fyi. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dspd Enable" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 8:44 AM Subject: United Nations Enable Newsletter, March 2011 ENABLE NEWSLETTER March 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 (CRPD) HIGHLIGHTS - UNDPI NGO briefing on reframing disability - New web resource page on Disability and HIV/AIDS at Enable - Launch of the first World Disability Report on 9 June at UN Headquarters - 5th session of the CRPD Committee to commence on 11 April - OHCHR Interactive panel on disability and international cooperation - Human Rights Council resolution on international cooperation and disability - GPDD Development Partners Forum and membership meeting - NORAD Seminar on disability mainstreaming in development cooperation - UNESCAP Improving disability measurement and statistics UPCOMING EVENTS 8 April: General Assembly Civil Society Hearing on HIV/AIDS 11 to 15 April: 5th session of Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 18 to 19 April: Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities 18 to 21 April: First session, Open-ended Working Group on strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons 8 to 10 June: High-level meeting on HIV/AIDS 9 June: Launch of World Disability Report 2011 at UN Headquarters 26 June: 9th Annual Hope and Possibility Race 3 to 8 July: 5th IDP Africa Forum: Access Africa 18 to 20 July: International Conference on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 18 to 24 July: XVI World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf 7 to 9 September: Fourth Conference of States Parties to the CRPD 10 September: Child Rights & Sight Conference 2011 19 to 24 September: 6th FATO International Seminar 10 to 13 October: Disabled People’s International 2011 8th World Assembly 29 November - 1 December: 2nd Asia Pacific CBR Congress OTHER NEWS - IDA Disability Rights Bulletin - New website to facilitate disability services and statistics - New resource to address bullying children with special needs - Open for admission: community-based rehabilitation courses 2011-2012 - Join the International Disability Rights Movement as a USICD Member - International Social Security Association on disability ENABLE NEWSLETTER: March 2011 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 UNDPI NGO briefing on reframing disability On 17 March, the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) held a briefing entitled “Reframing disability: Towards eliminating ableism in education and employment across the globe.” The briefing examined current efforts to eliminate gaps in economic and social development that marginalize persons with disabilities in the areas of education and employment. Panelists included Akiko Ito, Chief Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities/DESA; Judith Heuman, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the U.S. Department of State; John Hockenberry, journalist, author, and disability advocate; and Dr. Thomas Hehir, Professor of Practice at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. Webcast at: http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2011/03/dpingo-briefing-reframing-disability-towards-eliminating-ableism-in-education-and-employment-across-the-globe.html . New web resource page on Disability and HIV/AIDS at Enable A new web page has been launched on the United Nations Enable website that draws attention to the growing relationship between HIV/AIDS. This emerging issue is a cause for concern as persons with disabilities are at higher risk of exposure to HIV and seldom recognized as a group to be included in national responses to HIV/AIDS. The web resource page also provides links to policy documents, websites and forthcoming events related to disability and HIV/AIDS. More information: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1560. Launch of the first World Disability Report on 9 June at UN Headquarters The CRPD has drawn global attention to the situation of persons with disabilities in their societies and mandates States parties to address these issues. A new publication, the first ever World Report on Disability, produced jointly by the World Health Organization and the World Bank, reviews evidence about the global situation of persons with disabilities, and offers directions for policy and practice to address exclusion. The report contains chapters on health; rehabilitation; assistance and support; enabling environments; education; and employment. Importantly, the report also includes the first new disability prevalence estimates since the 1970s and makes the case for better data collection. This pioneering report demonstrates how removing barriers, investing in rehabilitation and more accessible environments can enable millions of persons with disabilities to participate in education, employment and wider society. At the intersection of human rights, development, public health and disability studies, the World Report on Disability is an important publication for policy-makers, professionals, persons with disabilities and their families. More information: http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/en/index.html . 5th session of the CRPD Committee to commence on 11 April The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will hold its fifth session from 11 - 15 April 2011 in Geneva. The CRPD Committee with its extended membership of 18 experts will engage in its first 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 OHCHR Interactive panel on disability and international cooperation The Human Rights Council held its third interactive debate on the rights of persons with disabilities on 4 March 2011 on the theme “The role played by international cooperation in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the CRPD”. The Panel was opened by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay. Panelists were Shuaib Chalklen, Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission on Social Development, Monthien Buntan, Senator of Thailand, Theresia Degener, representative of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, María-Veronica Reina, Executive Director of the Global Partnership for Disability and Development, and Nathalie Herlemont, Head of the Strategic Policy Service at Handicap International. Panelists shared best practices in the field and discussed mainstreaming disability rights in development, the diversity of disability in international cooperation, the alignment of international cooperation with standards set out in the CRPD and disability rights in humanitarian action More information: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Disability/Pages/DebateMarch2011.aspx . Human Rights Council resolution on international cooperation and disability In response to the above panel, the Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted a resolution on the role of international cooperation in supporting national efforts for the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities and called on Member States to consider the findings and recommendations in the OHCHR thematic study on the issue. The Assembly invited the High Commissioner to make the study available to the forthcoming High-level meeting at the 67th session of the General Assembly on strengthening efforts to ensure accessibility for and inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of development efforts. The Assembly further requested OHCHR to prepare its fourth thematic study on the CRPD, this time on participation in political and public life. OHCHR will contact States, UN agencies and civil society partners, as well as National Human Rights Institutions for contributions to the study later in 2011. The study will be considered by the Human Rights Council in March 2012. More information: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Disability/Pages/DisabilityIndex.aspx. GPDD Development Partners Forum and membership meeting The Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD) "Development Partners Forum", was held in Oslo, Norway (30 March). Disability focal points from Government donor agencies, the United Nations system, multilateral donor organizations and private foundations met to discuss ways to align their strategies with the principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Later this year, from 21-23 September, GPDD will hold its 3rd Disability and Development Forum and Membership Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where members and partners will focus on options for implementing development actions towards the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities, particularly in light of Article 32 of the CRPD. The meeting will also discuss issues related to women with disabilities in development, children with disabilities, disability and disasters, and South-South cooperation. More information: http://www.gpdd-online.org/ NORAD Seminar on disability mainstreaming in development cooperation The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) in collaboration with the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability held a seminar to examine the challenges of mainstreaming disability in both official development programmes and projects, as well as in civil society projects. The seminar brought together representatives from both donors and recipient countries, as well as the UN system, disabled peoples’ organizations (DPOs), international NGOs and the business sector to identify ways to mainstream disability in international development cooperation. The seminar lays the foundation for action to include a disability perspective in development cooperation. More information: http://www.norad.no/en/About +Norad/Seminars/Disability+Mainstreaming. UNESCAP Improving disability measurement and statistics Based on the outcome of the previous ESCAP/WHO disability project conducted in 2004-2006, UNESCAP’s Improvement of Disability Measurement and Statistics in Support of Biwako Millennium Framework and Regional Census Programme seeks to further promote better disability data collection by developing standard measurement and improving national technical capacity. The project takes into account country needs in the region while contributing to the ongoing global initiatives on disability statistics. Its focus is on designing standard question sets for surveys and conducting pilot tests and post-pilot test data analyses, which would provide an empirical basis for establishing standard survey measurement for disability data collection. UNESCAP has also recently published a set of guidelines for the testing of questions on disability: http://www.unescap.org/stat/disability/Disability-question-testing-guidelines.pdf . To learn more about UNESCAP’s activities on disability statistics, visit http://www.unescap.org/stat/disability/. UPCOMING EVENTS (We welcome information from the general public on key international disability events for inclusion in the list below) 8 April: General Assembly Civil Society Hearing on HIV/AIDS In preparation for 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 to be held from 8-10 June 2011. More information: http://www.unaids.org/en/aboutunaids/unitednationsdeclarationsandgoals/2011highlevelmeetingonaids/civilsocietyand2011highlevelmeetingonaids . 11 to 15 April: 5th session of Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (See above for details) 18 to 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. More information: http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/emailtemplate. 18 to 21 April: First session, Open-ended Working Group on strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons The Working Group was established by the General Assembly by resolution 65/182 on 21 December 2010 to consider the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons and identify possible gaps and how best to address them, including considering the feasibility of further instruments and measures. Participation is open to delegations from non-governmental organizations active in the field of ageing. More information: http://social.un.org/ageing-working-group. 8 to 10 June: High-level meeting on HIV/AIDS The United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS will be held at UN Headquarters from 8-10 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. 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 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 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 . 18 to 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, that will be celebrating their 30th anniversary. The Centre along with the Universiti Malaysia Sabah will organize an International Conference under the theme "Growing with Hope and Dignity". More information: http://serimengasih.org/icidd-2011/. 18 to 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 to 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. September 10: Child Rights & Sight Conference 2011 The 3rd Annual Conference on Child Rights and Sight will be held at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The Conference is being organized by Distressed Children & Infants International (DCI) in partnership with the Yale UNICEF, Rights & Sight for Children (RSC) and Eye Surgery Associates The goal of the Conference is to raise awareness of children’s rights in local, national, and international communities; to discuss key issues of poverty in the 21st century; and to provide a forum for discussing creative, community-driven methods for alleviating child labor, hunger, and poverty around the world. More information: http://www.distressedchildren.org 19 to 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: [log in to unmask] 10 to 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.” More information: http://www.dpi2011.co.za/. 29 November to 1 December: 2nd Asia Pacific CBR Congress The 2nd Asia Pacific Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Congress will be held in Manila on the role of Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs) in CBR, as well as climate change and disability, corporate business in disability, harmonizing CRPD with domestic laws, CBR as a strategy in building communities for everyone, including older persons, accessibility and CBR, UNESCAP and CBR, the WHO CBR Guidelines and the CRPD. More information: http://www.ncda.gov.ph. 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.) IDA Disability Rights Bulletin This bulletin is intended for experts advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities, in particular within the Geneva-based human rights framework. It is prepared by IDA Secretariat, which also provides support to the Group of States Friends of the CRPD. Since the beginning of 2011 the International Disability Alliance (IDA) has continued and strengthened its work in Geneva to mainstream the rights of persons with disabilities in the UN human rights system. Find out more about the work of IDA through the Disability Rights Bulletin: http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org. New website to facilitate disability services and statistics The Indian Accessible Disability Data (I-ADD) website aims to build an interactive database, a “bridge” between service providers and persons with disability in India for planning rehabilitation services in rural and urban India. The project will help to assess the extent of human resource development required, allocating funds for rehabilitation programmes such as CBR, inclusive education, early intervention, skill development and employment opportunities. This village disability register will also provide supportive data for a disability census. More information: http://www.i-add.net/ New resource to address bullying children with special needs AbilityPath.org, an online community for professionals and parents of children with special needs interviewed experts, educators and parents regarding bullying, a silent epidemic facing children with special needs. The result was the report and guide entitled “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes: A Report on Bullying and Special Needs”. More information: http://www.abilitypath.org/areas-of-development/learning--schools/bullying. Open for admission: community-based rehabilitation courses 2011-2012 Bangalore University Department of Psychology in collaboration with Directorate of Correspondence Course Distance & Education and CBR Network (South Asia) invites application for community-based rehabilitation courses for academic year 2011-2012 offered through distance mode. For more information on eligibility, application forms, and other details, send an email to [log in to unmask] Join the International Disability Rights Movement as a USICD Member The disability rights movement is expanding around the world. Numerous countries are growing in their recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities, and disabled people's organizations (DPOs) are increasingly raising their voice to lead their societies toward equality and access. The U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD) works to advance inclusion of disability among U.S. and international organizations. More information: http://usicd.org/index.cfm/join-usicd. International Social Security Association on disability During the last two decades, disability benefit payments increased significantly in most of the industrialized countries, although the rate of this growth has declined over time. This has occurred despite increased efforts to prevent disabilities and a clear long-term improvement in physical work conditions, including the decline in the prevalence of manual work. More information: http://www.issa.int/aiss/Temas/Invalidez# 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. Website: http://www.un.org/disabilities, Email: [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe, please reply with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the Subject line. ________________End of message________________ This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask] Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.