DR. FLOYD MORRIS
Candidate of Jamaica for election to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
2021-2024 02 Dr. Floyd Morris for CRPD 2021-2024
(Below: Dr. Floyd Morris and the former Jamaican Prime Ministers)
The Government of Jamaica presents Dr. Floyd Morris, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Special Rapporteur on Disability as its candidate for membership of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) for the 2021-2024 period.
Dr. Floyd Morris is the current Director of the University of the West Indies Centre for Disability Studies, an experienced academic, Parliamentarian, researcher and disability advocate with over 25 years of experience. His knowledge speaks to his long standing efforts in the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. He is also a person who is blind. 03 Dr. Floyd Morris for CRPD 2021-2024
JAMAICA & Committed to the protection and promotion THE CRPD of the rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Jamaica has a history of actively engaging in the international space to advocate for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all areas of social life. We recognize the challenge to their participation and ability to access the full range of services that society offers. Jamaica signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in March 2007 and by so doing, became the first country to affix its signature to that document. This was a signal to the world and community of persons with disabilities that, Jamaica was committing itself to the development of these vulnerable individuals.
The cornerstone of Jamaica’s commitment to disabilities promotion and protection rests in its Disabilities Act of 2014. This, inter alia, facilitates the fair and equal treatment of persons with disabilities, including their full and effective participation in all areas of life – in keeping with the UN Convention.
Jamaica, through several efforts, continues to promote, protect and ensure the fulfilment of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. 04 Dr. Floyd Morris for CRPD 2021-2024
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Commitment to the Recognition and Tolerance of the Community of persons with disabilities.
Dr. Floyd Morris has experience as a member of the Parliament of Jamaica where he constantly represents and advocates for the community of persons with disabilities. He was instrumental in the development of Jamaica’s National Policy for persons with disabilities. He initiated a regional roundtable on disability issues in 2004 resulting in the Kingston Accord and also led Jamaica’s efforts to formulate legislation to protect persons with disabilities resulting in the passage of the Disabilities Act 2014. Additionally, he was Jamaica’s lead negotiator on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2002 to 2007). 05 Dr. Floyd Morris for CRPD 2021-2024
Dr. Morris participated in a regional round-table on disability issues in 2013 resulting in the Declaration of Petion Dr. Morris has been serving as Ville - the Caribbean road map for the CARICOM Special Rapporteur improving the quality of life of persons on Disability since 2018. As a with disabilities. He served as a member part of his role, Dr. Morris: of the Advisory Board for Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities • Ensures the implementation from 1995 – 2018 and developed the of the Declaration of Petion Regional Disability Index, in 2018, a Ville, the regional roadmap mechanism for tracking and ranking for improving the quality of the progress of countries within the life of persons with disabilities Anglophone Caribbean on the CRPD and and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also served as the Chairman • Improves the legislative for the University of the West Indies framework for persons with Regional Disabilities Studies Conference disabilities in the Caribbean. in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020.
(Below: Dr. Floyd Morris signing the United Nations CRPD) 06 Dr. Floyd Morris for CRPD 2021-2024
ENDORSEMENT OF THE CANDIDACY OF DR. FLOYD MORRIS FOR JAMAICA’S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
The Government of Jamaica and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, take the opportunity to reaffirm the nomination of Dr. Floyd Morris as a candidate to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to serve for period of a least four years.
Dr. Floyd Morris has over 25 years of experience as an advocate for the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities and has made significant contribution in advancing the disability agenda both locally and internationally. He served as Jamaica’s lead negotiator on the CRPD from 2002 to 2007. It was through his work, that Jamaica signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2007, which registers our ongoing commitment to the de- velopment of persons with disabilites.
He was Chairman for University of the West Indies (UWI), Regional Disabilities Studies Conference in 2014, 2016 and 2018. He has been appointed as CARICOM Special Rapporteur on Disability since 2018 and continues to facilitate the imple- mentation of the disability agenda in the Caribbean. He serves as head of the Centre for Disability Studies, UWI. In the Parliament, he was instrumental in the crafting and ultimate passage of The Disabilities Act, 2014 in Jamaica.
Dr. Morris is very passionate and influential in his service of working towards an inclusive Jamaica as he continues to promote, protect and ensure the fulfillment of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilites in Jamaica. It is in this context, that the Cabinet of Jamaica and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security endorses and presents Dr. Floyd Morris for Jamaica’s representative to this Committee. We thank him for his invaluable contribution and wish him well as he vies for this important candidacy in the international space.
Sincerely,
Karl Samuda, CD, MP Minister of Labour and Social Security 07 Dr. Floyd Morris for CRPD 2021-2024
STATEMENT OF ENDORSEMENT BY SENATOR THE HONOURABLE KAMINA JOHNSON SMITH, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE OF JAMAICA.
I am pleased to lend support to the candidacy of Dr. Floyd Morris for membership of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) for the period 2021-2024.
Dr. Morris’ decades of steadfast advocacy on critical social issues, and in particular, his unwavering commitment to advancing the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), have earned him considerable respect at the local, regional and international levels.
Dr. Morris, who himself has a disability, was Jamaica’s lead negotiator on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Notably, he is presently serving as the CARICOM Special Rapporteur on Disability.
His vast work experience in the legislature and academia, inter alia, has contributed to the advancements in the gradual improvements in accessibility and inclusivity for Persons with Disability in all areas of social life.
I, therefore, endorse Dr. Morris’ candidacy for election to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. As an independent expert, we believe that his contribution to the work of the CRPD will add significant value to the fulfilment of its mandate.
Jamaica looks forward to receiving your Government’s support for Dr. Floyd Morris’ candidature.
Kamina Johnson Smith Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade 08 Dr. Floyd Morris for CRPD 2021-2024 DEDICATED ADVOCATE FOR PWDS IN THE CARIBBEAN
Dr. Morris is committed to the concept of inclusive education in Jamaica and the Caribbean where he has been a staunch advocate of accessibility for students with disabilities, focusing on the built environment and modern technologies. He is an academic and has spent several years researching on persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and socio-economic conditions and healthcare, in addition to this, he continues to engage himself in the training of public sector officials and students on issues relating to PWDs.
CANDIDATE MAIN ACTIVITIES ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
• Participated in United Nations the Jamaican Senate. These enabled expert group meeting on persons persons who are deaf to participate with disabilities in October 2019. in the activities of their Parliament.
• Special presentation in 2016 on • Organized and implemented UWI the experience of persons with Centre for Disability Studies Regional disabilities in the Jamaican Disability Conference in 2014, 2016, Parliament at the Conference of 2018 and 2020. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association of Persons with • Participated in a special 2012 Disabilities. Conference on the situation of persons with disabilities in the • Introduced Sign Language to the Caribbean, hosted by the Economic sittings of the Houses of Parliament Commission of Latin America and in 2014 whilst serving as President of the Caribbean. 09 Dr. Floyd Morris for CRPD 2021-2024 COMMITTED TO CONTRIBUTING TO ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CRPD
If elected a member of the Committee, Dr. Morris will build on the existing foundation of the CRPD - to aid Member states in reconditioning their thinking and attitudes towards persons with disabilities in order to see them as capable of making decisions for their own lives.
Dr. Morris also hopes to advance the status and increase opportunities for PWDs across the Caribbean region. In order to accomplish this, he will continue to commove and advocate for Governments to ensure the promotion and realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for persons with disabilities without discrimination on the basis of disability in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.
The Government of Jamaica attaches great importance to the work of the CRPD and its role in ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities are respected and promoted among the Member States of the United Nations. As a leader and a disability advocate, and one who is also a person with disability, Dr. Morris will be a welcome addition to the Committee as a CARICOM member. His range of experiences in areas such as inter alia research, academia, leadership and advocacy at the local, regional and international level ensures that he is adept and highly qualified to undertake the rigors of the tasks ahead as an elected member of the CRPD. Dr. Morris’ wealth of experience will help to develop and enhance the continued work of the CRPD for all States parties involved.
AWARDS • 2012 recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Disability Policy and Reforms; • RJR Gleaner Honour Award for Education Personality of the Year 2017; • 2020 UWI Vice Chancellor Awardee for Excellence in Public Service.
RECENT Morris, F. 2020. Accessible and inclusive city: Can Kingston PUBLICATIONS Jamaica measure up? Disability Studies Quarterly. Morris, F. 2019. Disability, chronic diseases and access to health care in Jamaica. West Indian Medical Journal. 10 Dr. Floyd Morris for CRPD 2021-2024 KEY PUBLICATIONS
Morris, F. 2019. An inclusive and prosperous Caribbean: The case of persons with disabilities. Social and Economic Studies.
Morris, F. 2019. Climate change, environment and development: The situation of persons with disabilities in the Anglophone Caribbean. Journal of Caribbean Environmental Sciences and Renewable Energy. Volume 2, Issue 1. DOI 10.33277/Cesare/002.001/03.
Morris, F. 2019. Regional disability index. UWI Research and Development 2019. UWI, Mona: pp. 94-97.
Morris, F. 2018. UWI Mona: Empowering Persons with Disabilities through Tertiary Education. In Studies on Disability International Theoretical, Empirical and Didactics Experiences. Edited by Joanna Glodkowska, Justyna Maria Gasik, Marta Pagowska. ISBN 978-83-64953-86-6, Pp.228-237.
Morris, F. 2018. Human rights and persons with disabilities in the Anglophone Caribbean. The Parliamentarian, Journal of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. Volume 99, Issue 4.
Morris, F. 2018. (Ed.) Transforming and empowering persons with disabilities through modern technologies: A myth or reality. Kingston, Jamaica: UWI Centre for Disability Studies.
Morris, F. 2017. By Faith, Not by Sight (Autobiography of Jamaica’s first blind Senator). Kingston, Jamaica: I-Publish Jamaica.
Morris, F. & Henderson, A. 2016. ICT and empowerment of children with disabilities: A Jamaican case study. In (Ed.) Communication and Information Technologies Annual (Studies in Media and Communications, Volume 12), 25-39. London: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.
Morris, F. 2016. Towards establishing a model political communication strategy for people with disabilities. The Parliamentarian, Journal of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. Volume 97, Issue 4.
Morris, F. 2020. Political communication strategies in post independence Jamaica 1972-2006. UWI Press. Kingston, Jamaica. THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA THANKS YOU FOR YOUR INVALUABLE SUPPORT.