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Fyi. From: United Nations [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Saturday, 30 May 2015 7:23 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: UN Enable Newsletter, April-May 2015 UNITED NATIONS ENABLE NEWSLETTER April-May 2015 The United Nations Enable Newsletter is prepared by the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (DSPD/DESA) with input from UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes, as well as from civil society organizations, including organizations of persons with disabilities. It is also available online at: www.un.org/disabilities. In this issue: - Status of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) - News from UN Headquarters - News from UN agencies - DiDRR – Disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction - Calendar of events - Other news STATUS OF THE CRPD 154 ratifications/accessions and 159 signatories to the CRPD 86 ratifications/accessions and 92 signatories to its Optional Protocol (OP) Kazakhstan ratified the Convention on 21 April 2015 The upcoming 8th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD The 8th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (COSP8) will be held from 9 to 11 June 2015 at UN Headquarters in New York under the overarching theme of “mainstreaming the rights of persons with disabilities in thepost-2015 development agenda”. The Provisional Agenda (CRPD/CSP/2015/1) and background papers are now available online in all six official languages. Over 52 side-events are currently slotted to be held in conjunction with the Conference. A day prior to COSP8, the Civil Society Global Forum will be organized by the International Disability Alliance and Disabled People’s International, with the support of DESA. States Parties and observers, including DPOs, are called upon to support and encourage the participation of young leaders in the Conference of States Parties. Online pre-registration for NGO participants is currently underway with a deadline of 31 May. The Accessibility Centre at UN Headquarters is open to provide delegates and NGO representatives with equipment and assistive devices to enable their participation and inclusion in the Conference. (http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1625) DESA/DSPD Forum on Disability and Development The Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) is organizing a DESA Forum on disability and development in conjunction with the 8th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Forum will take place in two parts in two days: Part I will be held under the theme: “Accessible and Inclusive Urban Development” (11 June, 1:15 to 2:30 p.m.). This Forum will provide a platform for exchanging experiences and expertise in the area of disability-inclusive urban development, with a view to advancing disability in the processes leading to HABITAT III and the New Urban Agenda. Part II of the Forum will be held under the theme: “Operationalising the Post-2015 Development Agenda for Persons with Disabilities” (12 June, 10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and will discuss entry points and emerging opportunities for actions and strategies to further mainstream disability in critical areas of the post 2015 development agenda. The Forum will be guided by experiences in advancing (1) disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction, resilience and reconstruction: implications for disability-inclusive responses to humanitarian crises; and (2) inclusive, accessible and sustainable urban development. The interactive dialogue will result in a set of practical recommendations for disability-inclusive implementation of the SDGs and to advance mainstreaming of disability in the core global discourses in particular those relating to the upcoming World Humanitarian Summit and Habitat III and their implementation. (http://bit.ly/1Qg1qh3, http://bit.ly/1HBcGQE) NEWS FROM UN HEADQUARTERS World Autism Awareness Day 2015 – “Employment: The Autism Advantage” Around the world, World Autism Awareness Day was commemorated on 2 April (WAAD). The day focused on employment and the positive benefits of hiring people with autism. At UN Headquarters, an event discussed measures required to support growth in employment opportunities for people on the autism spectrum. The event also included a global launch of a Call to Action inviting businesses to make concrete commitments to employ persons with autism. (http://www.un.org/en/events/autismday/index.shtml) UN Expert Group Meeting on operationalization of the disability-inclusive post-2015 development framework In collaboration with UN ESCWA, DESA organized an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on “Disability-inclusive operationalization of the post-2015 development agenda”, which was held at the UN House in Beirut, Lebanon, from 11 to 13 May 2015. The Meeting developed a set of practical recommendations for disability-inclusive implementation of the post-2015 framework, including a ‘road map’ for planning, monitoring and evaluation of plans, programmes and policies to achieve development goals for persons with disabilities. The expert meeting benefited from rich contributions from regional perspectives and experiences in the disability field. It is also drew on progress and specific achievements in the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction to support the building of next steps for upcoming global conferences, such as the UN Humanitarian Summit and Habitat III to advance inclusive and sustainable cities. The outcomes of the Meeting will provide input to the forthcoming General Assembly panel discussion on the follow up to the High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development, held in September 2013. (http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=15 <http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=15&pid=1631> &pid=1631) Join the UN Global Network on Women with Disabilities Women and girls with disabilities face many types of discrimination due to both their gender and their disability. As we move towards the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, it is important that women and girls with disabilities are not left behind. Programmes and policy approaches on gender, disability and development must be strengthened at global, regional and national levels. To this end, UN DESA and UN Women are working to establish a global network of women with disabilities, including representatives of Government, UN agencies, academia, private sector, private foundations and other civil society organizations, including organizations of persons with disabilities. The network will provide a common platform to share information, provide opportunities for joint activities and efforts to advance the rights of women and girls with disabilities in society and development. It also aims to strengthen the representation and voice of women and girls with disabilities, at all levels. If you are interested in joining this network, please complete the online survey form at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ungnwwd. UN Inter-agency meeting on disability The UN Inter-Agency Support Group on the CRPD (IASG) was held in Beirut from 7 to 9 May. The meeting was hosted by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the rotating chair to the IASG. The Meeting covered a number of substantive issues involving inter-agency collaboration, including further progress in the on-going efforts by the IASG to develop training tools on disability and development with UNITAR; and the development of joint initiatives to advance disability in the post-2015 agenda and its implementation. The second day of the meeting involved a thematic discussion on persons with disabilities in situations of risk and humanitarian crises. The IASG discussed a number of areas for prioritisation and joint activities in the lead up to the World Humanitarian Summit and to strengthen disability-inclusive responses to emergencies and humanitarian crises. During the 8 th session of the Conference of States Parties, he IASG will conduct a side-event to provide a forum for discussing ways to support the inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the work of UN departments, agencies, programs and funds responsible for ensuring the respect for human rights in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies. (http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/COP/cosp8_iasg_side_event_concept_ note.docx and http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=45 <http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=45&pid=323> &pid=323) Making the UN Secretariat more inclusive and accessible The UN Inter-Departmental Task Force on Accessibility (IDTFA) and the Focus Group on Accessibility (FGA) has been working together during the past few years to make UN inclusive and accessible for persons with disabilities. The group is made of UN Secretariat Departments and Offices, civil society organisations and experts who work on strengthening the participation of staff members and visitors with disabilities in the UN community and the UN Secretariat. With a view to take stock of progress made during the past year, a focus group meeting was organized by the IDTFA. Briefings were delivered by the concerned offices of the UN Department of Management, including the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM), the Office of Human Resource Management (OHRM) and the Department of Safety and Security (DSS). The meeting was also attended by Member States, UN agencies, civil society organisations who discussed the importance for the inclusion and accessibility for all persons with disabilities in the UN Secretariat. NEWS FROM OTHER UN AGENCIES ESCAP – Launches new Accessibility Centre The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) today opened a state-of-the-art Accessibility Centre at the ESCAP Conference Centre in Bangkok to support the participation of persons with disabilities in UN intergovernmental processes and meetings. In a landmark move to make ESCAP more accessible, the establishment of the Centre was made possible by a generous contribution from the Government of the Republic of Korea, through its Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Centre features electric wheelchairs, desktop magnifiers, screen readers, portable players for Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY), hearing aids, bone conduction headsets, eye trackers and a range of other assistive devices. The Centre is an important contribution to the implementation of the Incheon Strategy to ‘Make the Right Real’ for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, 2013-2022, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (http://www.unescap.org/news/accessibility-centre-opens-escap-support-person s-disabilities) OHCHR - Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities The first-ever Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Catalina Devandas-Aguilar from Costa Rica, presented her work plan and vision on the mandate to the Human Rights Council, this past March. She identified three thematic priority areas of work: (i) the full exercise by persons with disabilities of their civil and political rights as equal members of society; (ii) disability-inclusive poverty reduction; and (iii) disability awareness to challenge negative perceptions and stigma related to disability. In her engagements thus far with a broad variety of stakeholders, she has emphasized the leading role of the CRPD in all efforts related to promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. The Special Rapporteur, whose mandate was established by the Human Rights Council through resolution 26/20 in June 2014, took up her duties in December 2014. During her three year tenure, she will undertake country visits, present annual reports to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, and engage in communications with States and other stakeholders. She has highlighted that she sees her role as facilitating cooperation among stakeholders and building bridges between projects, initiatives and stakeholders, and countries and continents, with a view to creating platforms for the exchange of good practices and lessons learned. The Special Rapporteur can be reached at [log in to unmask], and she tweets as @SR_Disability. For further information on the Special Rapporteur and her activities, please visit her webpage: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Disability/SRDisabilities/Pages/SRDisabilitie sIndex.aspx (NOTE: In the last issue of the UN Enable newsletter, it was incorrectly stated that the Special Rapporteur made a statement to the CSW (the Commission on the Status of Women); it was not made to the CSW, but to the Commission for Social Development.) ITU – Accessible Americas: Information and communication for all Taking into account the Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) accessibility issue and the upoming the Paralympics in 2016, to be held in the region of the Americas, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) had organized the regional event Accessible Americas: Information and Communication for ALL, in November 2014, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The event aimed at offering to stakeholders in the region the opportunity to discuss and establish improved ICT accessibility guidelines. Accessible Americas II: Information and Communication for ALL, is scheduled to be held from 4 to 6 November 2015, in Medellín, Colombia. The event aims to promote a discussion on how stakeholders in the Americas region could make ICT more accessible, as well as to ensure equal rights for persons with disabilities to help promote their social and economic development, as stated in the UNCRPD. The event will deliver face-to-face training based on the ITU-G3ict "Model ICT Accessibility Policy Report", for development of policies and strategies to make ICTs accessible, but will also assess progress at regional level and work to promote the exchange of successful experiences and discussions on the applicability of the principles and practices of accessible ICTs in the Americas region. (http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Regional-Presence/Americas/Pages/EVENTS/2014/11 12-BR-Accssblty.aspx) WHO – New WHO Department to include disability issues The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General announced the creation of a new Department for Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention (NVI). This new Department, which results from the merger of the Department of Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability (VIP) and the Department for Management of Noncommunicable Diseases (MND). NVI will support regions and countries to strengthen their capacity to address these major health, disability and development challenges in an integrated way in the context of the new realities of the post-2015 era. (http://www.who.int/topics/disabilities/en/) WIPO - Accessible Books Consortium – producing accessible books in India The Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) is concluding a project to produce 180 high school textbooks in accessible formats in India to encourage visually impaired students to complete their high school education. ABC currently conducts capacity-building activities in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka to provide technical training and assistance in the production and distribution of educational materials in accessible formats in these countries. ABC is a multi-stakeholder alliance, comprising the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), organizations that represent people with print disabilities and organizations representing publishers and authors. The ABC aims to increase the number of books available in accessible formats – such as braille, audio and large print – and to make them available to people who are visually impaired, worldwide. (http://www.accessiblebooksconsortium.org/portal/en/) WIPO - Update on Marrakesh Treaty Ratification Since the adoption on June 27, 2013, of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled (MVT), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has been working expeditiously to bring about the Treaty’s swift entry into force. To date, the Treaty has been by ratified by 8 countries: Argentina, El Salvador, India, Mali, Paraguay, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay. It will come into force three months after 20 ratifications or accessions have been presented to WIPO. To accelerate ratifications, WIPO has been conducting regional conferences to promote the MVT. The meetings have gathered Governments and key stakeholders to identify opportunities and address obstacles to the Treaty’s implementation. In 2015, regional conferences have already taken place in the Arab region and for Anglophone African countries. Upcoming meetings have been scheduled for the Asia and Pacific region, the Central European and Baltic region and for Lusophone countries. (http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ip/marrakesh/) DISABILITY-INCLUSIVE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION (DiDRR) Nepal earthquake: Disability response and situation of persons with disabilities The Nepal earthquake struck on 25 April. Find out more about the international and local disability response on the situation of persons with disabilities. Send us additional information to keep the global disability community updated with a view to promote greater action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in this crisis. (http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1632) Inclusion saves lives: Global campaign to promote DiDRR DESA and UNDPI along with the DiDRR network developed an advocacy campaign entitled "Inclusion saves lives". The campaign works to raise awareness of the urgency of disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction and resilience-building, as well as to advance action at all levels that include persons with disabilities, their perspectives, knowledge and experience in DiDRR. Call for personal stories to highlight DiDRR: Please send us your personal stories about how disability is included in planning for and in emergency situations in your region, country, city or community. Share your personal experience in a disaster situation and how successful inclusion and planning worked to save lives and we could showcase the idea on our website to inform and inspire others to do the same. More information is available at http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1630. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Please send information on major international disability events, for possible inclusion in the list below, to [log in to unmask] Now also available on the UN Enable website: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1627 9 to 11 June: Eight session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1535) 6 to 9 July: 6th International Conference on Disabilities - Unity & Diversity in Action (http://eng-conf.beitissie.org.il/) 28 to 31 July: TRANSED 2015 -The 14th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (http://www.transed2015.com <http://www.transed2015.com/> ) 28 July to 2 August: XVII World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf (http://www.wfdcongress2015.org <http://www.wfdcongress2015.org/> ) 17 August to 4 September: 14th session of the CRPD Committee (http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/CRPDIndex.aspx) 9 - 11 September: Asia Pacific Autism Conference, Brisbane, Australia (http://www.apac15.org.au <http://www.apac15.org.au/> ) 3 December: International Day of Persons with Disabilities (http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=111) 2016 Habitat III (http://unhabitat.org/habitat-iii/) OTHER NEWS (DISCLAIMER: The information below is provided by other stakeholders 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.) Take the World Humanitarian Summit survey In collaboration with Handicap International, and with the support of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), the World Humanitarian Summit secretariat launched an online survey to collect views on humanitarian issues and disability. The surveys aim at gathering the views of persons with disabilities, Disabled People Organizations and humanitarian actors including UN agencies on the thematic to identify gaps and needs in terms of inclusion of persons with disabilities into the humanitarian response. The survey closes on 15 June. The results will be included in a detailed report that will be part of the World Humanitarian Summit official consultations. Handicap International will be responsible for compilation, dissemination and promotion of the report which will be released by the end of July. (https://www.worldhumanitariansummit.org/whs_disability) DPI – G3ict Advocacy Program for ICT Accessibility among CIS countries On 12 May, Disabled People’s International (DPI) in cooperation with G3ict, the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs, held a regional meeting of the CIS countries in Moscow, Russia. The meeting allowed participants to systematically analyze and compare the degree of advancement of CRPD implementation among CIS countries for digital accessibility. A presentation of the G3ict-ITU model policies for ICT accessibility served as a framework for participants to compare experiences in advocating for accessible television, accessible public access points, accessible telephones, accessible web sites and setting ICT accessibility standards for public procurement. On 13 May, delegates participated in the first M-Enabling Conference in Russia on leveraging mobile technologies and services for persons with disabilities. The Summit was organized by G3ict and EJ Krause and Associates in cooperation with the United Nations Information Center in Moscow, Bauman University, leading Russian disability organizations and several Ministries and Government agencies of the Russian Federation. (http://www.m-enabling.ru/en/ or [log in to unmask]) Empowering NGO’s and Government officials in Samoa on CRPD Working in partnership with Governments, private sector and civil society is vital for advancing disability inclusive development and ensuring better understanding of the human rights of persons with disabilities. The Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) conducted a two-phase ‘Training of Trainers on raising awareness on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)’ in March and April 2015 in Samoa targeting 40 representatives from Government, CSOs and DPOs. PDF is contracted by the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development in Samoa to conduct this training which is part of the Samoan Disability Programe funded by the Australian Aid Programme. PDF, a regional DPO in the Pacific based in Fiji has trained a CRPD Resource Team comprising of persons with disabilities with the support of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and aims to carry out similar trainings in other Pacific countries drawing on this pool of trainers. (www.pacificdisability.org <http://www.pacificdisability.org/> or Simione Bula, [log in to unmask]) HRW video on persons with disabilities in crisis in Central African Republic Human Rights Watch documented how persons with disabilities in the Central African Republic were often left behind and struggled to flee to safety when their communities came under the brutal attacks by armed groups beginning in 2013. When these people did reach sites for internally displaced people, they struggled to access basic services such as food, sanitation, education and medical assistance. On 28 April 2015, the United Nations Security Council renewed the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, which included for the first time a specific requirement to monitor, investigate, report and prevent abuses against persons with disabilities. For more information on this work, contact Shantha Rau Barriga at [log in to unmask] or Kriti Sharma at [log in to unmask] Research: http://www.hrw.org/node/134591; video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j53mTZhYMOY <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j53mTZhYMOY&feature=youtu.be> &feature=youtu.be Integrated Development Sustainable Accessibility USTAD Standards To further ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society, World Disability Foundation (WDF) has published universal standards for people with disabilities. Entitled "USTAD" the Standards are: USTAD 2011:2015 Environmental and Construction Standard, USTAD Training Standards, USTAD Digital Standards. USTAD 2011:2015 is the world's first auditable international standard and GlobalGROUP has been accredited by WDU according to the USTAD 75301 Accreditation Standard to provide certification services all over the world. TAV and Armonipark Outlet Centre are the some sample brand with USTAD 2011:2015 certificate. A Sustainable Accessibility Social Forum will be held during the Conference of States Parties (9-11 June 2015) at New York at UN Headquarters. (www.ustadcertification.org) Fire Safety for All in Buildings– The 2015 Dublin Declaration On April 9 & 10 in Dublin, Ireland, the International Council for Research & Innovation in Building & Construction (CIB <http://www.cibworld.nl/site/home/index.html> ), along with Rehabilitation International’s International Commission on Technology and Accessibility (RI-ICTA <http://www.riglobal.org/> ) co-sponsored the Fire Safety for All Conference <http://fire-safety-for-all.ie/> , with additional participation and support from the Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES <http://www.gaates.org/> ) and the European Concept for Accessibility Network (EuCAN <http://www.eca.lu/> ). The purpose of this conference was to address how fire safety for persons with activity limitations and disabilities is being addressed through existing international and national fire and building codes. At the conclusion of the conference, all participants voted to adopt, support and promote the Dublin Declaration <http://fire-safety-for-all.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2015-Dublin-Declar ation_Fire-Safety-for-All_Adopted.pdf> , addressing the principles required to achieve fire safety for all in buildings. Furthermore, in light of the upcoming technical review of the ISO 21542: Accessibility and Usability of the Built Environment Standard <http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=50498> .For more information on fire engineering or the work of the CIB Working Commission 14 (CIB W14) the international, multi-stakeholder, transdisciplinary, pre-normalization forum for discussion, and action on research and innovation in Fire Science and Engineering for the spatial planning, design, engineering, construction and operation of a Safe, Resilient and Sustainable Built Environment for All, please contact C.J. Walsh directly at [log in to unmask] CONTACT INFORMATION Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) S-2906, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY 10017, USA. BE INFORMED! GET INVOLVED! Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/United-Nations-Enable/196545623691523 Twitter: http://twitter.com/UN_Enable Website: www.un.org/disabilities Email: [log in to unmask] Call for volunteers to translate the UN Enable newsletter Be informed! Get involved! Volunteer your time to translate the UN Enable newsletter in an official UN language: French, Russian, Arabic and Chinese or your own local language. More information: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1626. 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