Harnessing the power of women and girls with disabilities for inclusive society and development: taking concerted action at national, regional and global levels

Organized by DSPD/UN-DESA, Brazil, and ECLAC

In conjunction with the 10th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD

Tuesday 13th June 2017, 13:15-14:30

Venue: Conference room 7, UN Secretariat Bldg., New York

Concept Note

Introduction

The Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SCRPD) of the Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) will co-organize a side event with Brazil – Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations, Special Secretariat for the Rights of the Person with Disability, of the Brazilian Human Rights Ministry, and the São Paulo State Secretariat for the Rights of the Person with Disability, of the São Paulo State Government,and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), under the theme “Women and Girls with Disabilities in Development and Society”. The side event is organized in response to the critical need for the international community to promote dialogue between regional and national experts and identify strategies and actions to empower women and girls with disabilities, and to ensure their participation in the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals and other commitments, and the full realization of their human rights.

Objective:

The side event will build on the Expert Group Meeting on Advancing the Rights and Perspectives of Women and Girls with Disabilities in Development and Society held in Santiago, Chile, on 15th to 17th of November 2016, which called for strengthening and mainstreaming of rights of women and girls with disabilities, includingtheir leadership roles, in the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, amongst other frameworks. This event will bring together national and regional experts to share their experiences, including best practices and lessons learned, in strengthening women and girls with disabilities in development and society. The topic for discussion includesadvancement of the including persons with disability in urban development, promoting accessibility, and prevention of violence against women and girls with disabilities, in view of the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Expected Outcome

Recognizing women and girls with disabilities as active contributors in the society, the side event will identify options for the next steps for actors working at national, regional, and global levels on strengthening rights, inclusion, and the leadership of women with disabilities in society and development. It will also address possible ways to synergies between gender equality and disability inclusion, and mainstreaming gender equality and disability in the implementation of the Convention and the 2030 Agenda. The outcome of the meeting will inform an upcoming UN reportsespecially the one on the situation of women and girls with disabilities, to be submitted to the seventy-second session of the General Assembly.

Guiding questions:

-What are examples of best practices in mainstreaming women and girls with disabilities into national development and planning?

-What are good examples of institutional arrangement and programs that ensure the elimination of violence against women and girls with disabilities and their full accessibility in social development in view of the implementation of the CRPD and the SDGs?

-What are recommended next steps for strengthening rights, inclusion, and the leadership of women with disabilities in society and development?

Language:

The language of the meeting is English. A CART service (closed-captioning) will be provided during the event.

Harnessing the power of women and girls with disabilities for inclusive society and development: taking concerted action at national, regional and global levels

Organized by DSPD/UN-DESA, Brazil, and ECLAC

Tuesday 13th June 2017, 13:15-14:30, at CR7

Provisional Programme

13:15 / Opening (3 min each)
-Ms. Daniela Bas, Director of Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD), UN-DESA
-Mr. Marco Antonio Ferreira Pellegrini, Special Secretary for the Rights of the Person with Disability, Ministry of Human Rights,Brazil
-Dr. Linamara Rizzo Battistella, Secretary, Secretary for the Rights of the Person with Disability, State of São Paulo, Brazil
13:30 / Presentations (5 min each):
Moderated byMs. Akiko Ito, Chief, Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, SDPD/DESA
-Mr. MonjurulKabir, Programme Advisor/Head of Section, Asia and the Pacific and & LDCs, Programme Division, UN-Women, “Global perspective on women and girls with disabilities in development and society”.
-Ms. Heidi Ullmann, Social Affairs Officer, Social Development Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, “Regional perspective on equality and empowerment of women and girls with disabilities”.
-Mr. Luiz Carlos Lopes, Deputy Secretary for the Rights of the Person with Disability, State of São Paulo, Brazil,“Chasing, preventing and facing violence against persons with disabilities: the state role and the Brazilian experience”
-Ms. Leyla Sharafi,Gender and Youth Specialist, UNFPA, “Promoting the leadership of women and girls with disabilities and in addressing health and development”.
-Ms. Natalie Draisin, Manager, North American Office & United Nations Representative, FIA Foundation, “Promoting enabling condition for all: mobility and safety for women and girls with disabilities”.
-Ms. Venus Ilagan, Secretary General, Rehabilitation International, “women and girls with disabilities and their leadership role in inclusive society and development”
14:00 / Open discussion
Interactive discussion with participants
14:25 / Wrap up and closing

Brief closing remarks by the moderator and co-organizers