriately modern equipment for the performance of effective
communication.
6. To act as a general forum for exchange of experience and information and,
within this forum, investigate ways by which the Commission can promote the
results and potentials identified during the EBU 3rd Development Conference
held in October 2006 in order to mainstream development issues that are
particular to visually impaired persons in order to multiply the work
towards improved equal rights and opportunities. This areas of work will
also include expanding ways of making the work and the needs and outcomes
known widely within the European blind movement.
The Commission sees the above points as its priority focus points and will
seek ways of concretizing action points and, within the framework of the
commission's opportunities with regards to manpower resources and available
funding, set up concrete goals and means to reach these goals as well as
bench marks indicators to measure success.
The commission is mindful of cross-cutting issues such as
Gender balance considerations
The need to ensure that blind and severely partially sighted are equally
benefitting from the work undertaken
That diversity in other aspects are also taken into consideration and
That cooperation and collaboration with other EBU bodies is utilized in
order to ensure that expertise is brought into play and synergy is created
to the largest extent.
On behalf of the EBU Development Commission
John Heilbrunn
Commission Chair