ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Finland’s international cooperation, the roles of key disability activists and their cooperation in global transnational advocacy for the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities. The analysis utilizes literature and personal interviews with key informants on international disability rights and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ (MFA’s) role in this area. Finland has a long history of a strong disability movement, which has been largely led by organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs). Finnish disability activists have advocated for their governments to respect and protect the rights of persons with disabilities and to mainstream disability inclusion in government-funded international cooperation. Transnational disability advocacy networks have further increased awareness and support for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in international cooperation. This chapter showcases examples of transnational disability advocacy networks between individual activists as well as with government donors and international organizations. The chapter goes on to explore the strengths and weaknesses of negotiation-based, confrontation-based and cooperation-based modalities of advocacy. The authors argue that in transnational advocacy networks, pre-conditions for cooperation-based advocacy between disability activists and the government include a large and matured space for civil society and by the duty-bearer’s democratic approach to power.
