This project seeks, in an innovative manner, to take advantage of a unique constellation of opportunities and incentives currently in SEE countries, that would enable them to fulfill international obligations pertaining to the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, significantly converge on a key area of EU policy and the Acquis, and deliver both social and economic benefits to the region.
The opportunities are both to decisively promote e-Accessibility and to help create an enabling environment for access to online public services (e-Services) to poor people and marginalised communities; while the incentives come from the obligations of the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the EU Acquis recently extended to these areas, and the offer of additional EU funding across a number of programmes and policies.
Building on the existing e-SEE Agenda+ and the region-wide network of experienced e-Leaders, with several years experience working together, and moving decisively towards supporting the implementation of actual policies and actions within and between SEE countries, the Project responds to the need to:
Create an enabling environment for e-services and assistive technologies for poor and marginalized communities, through:
- Activity1: e-Accessibility – Improve experience of people with disabilities through enhancing government commitment and supporting e-Accessibility activities;
- Activity2: e-Services – Provide links, networks, resources and practical tools to make e-Services accessible in SEE countries;
- Activity3: Accessible e-SEE Initiative – To integrate e-Accessibility within the wider e-SEE Initiative and continue supporting regional agenda through the e-SEE Secretariat.
This project is a part of SEE Governments, Regional Cooperation Council and UNDP cooperation in fostering democratic governance and social inclusion as precondition for attainment of national Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
This Semi-Annual Project Report describes project achievements in detail, outlines implementation challenges addressed in the period from 01 Jan 2012 to 31 July 2012, summarizes lessons learnt during the year, and makes recommendations towards the future advancement and development of the project.
National Agency for Information Society, Albania; Ministry of Communication and Transport, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Central Administrative Office for e-Croatia, Croatia; Ministry of Information Society and Administration, FYROM; Ministry for Information Society, Moldova; Ministry for Information Society, Montenegro; Ministry of Ministry of Communications and Information Society, Romania; Digital Agenda, Serbia; Ministry of Communication and Transport, Kosovo*
* “This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.”