-------- Original Message --------
Subject: IID: Happy Int'l Day with Victory at the UN!!!
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 15:25:29 EST
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Dear Friends!
Happy 3 December - International Day of Disabled Persons!
This year we have a lot tocelebrate!
I have the great pleasure to announce that, on Friday, November 30, the
UN General Assembly finally approved, by consensus, the Mexican
Resolution, regarding an International Convention to protect and promote
the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Besides Mexico, the resolution was co-sponsored by the following
countries: Brazil, Surinam, Argentina, Honduras, Bolivia, Chile,
Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Morocco,
Nicaragua, Panama, Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uruguay, and
Iran.
Although the resolution was co-sponsored by these countries only, after
an intense period of language negotiations, all other countries that are
members of the UN, also joined the consensus for a convention and it was
adopted without a vote.
The approved final text of the main paragraph of the resolution as it
was amended by Mexico from the floor at the time action was taken on
A/C.3/56/L.67/Rev.1 is:
The General Assembly (…)
OP 1: Decides to establish an Ad Hoc Committee open to the
participation of all Member states and observers to the United Nations,
to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international
convention to protect and promote the rights and dignity of persons with
disabilities, based on the holistic approach in the work done in the
field of human rights and non-discrimination, taking into account
recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission for
Social Development.
At this opportunity, IID wants to thank all of you who helped in the
intense advocacy process which took place during the past 4 weeks, all
over the world, when, once more, individuals with disabilities and their
organizations took their place as protagonists of their own history,
fighting for a society for all.
We would also like to thank President Vicente Fox for his personal
support and involvement, as well as the excellent work accomplished by
his staff in this effort. We would like to highlight the important
leadership of Dr. Victor Hugo Flores and the tireless hard work of Maria
Eugenia Antunez and Berenice Diaz, during the intense negotiation
process on the Third Committee meetings in New York.
Congratulations to Mexico and the other co-sponsors! Congratulations to
all of us! And let's stay alert andready since the real work for the
Convention is just starting to happen!
Please, find below a message sent by the United Nations Programme on
Disability Policy, on the theme for the year 2001 observance of the
International Day of Disabled Persons: "Full participation and equality:
The call for new approaches to assess progress andevaluate outcome."
We would also like to use this opportunity to express our honor on been
joining and serving our wonderful disability community worldwide! It is
a privilege to be able to daily celebrate diversity, and to work towards
inclusion and equality for all!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
From all of us at the Inter-American Institute on Disability,
Rosangela Berman-Bieler
President, IID
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(Message from the United Nations Programme on Disability Policy)
International Day of DisabledPersons, 3 December 2001
Full participation and Equality: The call for new approaches to assess
progress and evaluate outcome
The International Day of Disabled Persons, 3 December, was proclaimed in
1992 the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution47/3. The
annual observance of the Day aims to increase awareness and
understanding of disability issues and trends, and to mobilize support
for practical action at all levels, by, with and for persons with
disabilities.
The theme for the year 2001 observance of the International Day of
Disabled Persons is "Full participation and equality: The call for
new approaches to assess progress and evaluate outcome." The theme of
the Day is based on the goal of full participation and equality of
persons with disabilities in social life and development, established by
the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by
the General Assembly in 1982. During the almost twenty years since the
adoption of the World Programme of Action, initiative shave been taken
worldwide to realize its goals. Awareness and information about the
situation of persons with disabilities is important if full
participation and equality are to be achieved. As we look back to what
has been achieved, and forward to a society where equalization of
opportunities is a reality, it has become more critical than ever to
monitor progress towards full participation and equality and evaluate
outcomes.
The use of information on disability for planning and evaluation
involves obtaining information for initial planning to analyze the
current situation, set objectives and plan activities; as well as, for
monitoring and evaluation, where information is used for programme
evaluation or for progress.
Monitoring refers to the practice of setting goals and objectives and
establishing evaluation criteria to determine whether the goals and
objectives have been achieved.
Gaining a new and better understanding of information available for
disability-sensitive monitoring and evaluation is a necessary step
towards realizing the goals of the World Programme of Action.
How the Day may be observed
Involve: Observance of the Day provides opportunities for
participationby all interested communities: governmental,
non-governmental and the private sector to focus upon catalytic and
innovative measures to further implement international norms and
standards related to persons with disabilities. Schools, universities
and similar institutions can make particular contributions with regard
to promoting greater interest and awareness among interested parties of
the social, cultural, economic, civil and political rights of persons
with disabilities.
Organize: Hold forums, public discussions and information campaigns in
support of the Day focusing on disability issues and trends and ways and
means by which persons with disabilities and their families are pursuing
independent life styles, sustainable livelihoods and financial security.
Celebrate: Plan and organize performances everywhere to showcase
andcelebrate the contributions by persons with disabilities to the
societies in which they live and convene exchanges and dialogues
focusing on the rich and varied skills, interests and aspirations of
persons with disabilities.
Take Action: A major focus of the Day is practical action to further
implement international norms and standards concerning persons with
disabilities and to further their participation in social life and
development on the basis of equality. The media have especially
important contributions to make in support of the observance of the Day
and throughout the year regarding appropriate presentation of progress
and obstacles implementing disability-sensitive policies, programmes and
projects and to promote public awareness of the contributions by persons
with disabilities.
Observing the International Day of Disabled Persons at the UnitedÂ
Nations Headquarters, New York
The Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic
and Social Affairs, will hold an Expert Group Meeting, 3 - 5 December,
on Disability-sensitive policy and programme evaluation and monitoring,
and a Panel Discussion, 6 December, on New approaches to assess
progress and evaluate outcome.The Day, 3 December, will be celebrated by
launching an art exhibit of paintings by Walter Engel, organized by the
United Nations Recreation Staff Council Colombian's Cultural Club in
cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the
Department of Public Information.
More information about the Day and Expert Group Meeting will be
available on the United Nations Persons with Disabilities Internet site
at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disobs.htm.
The message of the United Nation's Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, will
be available in the form of a press release on 3 December at:
http://www0.un.org/apps/press/latest.asp.
Information related to the theme of the Day:
Resources available at the United Nations Programme on Disability
Internet Site
Main disability specific mandates World Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons, available at:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/diswpa00.htm
United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for
Persons with Disabilities, available at:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/dissre00.htm
Other references:
Disabled Persons Bulletin 1999/2, United Nations Programme on Disability
Policy, available at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/dpb19992.htm
"Programme Monitoring and Evaluation; The Disability Perspective in the
Context of Development", byScott Campbell Brown, available at:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/monitor/
"Planning for Disability",Dr. Robert Metts (December 1998), available at
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disid98f.htm
"Issues in gender-sensitive anddisability-responsive policy research,
training and action" by Dr.Margaret Snyder (April 1999), available at:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disrppeg.htm
Resources on disability statistics available at the United Nations
Statistics Division Internet Site
"Disability Statistics: Available studies on disability" Internet site
of the United Nations Statistics Division, DESA, available at:
http://esa.un.org/unsd/disability/introduction.asp
Background information and documents of the United Nations International
Seminar on the Measurement of Disability, New York, 4-6 June 2001,
organized by the United Nations Statistics Division, available at:
http://www.un.org/Depts/unsd/disability/methods/index.html
United Nations Programme on Disability Policy
Social Integration Branch, Division for Social Policy and Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Secretariat
Two UN Plaza, DC2-1319C, New York, NY 10017
Fax: 212-963-0111 - E-mail: mailto:[log in to unmask]
Website: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable
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