ENABLE NEWSLETTER
April 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 online at: http://www.un.org/disabilities.
In this issue:
§ Status of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
§ Highlights
o CRPD Committee concludes its 5th session
o CRPD Committee calls for papers
o Promoting autism awareness at the United Nations
o New web resource page on disability and sport
o United Nations Enable on Facebook
o Launch of the first World Disability Report
o New UN resolution addresses discrimination against persons affected by leprosy
o Greater support for victims of landmines in Afghanistan
o Conference adopts declaration on non-communicable diseases
o WIPO launches accessible publishing guidelines
o Decade for Road Safety launched in Belgrade
o Regional consultation on access to HIV treatment
o Global Contact Group on AIDS and Disability
§ Upcoming events
§ Other news
STATUS OF THE CONVENTION (CRPD)
99 ratifications of the Convention
147 signatories to the Convention
Optional Protocol to the Convention
61 ratifications of the Optional Protocol
90 signatories to the Optional Protocol
Fourth Conference of States Parties to be held at UN Headquarters in New York from 7-9 September 2011.
HIGHLIGHTS
CRPD Committee concluded its fifth session
The fifth session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities took place from 11 to 15 April 2011 and opened with a welcome note by Mr. Ronald McCallum, the re-elected Chairman of the Committee. The opening also included a swearing-in of the new members of the Committee: Ms. Theresia Degener, Mr. Gabor Gombos, Ms. Fatiha Hadj-Salah, Mr. Hyung Shik Kim, Mr. Stig Langvad, Ms. Silvia Judith Quan-Chang, Mr. Carlos Rios Espinosa, and Mr. Damjan Tatic. Ms. Maria Soledad Cisternas Reyes, Ms. Edah Wangechi Maina and Ms. Jia Yang were elected as Vice-chairs, and Ms. Theresia Degener was designated by acclamation as the Rapporteur. A statement was delivered by Ms. Marcia Kran, Director of the Research and Right to Development Division of the OHCHR. Ms. Kran encouraged the Committee to make clear and targeted recommendations which, in the experience of other treaty bodies, make them more likely to be implemented. DESA held a dialogue with the Committee members and provided a briefing on its initiatives in promoting the implementation of the Convention, as well as updates on developments regarding the upcoming 4th Conference of States Parties. Brief statements by the International Disability Alliance (IDA) followed, including a briefing on the situation in Japan after the earthquake. The Committee was also briefed by the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability, Mr. Shuaib Chalklen. The Committee adopted its first concluding observations in relation to Tunisia and also a list of issues relating to its dialogue with Spain. The concluding observations are available on the Committee’s website under the 5th session: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/Session5.aspx. Learn more about the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/CRPDIndex.aspx. For more information about the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability, please visit: http://www.srdisability.org/index.html.
CRPD Committee calls for papers
The CRPD Committee has sent out a call for papers on the “Practical and Theoretical Measures for the Implementation of Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”. Submissions are requested by 17 June 2011. More information: http://www2.ohchr.org/SPdocs/CRPD/Call_for_papers_art12.doc.
Promoting autism awareness at the United Nations
Multiple events were organized over several days at the United Nations to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day - 2 April. Events included film screenings about autism, a book signing and a panel discussion entitled “Solving the autism public health puzzle: Regional and international collaboration”. The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his message to observe the Day, said that although the recognition of autistic conditions among the scientific, health and care-giving communities was improving, public awareness remained low. More information: http://www.un.org/en/events/autismday/index.shtml.
New web resource page on disability and sports
The new Disability and Sports web page on the United Nations Enable website highlights the unique ability of sport to transcend linguistic and cultural barriers making it an excellent platform for strategies for advancing inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities in society and development. It also draws attention to the universal popularity of sport and its physical, social and economic development benefits that make it an ideal tool for fostering the inclusion and well-being of persons with disabilities. The web page also provides links to publications and other documents on the issue, as well as links to related websites. Along with Member States and civil society, DESA will organize a panel discussion on 27 June at UN Headquarters to discuss issues on how to tap the potential of sports to promote disability-inclusive development and raise public awareness about disability issues. More information: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1563.
United Nations Enable on Facebook
A new Facebook page, United Nations Enable was launched to inform users of this social network to find out more about the work of the United Nations for persons with disabilities, as well as upcoming events. More information: http://www.facebook.com/pages/United-Nations-Enable/196545623691523
Launch of the first World Disability Report
A new publication, the first ever World Report on Disability, produced jointly bythe World Health Organizationand the World Bank, reviewsevidence about the global situation of persons with disabilities, and offers directions for policy and practice to address exclusion. The report will be launched at UN Headquarters on 9 June. It containschapters on health; rehabilitation; assistance and support; enabling environments; education; and employment. Importantly, the reportalso includes the first new disability prevalence estimates since the 1970sand makes the case for better data collection. This pioneering reportdemonstrates how removing barriers, investing in rehabilitation and more accessible environments can enable millions of persons with disabilities to participate in education, employment and widersociety. At the intersection of human rights, development,public healthand disability studies, the World Report on Disabilityis an important publication for policy-makers, professionals, persons with disabilities and theirfamilies. Moreinformation: http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/en/index.html.
New UN resolution addresses discrimination against persons affected by leprosy
A new General Assembly resolution, “Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members” (A/RES/65/215), calls for the treatment of persons affected by leprosy and their family members as individuals with dignity who are entitled to all human rights and fundamental freedoms. More information: http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/gadocs/a_res_65_215.pdf.
Second Pacific Regional Conference on Disability
Members of the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF), including Governments of countries in the Pacific region, as well as development organizations, non-governmental and civil society organizations and human rights institutions in the region attended the Second Pacific Regional Conference on Disability. The Conference was held from 4 to 7 April in Auckland, New Zealand, under the theme “Promoting Actions on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in the Pacific Region”. The outcome document included a list of recommendations to all stakeholders to take significant and tangible steps to further implement the Convention and empower persons with disabilities and their organizations. More information: http://www.pacificdisability.org/newsReader.aspx?newsId=215.
Greater support for victims of landmines in Afghanistan
In an effort to further mainstream support to victims of landmines into broader national disability frameworks - the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Afghanistan has developed an alternate mechanism to channel funding provided to the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action for victim assistance. At the request of UNMAS, UNOPS Afghanistan Operations Centre (AGOC) has established the United Nations Afghanistan Disability Support Programme (ADSP), covering the spectrum of disability support including landmine victim assistance. The ADSP became fully operational in April 2011 - providing technical advice, training and capacity development and financial support to the Afghan Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled, and Ministry of Education. Initially funded by mine action funds, ADSP will look to draw funds from other sources as the programme expands. More information: http://www.mineaction.org/overview.asp?o=22.
WIPO launches accessible publishing guidelines
The Enabling Technologies Framework is a three-year project funded by WIPO and endorsed by the Stakeholders Platform of WIPO that was started in June 2010. This joint project involving both EDItEUR and the DAISY Consortium aims to further develop mainstream publishing processes so that they can deliver digital publications that are fully accessible to persons with reading disabilities. At the end of the first year of the project, EDItEUR launched the “Accessible Publishing, Best Practice Guidelines for Publishers” that are available in HTML, Word and PDF at http://www.visionip.org.
Regional consultation on access to HIV treatment
Delegates from the 24 Asia-Pacific countries met in Bangkok from 30 to 31 March 2011 to review progress and challenges to the region’s efforts to ensure access to HIV services for all. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) organized the Asia Pacific Regional Consultation on Universal Access to HIV Treatment, Care and Support that brought together 200 representatives from Governments, the UN system, development partners and communities most affected by HIV. More information: http://www.unescap.org/sdd/meetings/hiv/index.asp.
Global Contact Group on AIDS and Disability
The Global Contact Group on AIDS and Disability are coordinating efforts to include a disability perspective in HIV/AIDS advocacy and programming efforts at the international level. The Group is currently engaged in efforts to promote the inclusion of issues that affect persons with disabilities at the upcoming High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on AIDS to be held from 8-10 June. For more information or to participate in the group, please email: .
UPCOMING EVENTS
(We welcome information from the general public on key international disability events for inclusion in the list below.)
10 to 11 May: The Big Event 2011 – In Control Australia
Presented by the NSW Chapter of In Control Australia, the theme of this year’s BiG Event is: Self-directed Support: Making it Happen. The event brings over twenty inspiring and highly experienced speakers together with people living with disability, families, carers, advocates, policy makers, support services, government, and administrators. More information: http://www.incontrol.org.au/coming_events.asp.
23 to 29 May: African Youth with Disabilities: Raising our Voices for Inclusion
Organized by the Open Society Foundations’ Youth Initiative and Disability Rights Initiative, "African Youth with Disabilities: Raising our Voices for Inclusion", will respond to the growing youth with disabilities movement on the African continent. The meeting, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, aims to strengthen the African youth with disabilities network and develop partnerships that will help mobilize, empower and coordinate youth with disabilities’ initiatives. The Initiative will provide 50 youth with disabilities an opportunity to learn, collaborate and plan strategies for a more inclusive Africa. More information: http://www.youthpolicy.org/disabilities.
30 to 31 May: Conference on Disability in Conflicts and Emergencies
The Conference on Disability in Conflicts and Emergencies: “Reaching the most vulnerable” will be held in Oslo, Norway from 30-31 May 2011. The conference is being hosted by the Norwegian disability umbrella organization, The Atlas Alliance, in cooperation with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Conference aims to address the issues related to persons with disabilities in disasters and crises, who are among the most vulnerable, both on account of disability and poverty. More information: http://www.oslodisability2011.org.
30 May to 17 June: 17th Session of the Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council (HRC) is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 States responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The 17th session of the Council will include a debate on the Council President's Open-ended Informal Consultations on draft resolution on the Outcome of the HRC Review. More information: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/17session/index.htm.
8 to 10 June: High-level meeting on AIDS
The United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS will be held at UN Headquarters from 8 to 10 June 2011. The Assembly 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. The Global Contact Group on AIDS and Disability in partnership with UN agencies, civil society and other development partners will hold a side-event on AIDS and disability at the meeting. More information: http://www.unaids.org/en/aboutunaids/unitednationsdeclarationsandgoals/2011highlevelmeetingonaids.
9 June: Launch of World Disability Report 2011 at UN Headquarters
(Please see above for more 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 all athletes, including 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 to 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 representatives of Government ministries, international organizations, organizations of and for the blind, universities, as well as parents, persons who are blind and partially sighted, vendors and sponsors of assistive technology. More information: http://www.perkins.org/international-programs/localexpertise/idp.html#Access_Africa_The_5th_IDP_Africa_Forum.
4 to 7 July: ECOSOC High Level Segment
The Annual Ministerial Review (AMR) of the 2011 High Level Segment of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to be held in Geneva will focus on implementing the internationally-agreed goals and commitments in regard to education. The meeting will also assess the status of the implementation of the United Nations Development Agenda with a focus on its education-related goals and objectives. As the 2011 ECOSOC AMR will focus on “implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to education”, it provides an opportunity to highlight the marginalization faced by children with disabilities with regard to their access to education. DESA along with its partners will organize a side-event panel discussion on realizing the MDG of universal primary education for children with disabilities. More information on the 2011 ECOSOC AMR: http://esango.un.org/irene/?page=static&content=statements2011 and http://www.un.org/ecosoc.