1. Promoting good practices to reach personal mobility of persons with disabilities in the metropolitan area of Guatemala COLECTIVO VIDA INDEPENDIENTE DE GUATEMALA EL COLECTIVO

2. The Problem In the metropolitan area of Guatemala, live about 3 million people. Public transportation is not accessible to persons with reduced mobility and the safety and comfort of pedestrian are threatened. The authorities do not follow the national or international laws concerned with accessibility of any kind.

3. General Objective of the project: Contribute to the enjoyment of the rights of people with disabilities through improved personal mobility and accessibility in the metropolitan area of the department of Guatemala.

4. The specific Objective: Our aim is to influence the authorities of three municipalities in the metropolitan area of the Department of Guatemala, so that they will increase their commitment to gradually incorporate the norms of accessibility in the plans and local policies concerning constructed environment and transportation. Our purpose is to develop advocacy activities, information and promotion of the human rights of Personas with disabilities in a basis of the knowledge on best practices in accessible transportation in Latin America.

5. Methodology: The project follows the Making it work methodology (MIW):

6. A Study of Good practices in accessible transportation, by documenting Good practices in other Latin American cities like; Bogotá, San José, Quito y Curitiba. The good practices have been collected, according to three selected criteria: good legislation or policies; good DPO participation and political advocacy results; and good technical solutions. The recommendations will be published in a final document, directed to the municipal authorities of three municipalities in the metropolitan area.

7. Our allies: Advocacy process for the improvement of Guatemala Citys public transportation has been continuous since 2004: DPOs and human rights NGOs in CPAT alliance. During this process, the CPAT alliance has broadened with new DPOs, and an umbrella womens rights organization (Sector de Mujeres).

8. Advocacy: The study on good practices is the base of our advocacy activities with the local authorities. Other DPOs and civil society organizations are our allied in this process in which we organize lobbying and information meetings, Press conferences and a final forum. In the end of the project we hope to achieve written agreements with the municipal authorities to strengthen their commitment with the disabled people.

9. Silvia Judith Quan Chang silvia.quan@gmail.com El Colectivo Vida Independiente de Guatemala elcolectivovidaindependiente@gmail.com