4.1.4 Results
Nearly all the suggestions made by Handicap International and CIARH were included in Honduras’ PRSP. However, people with disabilities were not given the same attention as ethnic minorities, for example, although they comprise more or less the same percentage within the population. The Honduran PRSP of 2002 is the only PRSP to have its own chapter on people with disabilities (see ILO, 2002, p. 16), recognising people with disabilities as a specific poverty risk group (see Government of Honduras, 2002, p. 18 – while this chapter was already included in the PRSP when Handicap International /CIARH made their assessment, they did suggest some modifications). Regarding the envisaged results of the 2002 PRSP, the planned establishment of a National Information System on people with disabilities has not taken place because of a lack of funds and pressure by the DPOs. In addition, the establishment of a National Disability Council to coordinate disability policies, and the formation of a Technical Unit for integrated rehabilitation, have both not taken place, even though the law establishing these entities was published in October 2005. The coordination bodies on disability have however strongly lobbied on this item, and the new General Direction of Development for persons with disabilities will probably start functioning at the beginning of 2008. Such an institutionalisation of disability issues is a key factor in creating effective and broad policies (see Bonnel, 2004, p. vi). Furthermore, people with disabilities are included in social protection measures, prevention, care and rehabilitation programmes. Disability was also considered in the IMF and World Bank Joint Staff Assessment (JSA), which shows that both institutions recognise the importance of the issue (see ILO, 2002, p.20). The progress reports detail the initial implementation steps that have already been taken: “the National Policy on Preventing Disabilities and the Comprehensive Care and Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons and Protecting their Rights and Responsibilities has been approved". However, in practice no implementation has taken place.
Currently disability organisations are able to apply for Poverty Reduction Fund projects, which has an overall budget allocated to disability organisations of 6 million Lempiras (USD 315,000). This designation of funds can be seen as a positive result, although it is far from being a transversal approach to including disability in all poverty reduction measures. Some DPOs consider it more feasible to obtain financing through the municipalities than by influencing national policy.
