The National Capital District Diffabilities (Different-Abilities) Advocacy Agency (NCD DAA) is one of the established Organizations for Persons with Different-Abilities/disabilities (OPD), that operates in the National Capital District within Port Moresby, the capital city of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The NCD DAA was incepted in 2008 followed by a review of its establishment in 2013 where an executive committee was elected to manage its operations. The NCD DAA then went through an organizational reform and restructure process to have all compliance systems in place to be able to manage and receive funding, and to have paid positions for staff members, and implement advocacy and disability inclusion integrated programs for the PWD population living within Port Moresby, the capital city of PNG.

Although there is little reliable statistical evidence in PNG, Small scale research in PNG and the World Health Organization reports tends to support this assertion estimation that more than 1,000,000 people in PNG or 15% of the total population are affected by disability as a result of poor birth support, high accident rate, dietary deficiency, untreated diseases and a lack of knowledge of preventative measures. This estimation means that about 15% of the total population of people living within NCD are PWDs. PNG traditional cultures’ social safety net system has provided support for PWD’s in the past; however, with a global shift to socio-economic society, PWD’s have been pushed to the periphery of society and most often neglected by their families. Based on individual experiences of PWDs who have acquired their disability condition through congenital or accident, they face daily discrimination, stigmatisation and are marginalised in accessing mainstream services. Persons with disabilities lack access to basic and quality education, better primary health care, employment opportunities and other basic services. Their social interaction with peers and others is also limited.

The cycles of poverty for PWDs are related due to lack of rehabilitation and varying support needs for a PWD to gain a meaningful employment leading to a PWD without job, becoming poor and unable to get good nutritious meals leads to poverty dragging his or her family into this cycle. The worlds’ poorest people are PWDs that causes poverty and poverty causes disabilities. These are the issues that needs to be addressed as a developmental human rights issue, which will require Government commitment as well as all other sectors and individuals because impairment or disability will happen to anyone. Therefore, disability is not a person’s tragedy but rather the barriers exemplified by the environment, society and people attitudes causes’ disability.

Despite the disability sector being one of the challenging development focus area globally, regionally, nationally and locally, NCD DAA managed to progress on voluntary basis as the mandated representative organization of Persons With Different-abilities/disabilities (PWD) over the years in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities/Different-abilities (UNCRPD) that was ratified by the PNG government in 2013. The UNCRPD Article 4.3. states that: In the development and implementation of legislation and policies to implement the present Convention, and in other decision-making processes concerning issues relating to PWDs, the government shall closely consult with and actively involve PWDs through their representative organizations like the NCD DAA. In line with the 10 year National Policy on Disability 2015-2025, and the pending Disability Bill, NCD DAA is the mandated representative organization for PWDs and therefore is now working towards bridging the government policy gap to have an established institutional integrated structured arrangement with the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) and the three Districts within NCDC to enable the effective participation and representation of the PWD population in NCDC.

Benson Tegia,
Operations Manager, NCDDAA:

"As the representative mouth piece and voice of PWDs in NCD, NCD-DAA knows too well and has experienced today's plight of people with disabilities/different-abilities, as they continue to struggle to participate in matters associated with private and public life. Many are roaming the risky streets of Port Moresby in-search of somewhere to even rest and eat, and in the process are abused and discriminated against on a daily basis."

"The overall government system responsible for the disability sector has become deeply stagnant with empty promises leading to poverty, neglect and discrimination. Sadly the responsible agencies, like the Department of Community Development, our own NCDC and the three District's Development Authorities (DDAs) have been operating without considering the plight of the estimated 15% PWD's populous in NCD. There is also a lack in cohesion with front-line agencies like NCD-DAA to be an agent for change by being a voice for PWD's at the decision-making table. Through this collaborative approach through technical or funding support, improvements to the quality of life for PWD's may occur, making NCD a truly Inclusive City to call home."