For Your Information
Frank HB
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Announcement: Women with Disabilities & Beijing+5
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 11:04:54 -0800
From: Kathy Martinez <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Women with Disabilities & Beijing+5
June 2000, New York
…………………………………………
an education & training opportunity
………………………………………….
In 1995 the landmark UN Fourth World Conference on Women took place in
Beijing. Among many historic firsts at that gathering was the coming
together of more than 250 women with disabilities to take their rightful
place within the worldwide women's movement. In early June, the United
Nations will hold "Beijing+5,"a meeting of its General Assembly to
review
progress in the advancement of women since the event. It is essential
that
women with disabilities have a presence at this significant UN event and
the related NGO activities, to build on the momentum toward inclusion
and
collaboration between disabled and nondisabled women started in Beijing.
In
addition, the occasion is a unique opportunity to involve and train
young
women with disabilities as leaders in the international movement toward
equality for all women.
Objectives
Specifically, during this period of Beijing +5 activities, several of
the
groups that organized the disability initiatives in Beijing will convene
and collaborate to:
· Take inventory of how disabled women and girls around the world have
fared with implementation of the main "planks" of the Beijing Platform
of
Action;
· Provide an opportunity for young women with disabilities to
participate
in an intensive education and training program focused on working with
the
UN, its specialized agencies and international non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) committed to advancing the status of people with
disabilities and/or of women, so that those trained can participate in
and
be a proactive influence on the work of these bodies; and
· Expand and strengthen the international Disability Caucus,
incorporating
the young women trainees, so that it can effectively work with the
Beijing+5 review and future planning initiatives.
Education & Training
The plan is to offer a series of workshops in New York, June 1-4, the
days
just preceding the General Assembly and to involve the approximately
25-35
participants in the Beijing+5 events, June 5-9. Topics to be covered in
the
workshops include:
· Disability initiatives & the UN: a history & assessment of impact
· Priorities & achievements of the international disability NGOs
· Disability & International Human Rights Law
· Review of Disability "planks" in the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action
· Disability & the UN specialized agencies: ILO, UNICEF, WHO, others
· UN Standard Rules for Equalization of Opportunities for People with
Disabilities
· Women & the UN, including Commission on Status of Women, Division for
Advancement of Women, and the Convention for the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women
· History of initiatives focused on women, including the extent to which
these have incorporated issues on women and girls with disabilities
· 1995-2000: Highlights of international disabled women's projects &
initiatives
· Advocacy with UN bodies, member states & meetings: basic rules &
tools
· Translating information & messages into UN parlance: working examples
· Engaging allies: successful strategies & approaches
Workshops will be conducted by an international faculty knowledgeable
about
disability and women's rights. In addition, it is expected that a number
of
delegates representing UN member states at the Beijing+5 events will
make
presentations concerning disability issues and/or women's issues.
Workshops will offer information sharing and skill development, provided
in
a variety of formats, with a strong emphasis on active, participatory
learning. Participants will develop a broad range of leadership skills
essential for effective work at the UN and other international arenas,
including strategies for negotiating, building alliances and/or working
in
coalitions across issues; and designing effective public relations
campaigns. Trainees will be provided with diverse hands-on opportunities
to
use and further develop their new skills and knowledge during Beijing +5
activities. Follow-up mechanisms will be devised to assist participants
to
stay connected and involved in the international arena beyond the
completion of the training.
Collaborators
The complete list of collaborating groups is still being finalized, but
the
following agencies, organizations and consultants have been invited to
participate: several UN divisions and the UN specialized agencies;
disability organizations in consultative status with Beijing+5,
including
Disabled People's International, Inclusion International, Mobility
International USA, Rehabilitation International, World Blind Union,
World
Federation of the Deaf and World Association of Psychiatric Service
Users;
other organizations involved with disability rights on an international
scale, including the World Institute on Disability and Mental Disability
Rights International, university faculty representing human rights law,
disability studies programs that incorporate disabled women's issues and
women's studies programs that incorporate disability issues; and
selected
women-focused NGOs that are acting as valuable allies and mentors to
disabled women activists and their organizations.
Scholarships & Sponsorships Needed
In order to enable 25-35 young, disabled women from the U.S. and other
countries to spend approximately 7-10 days (including travel time) in
New
York this June, we need approximately $3000-5000 per participant
(varying
according to point of origin and if she needs an attendant).
Project Organizers
This project has been planned as one in a series of activities to
follow-up
on the 1997 International Leadership Forum for Women with Disabilities,
which attracted more than 600 participants from 80 countries and
territories to Washington, D.C. Funded primarily by the U.S. Social
Security Administration and Department of Education, the organizers of
the
project are Rehabilitation International and the World Institute of
Disability. RI & WID have been working closely with representatives of
Disabled People's International and the World Blind Union to plan and
design the Beijing+5 training project.
Further Information
1) Rehabilitation International, 25 E. 21st St., New York, N.Y. 10010;
Project Co-Director, Barbara Duncan; email [log in to unmask]; tel 510 527
1719;
2) World Institute on Disability, 510 16th Street, Oakland, CA 94612;
Project Co-
Director, Kathy Martinez; email [log in to unmask]; tel 510 251 4326;
3) Background paper: "Girls & Women with Disabilities: an international
overview and
summary of research," February 2000 by Harilyn Rousso, Disabilities
Unlimited Consulting Services; email [log in to unmask]; tel 212 673 4284
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
