-----Original Message----- From: Dspd Enable [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, March 04, 2011 3:18 AM To: [email protected] Subject: United Nations Enable Newsletter, February 2011
ENABLE NEWSLETTER February 2011 The Enable Newsletter is prepared by the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SCRPD) at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) with input from UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes, as well as from civil society. It is also available on-line at: http://www.un.org/disabilities. In this issue: - Status of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) - Highlights - Upcoming events - Other news STATUS OF THE CONVENTION (CRPD) 99 ratifications of the Convention 147 signatories to the Convention Optional Protocol to the Convention 60 ratifications of the Optional Protocol 90 signatories to the Optional Protocol Togo Ratified the Convention and Optional Protocol on 1 March Romania ratified the Convention on 31 January 2011 Fourth Conference of States Parties to be held from 7-9 September 2011 HIGHLIGHTS Commission for Social Development concludes its 49th session The Commission held its 49th session at UN Headquarters from 9-18 February 2011. The Special Rapporteur on Disability presented his report on the monitoring of the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. The Commission adopted a Resolution on “Further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities and mainstreaming disability in the development agenda.” DESA and the Special Rapporteur on Disability, in collaboration with the Governments of Finland, Germany and Norway, the World Bank and Global Partnership on Disability and Development (GPDD) also held a Panel Discussion on “Mainstreaming Disability in Development for Poverty Eradication” on 10 February. The Panel discussed key issues concerning the inclusion of disability in development, particularly in the context of ongoing global efforts towards poverty eradication with reference to policy framework on disability and development. Participants shared good examples of including disability in development with a view to contributing to successful poverty reduction and development for all. More information: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=47&pid=1550. Promoting education and employment of women and girls with disabilities A panel discussion on STEM: Expanding opportunities for women and girls with disabilities in education and employment was held on 23 February 2011 as a side-event to the 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (22 February - 4 March 2011). The STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) panel discussion was organized by DESA and co-sponsored by the GPDD in collaboration with the Governments of Argentina, the Philippines, and South Africa, as well as civil society organizations. The panelists spoke to the challenges of making education accessible to women and girls with disabilities and noted the lack of guidelines and standards in education. The discussion also highlighted the benefits of inclusive education for women and girls with disabilities, improving access to technology, as well as the challenges of violence against women and girls with disabilities, gender stereotypes, and the link between poverty and disability. More information: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=47&pid=1556. Join in our plans to commemorate the next IDPD We are currently finalizing the theme for the next International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD, 3 December). The United General Assembly provides the mandate and direction for all our work, which is especially important in deciding how the Day is used. The Day aims to promote a better understanding of disability issues with a focus on the rights of persons with disabilities and gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of their communities. With a view to encourage global participation in its commemoration, we would like you to send us your ideas for a theme to commemorate the Day, as well as ideas on how the Day may be commemorated globally. Read the recent General Assembly resolution (A/65/RES/186) on disability to direct your creative thinking. Each year we post innovative and unique commemorative activities from around the world on the United Nations Enable website. Even if we do not use your input this year, it could provide us with ideas for years to come. More information: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=111. 5th session of the CRPD Committee to commence on 11 April The CRPD Secretariat of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is preparing for the fifth session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which will be held from 11 - 15 April 2011 in Geneva. At its fifth session, the CRPD Committee with its extended membership of 18 experts will engage in its first constructive dialogue with the State party Tunisia, as well as adopt a list of issues on Spain's State party report. More information: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/Session5.aspx Interactive panel on disability and international cooperation On 4 March 2011, the Human Rights Council will hold an interactive panel dialogue on the role played by international cooperation for the realization of the CRPD. Expert panelists, including the Special Rapporteur on Disabilities, a representative of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as representatives of civil society and development partnerships will lead the discussions. Their presentations will highlight international cooperation under the CRPD, mainstreaming disability rights in development cooperation and disability in humanitarian assistance. An interactive debate will follow the presentations of the panelists involving Member States, international organizations, civil society organizations and national human rights institutions. More information: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/disability/docs/HRC16_Concept_Paper_Disability_Panel.doc . UNOG Conference Services committed to accessibility For the first time, the UN Offices in Geneva (UNOG) Conference Services, the key body responsible for coordinating the facilities and services of meetings, has committed to providing sign language interpretation and real-time captioning at the interactive panel discussion to be held during the 16th session of the HRC session on 4 March. This is an important step towards increased access for persons with hearing impairments to UN meetings at UNOG. In previous years, OHCHR rather than Conference Services arranged these services and covered these costs. UNICEF appoints Senior Adviser on Children with Disabilities UNICEF has appointed Ms. Rosangela Berman-Bieler as a Senior Adviser on Children with Disabilities, in the Gender, Rights and Civic Engagement Section of the Division of Policy and Practice at their Headquarters in New York. Ms. Berman-Bieler is a Brazilian journalist, publisher and disability rights advocate, who is known internationally for her work on disability issues and participation in the negotiations on the CRPD. She has worked for various international and UN agencies, focusing on disability, inclusive development and poverty alleviation. UNESCAP Publication on disability The UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific has prepared a compilation of disability-related data and information, “Disability at a Glance 2010: A Profile of 36 Countries and Areas in Asia and the Pacific”. Each profile contains 27 indicators that have been grouped according to the following seven subheadings: development indicators, demography and institutional framework, legislative and policy framework, national efforts to promote an inclusive society, financial commitment, and commitment to regional and international instruments on disability. A summary table is included to provide a bird’s-eye view of the information and data available in each country and area with regard to definitions on disability and persons with disabilities, national coordination mechanisms, legislative and policy frameworks and national efforts to promote an inclusive society. More information: http://www.unescap.org/publications/detail.asp?id=1407 General Assembly High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS The United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS to be held at UN Headquarters from 8-10 June 2011, will conduct a comprehensive review of the progress achieved in realizing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. Representatives of non-governmental organizations in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council, civil society organizations and the private sector, will also be included in the list of speakers for the plenary meetings of the High-Level Meeting. More information: http://www.unaids.org/en/aboutunaids/unitednationsdeclarationsandgoals/2011highlevelmeetingonaids/ . General Assembly Civil Society Hearings on HIV/AIDS Prior to the High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, a one day informal interactive hearing with civil society will be chaired by the President of the General Assembly and organized with the active participation of people living with HIV and broader civil society. The objective of the hearing is to create a space where civil society, NGOs and the private sector can interact with Member States and offer input to the comprehensive review process. A summary of the hearing will be issued as a document of the General Assembly prior to the High-Level Meeting. More information: http://www.unaids.org/en/aboutunaids/unitednationsdeclarationsandgoals/2011highlevelmeetingonaids/civilsocietyand2011highlevelmeetingonaids . Disability-inclusive toolkit on gender and international police peacekeeping The United Nations Police Division (UNPOL) is developing a Standardized Best Practices Toolkit on Gender and Policing in Peacekeeping Operations. The Toolkit will provide a repository of templates, concept of operations, standard operating procedures and modules for recruiting female police officers. It will assist police in mentoring national police, community policing and gender, investigating sexual and gender-based violence and gender mainstreaming. The toolkit will be developed in consultation with various UN agencies and will include specific sections with a view to address the rights, needs and concerns of women and girls with disabilities in post-conflict and peacekeeping activities of the UNPOL. More information: http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/sites/police/initiatives/globaleffort.shtml UN Women to strengthen its work on women with disabilities The recently created UN Women will expand its partnerships with the private sector and others to further include women with disabilities. Ms. Michelle Bachelet, the new Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the organization, highlighted women with disabilities in her speech at the opening of the First Regular Session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) on 24 January 2011. In her statement, she recognized that since much of the work of UN Women will be to stimulate and support others to do what needs to be done, UN Women will build partnerships with Governments and civil society, with parliamentarians and community based leaders, targeting groups that are most excluded, including women with disabilities. To read Ms. Bachelet’s entire statement, please visit: http://www.unwomen.org/2011/01/statement-to-the-first-regular-session-of-the-executive-board-united-nations-entity-for-gender-equality-and-the-empowerment-of-women/ UPCOMING EVENTS (We welcome your contribution and information on key international disability events for inclusion in the list below) 4 March: Panel Discussion on International Cooperation in Rights Protection of Persons with Disabilities (See above for details) 4-6 March: World Handicapped Symposium & Workshop World Handicapped Union Symposium and workshop organized by Government of Turkey and World Handicapped Foundation. More information: http://www.worldhandicappedsymposium2011.org/default.asp?page=programme 8 March: International Women's Day In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating 8 March as International Women's Day. The theme for 2011 is "Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women". More information: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd. For more information on Women and Girls with Disabilities: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=13&pid=1514. 8 April: General Assembly Civil Society Hearing on HIV/AIDS (See above) 11 - 15 April: 5th session of Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (See above for details) 18 - 19 April: Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities Entitled, “Humanity: Advancing Inclusion, Equality and Diversity”, the Conference has sixteen topic areas, pre and post conference forums, including the International Forum on the Rights of People with Disabilities. The Conference will provide an opportunity for dialogue and an exchange of best practices, research, methodology, and advocacy initiatives in disability. A call for academic proposals has also been issued. More information: http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/emailtemplate. 8 - 10 June: High-level meeting on HIV/AIDS (See above for details) 26 June: 9th Annual Hope and Possibility Race Organized by Achilles International each year in New York City’s Central Park, this five-mile race for able-bodied and athletes with disabilities draws celebrities, volunteers, supporters and spectators to join in a celebration of the human spirit. More information: http://www.achillesinternational.org/news/hope-and-possibility 3 - 8 July: 5th IDP Africa Forum: Access Africa The 5th IDP-Institutional Development Forum will focus on how the power of technology can advance equality and rights of persons who are blind and partially sighted. Participants will include Government ministries, international organizations, parents, persons who are blind and partially sighted, representatives from organizations of and for the blind, universities and vendors, and sponsors of assistive technology. More information: http://www.perkins.org/international-programs/localexpertise/idp.html#Access_Africa_The_5th_IDP_Africa_Forum . 18 – 20 July: International Conference on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Seri Mengasih Centre is an NGO for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. This year they will be celebrating their 30th anniversary and will be organizing jointly with Universiti Malaysia Sabah an International Conference as above with the theme "Growing with Hope and Dignity", with a view of progress in the next 30 years. More information: http://serimengasih.org/icidd-2011/. 18 - 24 July: XVI World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf This first-ever WFD Congress in Africa will be held in Durban, South Africa. The Congress will bring together activists, professionals and interest groups to share their experiences, knowledge and expertise to be used for welfare and improving the human rights of Deaf people in Africa and around the world. It will also be a time to review achievements through the implementation of the CRPD. More information: http://www.wfd2011.com/information/letter.html. 7 - 9 September: Fourth Conference of States Parties to the CRPD The next Conference of States Parties will be held at UN Headquarters in New York from 7-9 September 2011. More information will be posted on the Enable website at http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1535. 19 - 24 September: 6th FATO International Seminar African Federation of Orthopaedic Technologists (FATO) International Congress to be held in Arusha, Tanzania on September 2011, will be the first of its kind in English-speaking East Africa. More information: http://fatoafrique.org/en/ or email: [email protected]. 10 – 13 October: Disabled People’s International 2011 8th World Assembly DPI’s 8th World Assembly to be held in Durban, South Africa on 10-13 October 2011. The theme of the Assembly is “Disability United Movement in creating a society for all through the UN Disability Convention and the Millennium Development Goals.” For more information: http://www.dpi2011.co.za/ OTHER NEWS (The information below is provided by the non-governmental disability community and other entities for informational purposes only. This does not constitute endorsement of, or an approval by, the United Nations of any of the products, services, or opinions of the organization or individual. The United Nations bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of their statements and opinions.) Civil society notes the increase in mainstreaming of disability in reports to the HRC An analysis by the civil society organization, the International Disability Alliance (IDA) notes that the Secretary-General, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - including Special Procedures mandate holders - and other human rights mechanisms such as the HRC Advisory Committee have increasingly mainstreamed disability into reports submitted to the Human Rights Council (HRC). The rights of children and women with disabilities were specifically mentioned in several HRC reports and other documents. These references were made to persons with physical disabilities, as well as persons with mental and intellectual disabilities. This increased referencing is a positive development, particularly given the relative lack of references to persons with disabilities in the work of human rights mechanisms prior to adoption of the CRPD. However, greater efforts are needed to mainstream the rights of persons with disabilities into Human Rights Council reports and resolutions. Particular attention must be given to the terminology used, as it has not always been in line with the CRPD. More information: http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org. Fostering partnerships to empower persons with disabilities Project SEARCH is a programme for training and employing people with disabilities, a model that has been replicated in over 150 hospitals, Government agencies and businesses across the United States and around the world. The Project was the vision and innovation of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, an academic medical center. Using a collaborative approach, the model fosters partnerships between business, education, vocational rehabilitation, long-term supported employment agencies, and community rehabilitation providers (CRPs). Together, these organizations along with input from persons with disabilities, their families and caregivers, as well as Government agencies, implement a self-sustainable programme model. Project SEARCH will be hosting its Fifth Annual International Conference in Minneapolis (MN, USA) from 11-15 July 2011. The Conference serves as an opportunity to convene the Project's international network of partners for education, training, and shared learning, so that new and existing programme sites can execute the Project SEARCH model to its fullest potential. More information: http://www.projectsearch.us. Declaration for action on monitoring the rights of persons with disabilities Representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities from five countries in the African region (Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda), as well as representatives from regional organizations of persons with disabilities, national human rights institutions, university research institutes, the Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (SADPD), the International Disability Alliance (IDA), and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) participated in the workshop to develop capacity in monitoring the human rights of persons with disabilities and to use the information collected to achieve change. The workshop was held from 24 January to 2 February 2011 in Kigali, Rwanda and prepared a declaration which states that there is need to conduct holistic monitoring on the implementation of the CRPD in all African countries, and that persons with disabilities should be at the forefront of the monitoring process. More information: http://www.yorku.ca/drpi/files/KigaliDeclaration2011.pdf Promoting the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights is currently undertaking a project on the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities and persons with mental health problems. The project aims to better understand how the fundamental rights of persons with mental health problems and persons with intellectual disabilities are safeguarded in the EU and where violations of rights occur. Although persons with intellectual disabilities and persons with mental health problems are two distinct groups of individuals, stigma commonly effects both. This often leads to social exclusion, discrimination and barriers to full and equal participation in society. More information: http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/research/projects/proj_disability_en.htm In November 2010, the Agency also published the report on "Political participation of persons with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems". More information: http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/research/publications/publications_per_year/pub-vote-disability_en.htm . Training courses in disability and development The organization Enablement from the Netherlands will be conducting courses in 2011 on disability and rehabilitation management, Training of Trainers (TOT) course in CBR, disability and HIV-AIDS for disability activists, leaders of organizations of persons with disabilities, CBR practitioners and personnel of mainstream organizations with an interest in disability. Its specific strengths are in the areas of policy development, applied research and training in disability and development. More information: http://ww.enablement.nl and htp://www.cbrtraining.com or email [email protected]. CONTACT INFORMATION Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SCRPD), Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations. Mailing address: 2 UN Plaza, DC2-1306, New York, NY 10017, USA. 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