POHNPEI CONSUMER ORGANIZATION
NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US
RAFTIFICATION OF THE CONVENTION OF THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
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The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is a treaty that describes the obligations of ratifying countries to promote, protect, fulfill, and ensure the rights of persons with disabilities. The FSM government has signed this treaty but has yet to ratify it. Ratification of the CRPD would show the serious committment of the FSM government to disability rights. All legislation will need to be disability-inclusive and allow people with disabilities to live their lives like able-bodied people. PCO is lobbying the President of FSM to ratify the CRPD.
ESTABLISHING DISABLED PEOPLE ORGANIZATIONS IN SISTER STATES
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Because the states are separated from each other by a large expanse of water, it can make it difficult for PCO to lobby for the rights of people with disabilities in their own states of Chuuk, Kosrae and Yap. Because PCO and the national government is based in Pohnpei, it means that PCO is focused on advocating on a local and national level. ​PCO is working on establishing Disabled People Organizations in Kosrae, Yap and Chuuk. The new organizations will be able to advocate locally to ensure disabled people of each state are involved in local issues as well as supporting each other in national issues.
DISABILITY INCLUSIVE DISASTER TOOLKIT
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Did you know that approximately 50% of people with disabilities die when there is a natural disaster in developing countries? This is because no one has the resources or skills to help support people with disabilities. Evacuation centres are not accessible to people with disabilities either.
​PCO is working on creating a disability inclusive disaster toolkit for all of Micronesia to use. This means that when natural disasters occur, people with disabilities are supported by their villages and have the same chances of survival as able-bodied people. It will be piloted in a village in Pohnpei with the highest number of people with disabilities.
NATIONAL DISABILITY SURVEY
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Pohnpei Consumer Organization works for their clients and stakeholders who are people with disabilities and their families. We have a fair number of members, but we do not have a complete understanding of the everyday needs and challenges of all Micronesian people with disabilities, and therefore how to advocate for them. To fix this, we are creating a National Disability Survey which will ask people with disabilities about daily living, challenges faced, mobility and access to employment.
We will begin in Pohnpei and then follow through in Yap, Chuuk and Kosrae. The eventual report will outline the major areas that need support and funding. This report will also guide PCO and sister DPOs in advocating for these issues.
PROJECTS
