Disability in Tuvalu

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Tuvalu has been slow to deal with problems that people with a disability face in the country. Since 1978, the government of Tuvalu has been slow to create policy and laws for people with disabilities. In addition, few studies have been done to assess the scope of the issue on the islands. The first comprehensive study of people with disabilities in Tuvalu was done in February 2017. [1]

Contents

Demographics

In 2012, there were 206 people with disabilities in Tuvalu, with the rate of prevalence of disability at 1.9% of the population. [2] Most people with disabilities had a physical disability of some kind with 27.7% having a mental disability. [2] A comprehensive study of people with disabilities in Tuvalu was done in 2017, and they collected 466 in the database for the Fusi Alofa Association (FAA) Tuvalu which is an organisation for people with disabilities. [1]

Policy

Legislation

Tuvalu implemented a mental health policy for the country in 1978. [3] Current law does not prohibit discriminating against people with disabilities in all areas of their lives. [4] There is no law or provisions for accommodating people with disabilities in public spaces. [4] There are no government benefits for people with disabilities in Tuvalu. [5] Tuvalu has tasked its Community Affairs Department in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Rural Development to protect the rights of people with disabilities in the country. [4]

Tuvalu has signed and ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). [6]

Non-Governmental organisations

Before 2010, the Tuvalu Red Cross Society handled issues relating to people with disabilities, in addition to the other services they provided. [7] The Red Cross used a medical model of disability. [8] The organisation provided workshops and gave out wheelchairs and crutches to those who need them. [9] During the 1980s and 1990s, the Red Cross operated a "small educational centre" on Funafuti, which employed two staff to help children with disabilities. [10]

The Fusi Alofa Association (FAA) Tuvalu was created in 2010 and is the only cross-disability organisation working in Tuvalu. [7] FAA Tuvalu was established to promote the rights of persons with disabilities and to give children with disabilities greater opportunities in Tuvalu. [7] Prior to the formation of FAA Tuvalu, there were no services for disabled children in the country. [9] FAA Tuvalu currently operates a school for children with disabilities on Funafuti. [4]

Unique challenges

Even though the island nation is small, transportation for people with physical disabilities can be an issue. [10] In addition, even government buildings may not be accessible to individuals with physical disabilities. [4]

Climate change also is problem that affects all Pacific Island nations and the elderly and people with disabilities are at a greater risk of being affected. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuvalu</span> Country in Oceania

Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is an island country in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean, about midway between Hawaii and Australia. It lies east-northeast of the Santa Cruz Islands, northeast of Vanuatu, southeast of Nauru, south of Kiribati, west of Tokelau, northwest of Samoa and Wallis and Futuna, and north of Fiji.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Tuvalu</span> Overview of the geography of Tuvalu

The Western Pacific nation of Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is situated 4,000 kilometers (2,500 mi) northeast of Australia and is approximately halfway between Hawaii and Australia. It lies east-northeast of the Santa Cruz Islands, southeast of Nauru, south of Kiribati, west of Tokelau, northwest of Samoa and Wallis and Futuna and north of Fiji. It is a very small island country of 26 km2 (10 sq mi). Due to the spread out islands it has the 38th largest Exclusive Economic Zone of 749,790 km2 (289,500 sq mi). In terms of size, it is the second-smallest country in Oceania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Tuvalu</span>

The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesians, so the origins of the people of Tuvalu can be traced to the spread of humans out of Southeast Asia, from Taiwan, via Melanesia and across the Pacific islands of Polynesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Tuvalu</span>

Tuvalu is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia, with a population of 11,192 per the 2017 census. The economy of Tuvalu is constrained by its remoteness and lack of economies of scale. Government revenues largely come from fishing licences ; direct grants from international donors ; and income from the Tuvalu Trust Fund. The lease of its highly fortuitous .tv Top Level Domain (TLD) also contributes revenue. The sale of stamps since the independence of Tuvalu in 1976 has been an important source of revenue for the country and government. However, such revenue has significantly declined in recent years. Tuvalu has hardly any tourism. It has no tour guides, tour operators, or organised activities, and no cruise ships visit.

From 1916 to 1975, Tuvalu was part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony of the United Kingdom. A referendum was held in 1974 to determine whether the Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands should each have their own administration. As a consequence of the referendum, the separate British colonies of Kiribati and Tuvalu were formed. Tuvalu became fully independent as a sovereign state within the Commonwealth on 1 October 1978. On 5 September 2000, Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nanumea</span> Atoll and one of nine districts of Tuvalu

Nanumea is the northwesternmost atoll in the Polynesian nation of Tuvalu, a group of nine coral atolls and islands spread over about 400 miles (640 km) of the Pacific Ocean just south of the equator and west of the International Date Line. Nanumea is 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi) with a population of 512 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuvalu–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Tuvalu – United States relations are bilateral relations between Tuvalu and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Tuvalu</span> Overview of and topical guide to Tuvalu

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Tuvalu:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Tuvalu</span>

Christianity is the predominant religion in Tuvalu, with Calvinism being the single largest denomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funafuti</span> Atoll and one of nine districts of Tuvalu

Funafuti is the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu. It has a population of 6,320 people, and so it has more people than the rest of Tuvalu combined, with approximately 60% of the population. It consists of a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 metres wide, encircling a large lagoon 18 km long and 14 km wide. The average depth of the Funafuti lagoon is about 20 fathoms. With a surface area of 275 square kilometres (106.2 sq mi), it is by far the largest lagoon in Tuvalu. The land area of the 33 islets around the atoll of Funafuti totals 2.4 square kilometres (0.9 sq mi); taken together, they constitute less than one percent of the total area of the atoll. Cargo ships can enter Funafuti's lagoon and dock at the port facilities on Fongafale.

Renewable energy in Tuvalu is a growing sector of the country's energy supply. Tuvalu has committed to sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable energy. This is considered possible because of the small size of the population of Tuvalu and its abundant solar energy resources due to its tropical location. It is somewhat complicated because Tuvalu consists of nine inhabited islands. The Tuvalu National Energy Policy (TNEP) was formulated in 2009, and the Energy Strategic Action Plan defines and directs current and future energy developments so that Tuvalu can achieve the ambitious target of 100% renewable energy for power generation by 2020. The program is expected to cost 20 million US dollars and is supported by the e8, a group of 10 electric companies from G8 countries. The Government of Tuvalu worked with the e8 group to develop the Tuvalu Solar Power Project, which is a 40 kW grid-connected solar system that is intended to provide about 5% of Funafuti’s peak demand, and 3% of the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation's annual household consumption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Tuvalu</span> Emissions, impacts and responses of Tuvalu related to climate change

Climate change is particularly threatening for the long-term habitability of the island country of Tuvalu, which has a land area of only 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi) and an average elevation of less than 2 metres (6.6 ft) above sea level, with the highest point of Niulakita being about 4.6 metres (15 ft) above sea level. Potential threats to the country due to climate change include rising sea levels, increasingly severe tropical cyclones, high temperatures, and drought. King tides can combine with storm surges and the rising sea level to inundate the low lying atolls.

Tuvalu is a small island nation in the South Pacific, located North of Fiji and North West of Samoa. The population at the 2012 census was 10,837. Tuvalu has a written constitution which includes a statement of rights influenced by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. While most human rights in Tuvalu are respected, areas of concern include women’s rights and freedom of belief, as well as diminishing access to human rights in the face of global warming. The latter has played a major role in the implementation of human rights actions in Tuvalu given its geographical vulnerability and scarce resources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Tuvalu drought</span>

The 2011 Tuvalu drought was a period of severe drought afflicting Tuvalu, a South Pacific island country of approximately 10,500 people, in the latter half of 2011. A state of emergency was declared on September 28, 2011; with rationing of available fresh-water. The La Niña event that caused the drought ended in April–May 2012. By August 2012 the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Conditions indicated that the tropical Pacific Ocean was on the brink of an El Niño event.

The Funafuti Conservation Area is a marine conservation area covering 33 square kilometers of reef, lagoon and motu (islets) on the western side of Funafuti atoll in Tuvalu. The marine environment of the conservation area includes reef, lagoon, channel and ocean; and are home to many species of fish, corals, algae and invertebrates. The islets are nesting sites for the green sea turtle and Fualopa hosts a breeding colony of black noddy.

Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) on Funafuti atoll in Tuvalu is the only hospital in the country, and the primary provider of medical services for all the islands of Tuvalu. The hospital is located about 1.3 kilometres north from the centre of Funafuti on Fongafale islet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Tuvalu</span>

Women in Tuvalu continue to maintain a traditional Polynesian culture within a predominantly Christian society. Tuvaluan cultural identity is sustained through an individual's connection to their home island. In the traditional community system in Tuvalu, each family has its own task, or salanga, to perform for the community. The skills of a family are passed on from parents to children. The women of Tuvalu participate in the traditional music of Tuvalu and in the creation of the art of Tuvalu including using cowrie and other shells in traditional handicrafts. There are opportunities of further education and paid employment with non-government organisations (NGOs) and government enterprises, education and health agencies being the primary opportunities for Tuvaluan women.

As in much of Oceania, obesity is a major health issue in Tuvalu with 65% of men and 71% of women being overweight. In 2012 the birth rate on the islands was estimated at 23 per 1,000 people and life expectancy was 65.

Tuvalu National Council for Women (TNCW) is a Tuvaluan national council, which is the umbrella organisation for non-governmental women's rights groups in the country. The TNCW aims to enable gender equity in Tuvalu, through educational campaigns and through resourcing women to be informed about their economic, legal and social rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protected areas of Tuvalu</span> Protected areas in Tuvalu

Protected areas of Tuvalu consist of protected areas located within the central Pacific country of Tuvalu and its territorial waters. One such area is the Funafuti Conservation Area, which is a marine protected area on the western reef area of Funafuti atoll.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 "Tuvalu's disability study from the perspective of a field worker - Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development". Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development. 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  2. 1 2 ESCAP 2012, p. 96.
  3. ↑ "Tuvalu" . Mental Health Atlas: 476–477. 2005 – via EBSCOhost.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 United States Department of State (2016). Tuvalu 2016 Human Rights Report (PDF) (Report). p. 10. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  5. ↑ ESCAP 2012, p. 97.
  6. ↑ "Disability in the Pacific". Pacific Disability Forum. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  7. 1 2 3 PDF & APIDS 2012, p. 2-3.
  8. ↑ PDF & APIDS 2012, p. 11.
  9. 1 2 Government of Tuvalu 2006, p. 46.
  10. 1 2 Price, Penny (1996). "Developing Services in the South Pacific". Beyond Basic Care: Special Education and Community Rehabilitation in Low Income Countries. North York, Ontario: Captus Press. pp. 91–92. ISBN   9780921801955.
  11. ↑ "Fusing tradition and technology to protect communities in Tuvalu". International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Retrieved 2017-12-20.

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