Description of the organization:

The Union of Disabled People’s Organizations (UDPO) is a local Azerbaijani NGO that unites 41 local NGOs functioning with the purpose of supporting people with disabilities (PWD).

The main goal of UDPO is to coordinate the activities of the member disabled people’s organizations (DPOs), advocating for their interests and goals.

Our vision: inclusive society with established equal rights and equal opportunities for all.

Our mission: stimulate provision of equal rights and opportunities in Azerbaijani society by supporting activities of civil society organizations, which unite people with disabilities and operate in this field. 

The UDPO’s major targets groups are people with disabilities and local DPOs working with disability issues. Therefore, the organization works to:

-  Coordinate activities of Azerbaijani DPOs for the solution of disability problems;

-  Support participation and representation of member DPOs in various activities;

 - Represent and promote goals and interests of member DPOs;

-  Provide capacity building and institutional development of member DPOs;

-  Promote the transparency and sustainability of the activities of member DPOs.

-  Protect and provide rights of PWDs (education, employment, social assistance, etc.);

-  Strengthen organizational capacities of the member NGOs;

-  Create and maintain statistic database about PWDs;

-  Improve accessibility of public infrastructure and buildings for PWDs;

-  Advocate for better legislation for advancing social and economic rights and the quality of life of PWDs;

-  Provide equal access to various services for PWDs.

The organization has UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status since 2019.

UDPO is member of international organisations such as:

World Disability Union (WDU), European Disability Forum (EDF), International Union of Organizations People with Disability (IUOPD), European Network of Independent Living (ENIL), Member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, Member of The Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities for UN SDG.   

UDPO is member of local coalitions such as:

Azerbaijan National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, Member of the Government-Civil Society Dialogue Platform for the Promotion of the Open Government, Member of the Expert Commission under the Ombudsman, of the Public Council under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection  of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Commission

• Participated in preparation of drafts of laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities", "On Public Associations", "On Non-Governmental Organizations (Public Unions and Funds)", "On Social Order" and "National Action Program for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (for 2010-2014 and 2014-2018).

• Developed “Regulations on creation of activity and living conditions important for people with disabilities and other people with limited mobility in the development of drafts of buildings and facilities”

• Prepared parallel report on the Universal Periodic Review (2011)

• Prepared and presented alternative report on “Convention on the Rights of  People with Disabilities” of  UN.(2013, 2014, 2018, 2019)

UDPO was a member of UNDP and EU run program named “Strengthening civil society participation in gender sensitive implementation of SDGs in Azerbaijan” in 2018-2020.

UDPO has extensive experience in the area of promotion of accessible environment for persons with disabilities and other persons with limited mobility both in the frame of funded projects and also within consulting local organizations for accessibility works in the Palace after Heydar Aliyev in Baku, Culture Center in Sumgayit, Regional Culture Center in Lankaran and other places.

A number of projects in the field of creating an accessible environment have been implemented in collaboration with Universal Design - Disability Adaptation Equipment LLC.

Projects implemented in the last 3 years are:

• January – December 2020 Decent Employment for All. Develop inclusive labor markets in Azerbaijan for promotion of equal employment opportunities and inclusive workplace environment for PWD. Funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland 25 000 Euro

• March 2019 – June 2020 Lankaran city – Happy city accessible for all. Improving accessibility of Lankaran city and making national urban planning and development disability inclusive and accessible. Public awareness about accessibility for all and SDGs. EU funded and partially UNDP funded 83 649 USD

• April – October 2019 Legal Assistance for people with disabilities in rural locations in Guba, Ismayilly and Barda districts/To increase practical knowledge of people with disabilities and their families on the legal rights. Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, managed by CRRC Georgia and Eurasia Partnership Foundation. 9293 Euro

• Apr – Oct 2019 - Support for Accessible Tourism. Baku, Khachmaz, Lankaran, Sumgayit. To raise knowledge of hotel workers about accessibility and prepare and promote accessible hotel model. Funded by the State Support Council for NGOs of Azerbaijan Republic, 8000 AZN.

• Apr-Oct 2018 - Support for adaptation of environment to the needs of persons with disabilities. Baku and regions. Preparation of Guide book on accessibility of public buildings in Baku for people with disabilities.  Funded by the State Support Council for NGOs of Azerbaijan Republic, 7000 AZN.

• 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 Independent monitoring and evaluation of projects implemented in the field of social services. Funded by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population, each year 10 000 AZN- Activities and service quality of rehabilitation centers for children with disabilities functioning in the regions of Azerbaijan with financial support of the Ministry were monitored and evaluated and the reports were prepared and submitted.

• 2018, 2019, 2020 Preparation of alternative reports about implementation of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in Azerbaijan. Funded by UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, International Disability Alliance. In 2013 UDPO presented the report in Geneva in OHCHR HQ. In 2014 UDPO presented the report in OHCHR HQ.

For all projects: http://udpo.az/category.php?lang=2&main=22&content=253

For more information about UDPO www.udpo.az