Newsletter
August 2015
Dear Partners,
The August 2015Newsletter has arrived! In this edition we would like to draw your attention to some of the major developments as well as upcoming eventsin the summer and fall of 2015.
We are entering anexiting new development period that will undoubtedly be more inclusive than the previous. The SDG Framework which is currently being negotiated includes specific references to persons with disabilities across several relevant goals like education, decent work and employment, inequality, sustainable cities and human settlements as well as in the means of implementation. In addition there are 7 targets under these goals which specifically reference persons with disabilities.
While the goals and targets are considered finalized for adoption during the forthcoming UN General Assembly in September, currently negotiations are ongoing to develop and agree on indicators corresponding to the goals and targets. Countries will be measuring, tracking progress and reporting on the SDGs on the basis of the indicators. Therefore, the absence of disability dimensions from the indicators and not having data disaggregated on the basis of disability would significantly impede the potential of the SDGs to make a difference in the lives of persons with disabilities. Therefore we should all join the advocacy effort for disability-inclusive indicators. Stay tuned for opportunities to advocate for disability inclusive SDGs, including a soon to be launched campaign on disability inclusive SDGs indicators.
Another opportunity is to join the online open consultation that is launched by the Inter-agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators (IAEG-SDGs).This initiative takes place from 11 August to 7 September and follows a consultation initiated in March 2015 that requested inputs from stakeholders on a preliminary proposed list of indicators. Participants in this consultation are encouraged to submit their comments, proposals, and responses to the cross-cutting questions proposed by the IAEG-SDGs; and provide comments on the list of indicator proposals (as of 11 August 2015) currently under discussion by the IAEG-SDGs
WORK IN PROGRESS
GPcwd Task Forces
Child Protection Task Force
The main focus of the GPcwd Task Force on Child Protection is to ensure protection from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect for children with disabilities. It works on three strategic areas that have specific impact on the lives of children with disabilities: the transition from residential to community and family-based care; the accessibility and effectiveness of child protection systems; and the need for inclusive child protection responses in crisis, conflict and emergency situations. Current priorities of the Task Force include ensuring that international initiatives and studies focused on violence against children take steps tobe fully inclusive of the protection needs of children with disabilities. The Task Force will soon be releasing an in-depth review of existing research which illustrates the protection needs of children with disabilities and makes the case for truly inclusive child protection systems. This will be used in advocacy to influence the development of important global initiatives and studies including the recently announced SDG-linked Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children. The links to theLiterature Review and Position paper will be available as soon as these documents are finalized.
The Task Force meets regularly and the secretariat of this Task Force is provided by Lumos.
Physical Activity and Sport
The Task Force on Physical Activity and Sport released the Thematic Paper: Disability Inclusive Physical Activity and Sport in the Post-2015 DevelopmentAgenda and Sustainable Development Goals linkin June and is pleased to say there is a reference to sport for persons with disabilities in the Outcome Document for the UN Summit on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The item specifically mentions the contribution sport can make towards social inclusion objectives. If other organizations would like to add their name in support of the thematic paper, please contact Amy Farkas at .
In addition, the Task Force is working on the Commit to Inclusion campaign, which they are planning to officially launch in September or October this year. The campaign aims to end the exclusion of children and youth with disabilities from physical activity, physical education, sport, recreation and play, and promote the realization of the rights enshrined in the CRPD and other human rights instruments. To spread awareness about the issue and advocate for change, the Task Force developed the Commit to Inclusion campaign website ( that calls for organizations and individuals to make commitments on how they are or will foster more inclusion. We encourage all members of the GPcwd to make a commitment at: Also, the Task Force are currently compiling resources on how to develop more inclusive programmes and policies to include on the website and ask if you have a resource you would like listed to please share it with Amy Farkas at by 14 September.
The Early Childhood Development Task Force
The ECD Task Force strategic plan is now in action, as conveyed at the June 11 COSP side-event in NY, Post 2015: Strengthening partnerships for and with Children and Youth with Disabilities(see below). Formal and informal gatherings and presentations by ECDtf members are expected in October in Atlanta at the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families at the 4th Croatia Symposium on Early Childhood Intervention, then in December in Istanbul at the International Developmental Pediatrics Congress. A program is also in formation for the ACEI World Summit on Childhood in Costa Rica, March 2016. Each of these fora allow the Task Force to build capacity and advocate for enhanced inclusive early childhood development and better policies and services for young children with disabilities and their families.
Since 2013, the USA National Academy of Medicine’s Forum on Investing in Young Children Globally (iYCG) has held a series of public workshops around the world to engage caregivers, professionals and policymakers on exploring challenges, opportunities and innovations in early childhood development research, practice and policy. The iYCG workshop, “Supporting Family and Community Investments for Young Children Globally” took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 26-30 July 2015. The Task Force was fortunate to be considered in the workshop, including the launch of a publication which includes a description of GPcwd and ECDtf (link)(pp.59-64). pp.59-64). ECDtf members are also actively engaged in the current consultations convened by the Global Partnership for Education as they formulate their 2016-2020 strategic plan with a focuson inclusive education Many thanks to all ECDtf and GPcwd members who have responded to the survey, and if you have not yet used this important advocacy opportunity, please try the link at open at least until 25 August. And please circulate within your networks.
Please see the ECD Task Forces strategic plan monthly newsletters and contact details posted on the GPCWD website link.
Leadership and Mentoring Task Force
The Leadership and Mentoring Task Force is pleased to invite interested individuals to join their work to increase leadership and mentoring opportunities for children and young women with disabilities globally.Membership is open to all those who support the values of the task force and are committed to action-oriented activities to increase opportunity. More information about the Task Force can be found here: If you are interested in joining, please notify the L&M Task Force Co-Chair, Genelle Thomas, by email at .
Inclusive Education Task Force (IETF):
Nafisa Baboo and Sian Tesni have been informally leading the work of this task force. Members of the IETF were strongly engaged in the advocacy efforts around Oslo Summit on Education for Development 6-7 July 2015) and GPE and Consultation on inclusive education to feed into the new GPE strategic plan.
To join this task force please contact
GPcwd Youth Council
In consultation with UNICEF Country Offices, the Secretariatis working on identifying opportunities to engage Youth Council members at the consultations and meetings at the country and regional levels.
In July some of the members of the Youth council participated in the online and face-to-face consultations to influence the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) which will take place in Istanbul on23-24 May 2016 The young advocates requested that the WHS outcomes demonstrate commitment to disability inclusive humanitarian action.
National Partnerships
For those who are interested in discussing potential collaboration onNational Partnerships or on how to further strengthen existing national entitiesthat focus on the rights of children with disabilities, please contact the Secretariat at
GPcwd Governance Structure and Strategy
UNICEF is looking to sharing the responsibilities of the Secretariat with partners. To be more strategic in resource mobilization and to ensure a strong structure of the partnership for the future, it was agreed amongst core partners to conduct a feasibility study of the partnership. The GPcwd Secretariat is currently developing a TOR for this work and will engage members for their input. The findings should be available at the end of the year.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
UNICEF Belarus is seeking for consultant to provide technical expertise of the draft Concept Paper on Inclusive Education. The deadline for application is 2 September 2015. Please find attached Terms of References for more information.
PAST & FUTURE EVENTS ANDUPDATES BY PARTNERS
8th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD
The 8th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (COSP8) took place at UN Headquarters 9-11 June 2015. According to UN DESA, “Over 1000 participants attended this year's session, including delegates representing 154 States Parties and other Observer States, UN entities, national human rights institutions, academic institutions and NGOs. In conjunction with the session, over 52 side-events were held by Governments, United Nations agencies and civil society organizations. During the general debate part of the session, 97 statements were made by 83 States parties, 3 signatories and 11 observers, including representatives of national human rights institutions, United Nations entities and NGOs. By decision of the Conference, the 9th session will be held at UN Headquarters from 14 to 16 June 2016”. For more information please go to
On 11 June 2015, the GPcwd Secretariat organized a side-event to the COSP CRPD 2015 with the title”POST 2015: Strengthening partnerships for and with Children and Youth with Disabilities”
The discussion during the side event focused on the importance of strengthening collaboration for children with disabilities. Four Task Forces of the GPcwd (Child Protection, Early Childhood Development, Leadership and Mentoring and Physical Activities and Sport) presented their achievements to enhance the rights of Children with disabilities, shared opportunities for engagement and announced key plans for the future in light of the Post-2015 agenda.
List of Speakers:
Opening remarks: Ms. Rosangela Berman Bieler, Chief of the Disability Section at UNICEF
Moderator: Prof. Nora Ellen Groce, Leonard Cheshire ChairDirector, Leonard Cheshire Disability & Inclusive Development Centre
Mr. Nolan Quigley (Lumos Foundation) representing the GPcwd TF on Child protection
Ms. Lilia Jelamschi (UNICEF, ECD Section) representing GPcwd TF on Early Childhood Development
Ms. Regina Snowden (Partners for Youth with Disabilities) representing GPcwd TF on Leadership and Mentoring
Ms. Amy Rauworth (Lakeshore Foundation) representing GPcwd TF on Physical Activity and Sport
Members of the Youth Council Abia Akram, Bakar Alli and Karina Chupina made statements from the floor.
Representatives from IDDC, Elizabeth Lockwood highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration on the ground especially in situation of emergency.
The #DrawDisability contest is open!
#DrawDisability campaign was launched on 3 December 2014, on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The main goals of the campaign are “to encourage dialogue and raise awareness on disability and related issues among teachers and students within educational environments”. In 8months they received almost 3,000 drawings from 50 countries. You can vote for your favourite drawings from 3 August to 30 September 2015!
Promoting Disability Inclusion through Sport in Fiji
The Australian Sports Commission has released new resources on Promoting Disability Inclusion through Sport in Fiji. The Australian Government notes that it’s “partnership with Fijian sports and disabled peoples organisations is improving the way disability is viewed in Fiji and creating inclusive opportunities for people through sport”. Resources include:
A report is availablehere
Case Studies are here
UNICEF Assistive Products for Children with Disabilities (APCD) Forum
In July, in a unified push to make assistive products for children with disabilities more available, affordable and appropriate, UNICEF was joined by governments, partners, leading disability advocates and NGOs at the first-ever forum to examine the global supply gap related to assistive products and identify ways to reverse longstanding deficiencies
Several participants agreed that most organizations and governments were only at the starting point in supporting industry to fulfil its role in the manufacture of quality assistive products. In many countries, if needs were to be truly met, the scale of potential government procurement would be unprecedented which means serious attention would need to be paid to strengthen local supply chains supporting assistive products availability, distribution and maintenance. All partners expressed the commitment to support UNICEF and WHO efforts to promote assistive technologies for every child who needs them.
Persons with Disabilities Gather with Government Stakeholders to Discuss Amending Ghana Persons with Disability Act
Government stakeholders, together with representatives from the Ghana Federation for the Disabled (GFD) and 25 other disabled persons organizations (DPOs), the Disability Rights Fund (DRF), and the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC), are meeting in Accra on 19 August to consider amendments to the Ghana Persons with Disability Act of 2006 (or Act 715) which would help domesticate the rights outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). For more information please go to
New Publication and advocacy materials
WHO and UNICEF Assistive technologies
The new UNICEF/WHO discussion paper “Assistive Technology for Children with Disabilities: Creating Opportunities for Education, Inclusion and Participation”, was launched in July. This discussion paper highlights the importance of assistive technology and how it can make a critical impact on the lives of children with disabilities and enable them to enjoy opportunities like any other children. This discussion paper draws on a wide range of research, studies and evidence while discussing the key issues around assistive technology and factors to be considered to ensure that such technologies can be accessed by girls and boys with disabilities around the world.
An electronic version of the paper along with easy-to-read, ePub, DAISY and accessible html formats are available on the UNICEF Disability website under the section resources
Inclusive Education advocacy package
UNICEF and partners have developed a social media package for the Oslo Summit on Education for Development. It consists of four infographics and text versions, and is available in English, French and Spanish. Please use the attached materials for your advocacy efforts on inclusive education.
DRI Report “No Justice: Torture, Trafficking, and Segregation in Mexico”.
Disability Rights International (DRI) released a report No Justice: Torture, Trafficking, and Segregation in Mexico. The report reveals the existence of a “blacklist” of institutions for children and adults with disabilities known to be abusive by Mexico City authorities – who nevertheless allow these facilities to continue operating without interference“ – as stated in the report.
The report focuses especially on the survivors of a blacklisted facility, Casa Esperanza, the site of torture, physical, and sexual abuse of individuals detained there against their will. For more information please visit:
What does it take? Developing informed and effective tertiary responses to violence and abuse of women and girls with disabilities in Australia
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) have released a State of Knowledge paper: What does it take? Developing informed and effective tertiary responses to violence and abuse of women and girls with disabilities in Australia (Frawley, Dyson, Robinson, Dixon, 2015).
The paper begins by describing how relevant literature was selected for review and then goes on to explore the background and nature of violence and abuse experienced by women and young women with disabilities. The paper includes a discussion of key theoretical concepts regarding the disability. It then goes on to address the current state of knowledge regarding the two research questions and discusses what and how the current state of evidence contributes to the development of tertiary responses for women and girls with disabilities. The full paper is available free from theANROWSwebsite[PDF only]
Another source of the news on the Disability issues globally is UN Enable Newsletter
Please share with us any update, material orevent you would like to be included in the next GPcwd newsletter in December. The deadline for submission is20 October 2015.
Best wishes,
GPcwd Secretariat
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