4.7.3 Exclusion
In all case studies the national PRS process first ignored the issue of disability and people with disabilities; only after considerable efforts in terms of participation and consultation of DPOs were the relevant issues finally addressed. In Honduras, Bangladesh and Tanzania, the responsible persons genuinely seemed to be interested in the topic or were even ashamed that disability had been forgotten; this made recognition of the issue much easier. In Sierra Leone, however, representatives showed no interest in civil society participation, although this simply reflected a larger problem with the whole PRS process. In general, stakeholders from most countries complained that the process had not been very transparent and for a long time little or nothing was known; stakeholders felt that they had not always been invited to consultations or other related events.
Exclusion through foreign language
In many cases it is difficult for local DPOs and NGOs to access the PRS process, because most information is only available in a foreign language (usually English or French) and not in the local/national language. Therefore it is highly recommended to invest in the translation of relevant documents and to produce easy-to-read material. In Bangladesh, for example, the position document of the disability stakeholders was summarised on three pages and translated into Bangla.
