-----Original Message----- From: Dspd Enable [mailto:ena...@un.org] Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 3:09 AM To: enab...@un.org Subject: United Nations Enable Newsletter, October 2010
ENABLE NEWSLETTER October 2010 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). Input has been received 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 § Highlights § Upcoming events § Other news STATUS OF THE CONVENTION (UNCRPD) 95 ratifications of the Convention 147 signatories to the Convention Optional Protocol to the Convention 58 ratifications of the Optional Protocol 90 signatories to the Optional Protocol Recent signatures and ratifications: Sierra Leone ratified the Convention on 4 October 2010. HIGHLIGHTS IASG-UNDG Guidance Note on Disability for UN Country Teams The United Nations Development Group (UNDG) endorsed the “Guidance Note on including the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in UN programming at Country Level” on 6 October 2010. The guidance note was developed by the United Nations Inter-Agency Support Group for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (IASG) to support UN country level engagement in the implementation of the UNCRPD. The Guidance Note is intended to facilitate the inclusion of disability issues in the common country assessments (CCA) process through the design and implementation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), as well as through individual agencies in their areas of work. More information: Guidance note: http://www.undg.org/docs/11534/Disability---Guidance-note-for-UN-Country-Teams.pdf ; Guidance note annexes: http://www.undg.org/docs/11534/Disability---GN-Annexes.pdf. The published version of the Guidance Note will be issued, shortly. New draft resolution on realizing the MDGs The Third Committee of the General Assembly deliberated and negotiated a draft resolution on “Realizing the Millennium Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities toward 2015 and beyond”, which will be presented to the General Assembly for adoption, shortly. The resolution will work to promote mainstreaming disability in the MDGs, encourage greater disability-inclusive international cooperation and enable further participation of persons with disabilities in development processes. The resolution also urges Governments and the UN system to strengthen data collection and statistics on disability. Furthermore, the resolution requests the Secretary-General to improve accessibility and the inclusion of persons with disability within the UN Secretariat. The final resolution will be posted on the SCRPD website when adopted. DESA – First meeting of the UN Secretariat-wide task team on accessibility The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) co-chaired the first meeting of the Inter-Departmental Task Team on Accessibility along with the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management. Representatives from UN Secretariat offices with accessibility-related functions met to discuss the development of a United Nations Secretariat accessible to all: delegates, visitors, staff and others. The Team will draft their Terms of Reference to further develop a coherent UN Secretariat-wide accessibility policy, as well as consider provisions for accessibility in the 2012-2013 UN budget-cycle. DESA – Discussion on women with disabilities, peace and development On 20 October 2010, the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SCRPD) of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Mexico and the Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein, held a panel discussion at UN Headquarters entitled “Our Forgotten Sisters: Women and Leadership in Peace and Development”. The event commemorated the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The discussions highlighted the role of women with disabilities in promoting peace and development, particularly in post-conflict situations. Panelists included representatives from Blue Law International, Human Rights Watch, Women’s Refugee Commission, the Global Partnership for Disability and Development and the Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI). The speakers shared evocative stories to urge for the inclusion of women with disabilities in reconstruction and peace-building efforts. More information: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=13&pid=1514#20oct10_panel. DESA – Increased collaboration on implementation of the UNCRPD Representatives from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the Organization of American States (OAS) met on 27 October to discuss future collaborations based on synergy of the experience in implementation of the OAS Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (1999) and the UNCRPD. More information on the OAS disability convention: http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/treaties/a-65.html. OHCHR – Thematic study on international cooperation and the UNCRPD In recognition of the necessity to increase awareness about the role of international cooperation in support of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Human Rights Council in its resolution 13/11 requested the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a study on this topic. The study will be presented at the 16th session of the Council in March 2011. More information: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/disability/thematic_study.htm. UNESCAP – Governments support a new decade to for disability rights Governments in the Asia-Pacific Region, UN offices and civil society, including organizations of persons with disabilities joined together for an event entitled “Make the Right Real”, at the recent Committee on Social Development at the United Nations Centre, Bangkok. For the first time, the Committee in its 2010 session focused specifically on “Mainstreaming disability into the regional development agenda in Asia and the Pacific.” Nearly 200 representatives from 23 Governments, 18 civil society organizations and seven UN and intergovernmental entities participated in a lively sharing of experience and views. The Committee strongly supported the proclamation of a new decade to promote the rights of persons with disabilities for the period 2013-2022. The Committee highlighted the importance of ensuring that the voices of persons with disabilities are taken into account at all stages of policy and programme development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as a part of mainstreaming disability into the regional development agenda in Asia-Pacific. More information: http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2010/oct/g51.asp. WHO – New CBR guidelines launched at Network Conference in Africa New guidelines on Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) were launched at the fourth CBR Africa Network Conference held in Abuja, Nigeria from 26 to 29 October. The new guidelines are designed to empower persons with disabilities by supporting their inclusion in health, education, employment, social, skills training and other community services. The new CBR guidelines were produced by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Office (ILO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), in close consultation with other key stakeholders on disability and development globally. The new guidelines provide guidance on using CBR programmes to implement the UNCRPD in low and middle income countries and promote a strategy for community-based inclusive development. The guidelines help the shift away from excluding persons with disabilities from society, to a new approach that seeks to empower and include them in decision-making and promote dignity and rights for all. More information: http://www.who.int/disabilities/cbr/guidelines/en/index.html. ILO video on disability An informative video that considers opening pathways to training and employment for persons with intellectual disabilities in Africa. Persons with intellectual disabilities represent nearly two per cent of the world's population, or some 130 million people. Because of stigma and discrimination, a majority are excluded from education, training and employment. In this short film, the International Labour Organization (ILO) examines what is possible for persons with intellectual disabilities, so that they can access opportunities to obtain decent work and a better life. More information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xcZAqOajaE. See also: http://www.youtube.com/ilotv IDPD2010 – You tell us! International Day of Persons with Disabilities is 3 December! Include! Organize! Celebrate! Take Action! Plan and organize events everywhere to showcase - and celebrate - the contributions by persons with disabilities to the communities in which they live as agents of development and change. A major focus of the Day is practical action to mainstream disability in all aspects of development, as well as to further their participation in social life and development on the basis of equality. If you would like to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in your community and would like to share an innovative idea that includes other stakeholders, such as your Government, a UN agency, an NGO/DPO or a community, please let us know about it. We will showcase the idea on our website to inform and inspire others to do the same. Please send your ideas to ena...@un.org. More information: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1540. UPCOMING EVENTS 30 October - 3 November: International Conference for Universal Design The International Association for Universal Design will organize the conference in Hamamatsu City, Japan. The theme of the third conference will be “For the People and the Earth of Tomorrow - Towards a Sustainable Co-existence”. The conference organizers invites educators, product planning and developers, administrators, consultants, civic activists and students to submit research papers, as well as reports and editorial articles. More information: http://www.ud2010.net/index.en.html. 9 - 10 November: European Conference on Rehabilitation The 9th European Conference on Rehabilitation will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark. More information: http://www.riglobal.org/ 13 - 15 November: Asia Pacific Community-Based Rehabilitation Convention The 2nd Asia Pacific Community-Based Rehabilitation Convention will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. More information: http://apcbrconvention.cbrnetworkmalaysia.org/News/tabid/67/EntryId/1/Asia-Pacific-CBR-Convention-2010-13-15-November-2010.aspx 17 - 19 November: 6th World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and Prevention of Mental and Behavioral Disorders The Conference will be held in Washington, DC and address the issues young people with mental health conditions face in justice systems. Around the world, many young people in the juvenile justice system suffer from mental health disorders and often do not receive the services and support they need. Youth in poor and disadvantaged communities are especially vulnerable to being improperly incarcerated due to a lack of mental health services available to them. More information: http://wmhconf2010.hhd.org. 3 December: International Day of Persons with Disabilities. See above. 5 – 8 June 2011: Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Ageing and Technology The conference will explore new and exciting strategies to help support our increasingly diverse population. It will bring together professionals and experts from around the world to address critical issues and questions about universal design in a format supporting dialogue and discussion. The goal of universal design is to make the environment more usable for a broader range of people in more situations. More information: https://www.confmanager.com/main.cfm?cid=1559 3 – 8 July 2011: Access Africa – 5th IDP Africa Forum The 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 parents, persons who are blind and partially sighted, representatives from organizations of and for the blind, universities and Government ministries, international organizations, 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 - 24 July 2011 XVI World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf This first ever WFD Congress in Africa will held in Durban, South Africa. The Congress will bring together activists, professionals, interest groups to share their experiences, knowledge and expertise to be used for welfare and improving 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 Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. More information: http://www.wfd2011.com/information/letter.html. OTHER NEWS (The information below is provided by the non-governmental disability community for informational purposes only; they do 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.) Persons with disabilities volunteer for London Olympic Games Six thousand persons with disabilities have volunteered to assist with the 2012 London Olympic Games, representing a significant change in attitudes as well as the rising profile of the Paralympics. Games organizers had especially encouraged the participation of volunteers with disabilities, to ensure the London Olympic Games represented diversity and inclusion. More information: http://ablemagazine.co.uk/six-thousand-disabled-people-volunteer-for-london-2012/ . Motion Disabled screening Very Special Arts (VSA), an international organization on arts and disability in collaboration with internationally renowned video installation artist Simon Mckeown, will conduct a global collaborative video screening, designed to generate public awareness of and support for this year’s theme for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. On the evening of 3 December 2010, around the world, people will host outdoors screenings of Simon Mckeown’s video installation Motion Disabled (http://www.motiondisabled.com). More information: http://www.vsarts.org/x6638.xml New disability newsletter from Nepal Koshish, a National Mental Health Self-Help Organization, just released its first newsletter to give a voice to persons with psychosocial disability in Nepal. Koshish works for better mental health policies, plans and services that provide for the rights and treatment of persons with mental disabilities. More information: http://koshishnepal.org. CONTACT INFORMATION The Enable Newsletter is prepared by the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) at the United Nations Secretariat in New York. Mailing address: UN Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2 UN Plaza, DC2-1306, New York, NY 10017, USA. Website: http://www.un.org/disabilities Email: ena...@un.org If you do not wish to receive the United Nations Enable Newsletter, please reply with "unsubscribe" in the subject line. Notice: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, use, review, distribution, printing or copying of the information contained in this e-mail message and/or attachments to it are strictly prohibited. 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