About

The Bougainville Disabled Persons Organization was formally established in 2019 under the Papua New Guinea Investment Promotion Authority (IPA). It is a not-for-profit organization and currently operates under the care of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Department for Community Development (DCD). 

 

Since its establishment, BDPO has succeeded in:

• Advocating for inclusivity, positive changes and the recognition of the needs of Persons with Disabilities in Bougainville

• Developing and delivering programs that enhance the lives and participation of Persons with Disabilities 

• Establishing itself as a viable entity and expanding the Disability Persons Organizations network of affiliates – partnership – at levels and within current development contexts of Bougainville.

• Creation of legal policy and strategic directions that inform the government for ongoing integration of Disability Rights and inclusive programs in major development programs. 

• Based on a variety of situational and sector analysis – including its policy and constitution – BDPO has identified a list of major action items that provide for continued efforts for addressing a number of key issues, including:

• Stigmatization and lack of support for breaking down barriers and addressing the needs f Persons with Disabilities

• Poor coordination of programs, unreliable inclusive resource allocation or service deliver – negatively affecting the disability sector

• Lack of capacity of Persons with Disabilities and their DPOs

• Lack of effective or widespread communication and networking among responsible Organizations/ agencies. 

 

Based on these factors, the Organization envisages on making Bougainville a better place for Persons with Disabilities to live in and be recognized as having equal rights in all development plans and processes. The undertaking is to advocate the rights of persons with disabilities through creating accessible spaces and opportunities that can enable them to voice their concerns relating to their needs in Bougainville. 

 

Given its standing as the main representative body for the disability sector, the BDPO strongly advocates to represent a total of over 35, 000 people living with different types of impairments throughout Bougainville. A significant percentage of these number are believed to have acquired from the injuries, lack of adequate medical services and the impacts of the decade-long civil unrest. 

 

Little has been known about disability in Bougainville for years and the need for strengthening measures for increased advocacy and awareness in Bougainville is a priority to be achieved.