UN Enable Newsletter s1

UN Enable Newsletter

September 2015

The UN 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 CRPD

- News from UN Headquarters

- News from other UN entities

- Calendar of international disability events

- Other news

STATUS OF THE CRPD

159 ratifications/accessions and 160 signatories to the CRPD

88 ratifications/accessions and 92 signatories to its Optional Protocol (OP)

- Democratic Republic of the Congo acceded both the CRPD and the OP on 30 September - Bahamas ratified the CRPD on 28 September - Belarus signed the CRPD on 28 September

1 Upcoming 9th session of the Conference of States Parties (2016) The 9th session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the CRPD will be held from 14 to 16 June 2016 at UN Headquarters in New York. Further details will be available in 2016. (http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1535)

Access the CRPD in other languages and formats

The UN Enable website also includes CRPD in various languages or easy-to- read formats, as well as in a range of national sign languages. Many non-official UN language versions and formats have been provided by stakeholders, including Governments and civil society organizations. (www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=15&pid=150)

NEWS FROM UN HEADQUARTERS

UN High-Level Week and Sustainable Development Summit

Promising to leaving no one behind, the UN General Assembly adopts the SDGs at the Sustainable Development Summit On Friday, 25 September, Member States of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the UN Sustainable Development Summit. More than 150 Heads of State and Government attended the Summit that was held at UN Headquarters in New York. The negotiation process of the 2030 agenda spanned more than two years and featured the unprecedented participation of civil society, including organizations of persons with disabilities and other stakeholders. Disability is referenced in various parts of the new agenda and specifically in parts related to education, growth and employment, inequality, accessibility of human settlements, as well as data collection and monitoring, including seven targets that explicitly refer to persons with disabilities. During the Summit, participants drew attention to challenges and opportunities related to achieving the SDGs for all, including persons with disabilities. Representatives of civil society organizations, including organizations of persons with disabilities, made statements in key dialogues at the Summit. (www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1618). See also the UN Enable infographic on the SDGs that graphically presents disability-inclusion in the SDGs: http://bit.ly/1PLyKxC.

2 International efforts toward disability-inclusive SDG indicators On 22 September, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the UN hosted experts from Member States, UN agencies and civil society at a meeting entitled "The importance of disability indicators for measuring the implementation of the SDGs for Persons with Disabilities". The event was co-organised by the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDD), co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Antigua and Barbuda, and Australia, UNICEF and DESA. DESA provided the keynote address and discussed options to include disability indicators in the SDG-indicator framework. A total of 25 indicators were discussed, fifteen of which can be obtained simply by disaggregating already collected data by disability. Indicators are important to measure the progress of implementation of the new Agenda for persons with disabilities and to make sure that no one is left behind. Panellists noted that unless policy makers are provided with data on disability indicators and disaggregated by disability, they will not be able to make educated decisions, design policies and address gaps in the implementation of the sustainable development goals and related targets. The event also marked the launch of the Global network on monitoring and evaluation for disability- inclusive development. (www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=13&pid=1515)

First lady of China unveils new UN custom stamp sheet on disability and development During the High-level summit at UN Headquarters, the First lady of China, Madam Liyuan Peng unveiled a new UN custom stamp sheet as part of the UN Summit to adopt the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. With the support of DESA, the UN Postal Administration (UNPA) in cooperation with the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) issued the stamp sheet to highlight initiatives and programmes that promote inclusive and equal access for people with disabilities. The tabs of the sheet feature Chinese words representing: Perseverance, Bravery, Staunchness, Self-respect, Inclusiveness, Unyieldingness, Magnanimity, Fearlessness, Lofty Aspiration, and Equality. The background of the sheet features a symbol of disability surrounded by iris flowers that represent hope, wisdom, and courage. A message on behalf of the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was presented by Mr. Hongbo Wu, the Under- Secretary-General of DESA in the presence of the First Lady of China, Mrs. Ban and others. (www.unmultimedia.org/radio/chinese/archives/239341/; UNPA website: http://unstamps.org/shop/disability-and-development/)

Summit side-event highlights the inclusion of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes for development The Nippon Foundation in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN and DESA co-organized a side-event prior on 24 September prior to the

3 opening of the UN Summit for Sustainable Development. The side-event entitled: “Towards full inclusion of disabled persons in the 2030 sustainable development goals and global governance processes” was co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the UN, the World Bank, UNESCO, the Institute on Disability and Public Policy (IDPP) and the International Disability Alliance (IDA). At the event, ideas, approaches and strategies for developing a framework for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in achieving the SDGs was be presented and discussed by an expert panel of speakers. Speakers elaborated on the importance and benefits of social and economic inclusion, accessible ICTs for education and the coordination between all stakeholders, as well as the accessibility and participation of persons with disabilities in the UN system and broader global governance processes. ([email protected] foundation.or.jp)

Civil society applauds the new disability-inclusive development agenda Representatives of civil society organizations, including organizations of persons with disabilities, who participated in key dialogues at the Sustainable Development Summit noted that the new 2030 agenda for sustainable development was one of the most inclusive efforts in UN history. They also emphasized the importance of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as a guiding document to achieve the new development agenda for persons with disabilities. Furthermore, CSO speakers highlighted the importance of a human-right based, participatory, non-discriminatory approach and equity on the road to 2030 to create an inclusive society for all, including persons with disabilities. (www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1618)

DESA – UN Habitat: Forum on disability inclusion and accessible urban development DESA will organize a three-day Forum with a focus on disability inclusion and accessible urban development in Nairobi from 28 to 30 October 2015. The Forum will be organized in close collaboration with UN-Habitat, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission and civil society partners, including the African Disability Forum. Experts from around the world will present ways to ensure that the world’s urban development agenda will be inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities. Discussions will also contribute to the preparatory processes leading to the Habitat III and its emerging “New Urban Agenda”. (www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=15&pid=1624)

4 2015 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December

Celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) IDPD has been commemorated since 1992 to promote awareness and mobilize support for critical issues relating to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society and development. The estimated one billion people living with disabilities worldwide face many barriers to inclusion and do not have access to key aspects of society on an equal basis with others. This year's theme: "Inclusion matters: Access and empowerment for people of all abilities", seeks to reduce inequalities and remove barriers to equal participation for persons with disabilities in society. Sub-themes for IDPD 2015 are: (1) Making cities inclusive and accessible for all; (2) Improving disability data and statistics; and (3) Including persons with invisible disabilities in society and development. Events at UN Headquarters will include events on the theme, as well as around the implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development for persons with disabilities. (www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1637)

Share your plans for IDPD 2015 with people from around the world You tell us! If you are commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in your community and would like to share an innovative idea that includes other stakeholders, such as your Government, a UN agency, an NGO/DPO or a community, please let us know about it. We will showcase the idea on our website to inform and inspire others to do the same. Please send your ideas to [email protected].

Call for films for UN Enable Film Festival Each year, disability-related films are selected from films submitted from around the world are screened at UN Headquarters in New York for the UN Enable Film Festival (UNEFF). The films selected for UNEFF work to highlight an emerging or often overlooked disability issue and present a disability perspective in a larger societal context, as well as highlight the human diversity of disability. Send us your short film if you think it can help achieve the objectives of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and is suitable to be presented to a diverse international audience. Further details and submission guidelines are available on the UN Enable website. Deadline: 20 November 2015. (www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1562)

Send us your “images of ability” for photo exhibition at UN Headquarters A photo exhibition “Images of ability” will be organized for IDPD 2015. Submissions for the photo exhibition are open to all, including professional

5 photographers, except staff of the UN Secretariat and their families. Final images selected by a panel of judges will form part of a display exhibited at UN Headquarters in New York during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and be archived on the UN Enable website. Photographs may also be used for UN publications and other outreach efforts. See complete details and guidelines on our website. Deadline: 31 October 2015. (www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1639)

NEWS FROM OTHER UN ENTITIES

OHCHR – CRPD Committee concludes its 14th session

The 14th session of the CRPD Committee concluded on 4 September. The Committee held dialogues with delegations from: Brazil, Gabon, Kenya, Mauritius, Qatar, Ukraine, and the European Union. The Committee also prepared a General Comment on Women with Disabilities (Article 6 of the CRPD), and received submissions from DPOs and others. State Party reports, official documents and statements, and concluding observations by the Committee on State reports are available on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The next session of the Committee will be held from 29 March to 21 April 2016. (http://bit.ly/1MwLvfL)

UNICEF – Post MDGs: Disability beyond 2015 UNICEF will mobilize advocacy efforts to ensure that future international development frameworks comprehensively and clearly acknowledge the rights of people and children with disabilities in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This international recognition would enable enhanced advocacy by, and empowerment of, people with disabilities and increased financial incentives for disability-inclusive programmes for children and people with disabilities. See also the post -2015 world fit for children, “Issue Brief: The Rights of Children with Disabilities”. (www.unicef.org/disabilities/index_70277.html)

UNICEF – Young disability advocate calls for greater participation in ICT On 22 September at UN Headquarters, UNICEF and The Guardian news organization, brought together roughly 200 attendees from a cross-section of international NGOs, policymakers, academics and the private sector for an event entitled: “Development without equality? Creating the world we need post-2015”.

6 Kartik Sawhney, a member of the Youth Council of the Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities (www.gpcwd.org) and student at Stanford University studying computer science, with an emphasis on artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction, spoke during the panel discussion on “How innovation can help create the world we need”. He highlighted that persons with disabilities are not only consumers, but developers of innovative solutions. He further called for greater opportunities for persons with disabilities to be involved in innovation and technology development. (www.unicef.org/disabilities/)

ILO – New publications on the employment and disability-inclusion The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) recent publication “Inclusion of people with disabilities in national employment policies” is designed to provide step-by-step support in effectively including women and men with disabilities in the development of national employment policies (NEP). Furthermore, the resource guide on gender issues in employment and labour market policies gives guidance on how to effectively embed gender dimensions in NEP development (http://bit.ly/1P1WcZl). The ILO’s work on disability inclusion focuses on promoting pathways into decent work for people with disabilities in developing countries. This builds on and extends the experience the ILO has gained on increasing their employability, and in promoting inclusive employment and enabling environments. In light of the above, the recent ILO publication: “ILO and disability inclusion” provides an overview of the ILO's approach to disability inclusion in developing countries, and includes a range of examples. (http://bit.ly/1WtJip7)

CALENDAR OF INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY EVENTS

Please send information on major international disability events, for possible inclusion in the list below, to [email protected]. Now also available on the UN Enable website at www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1627

4 to 8 October: VI Africa Forum of the Institutional Development Program

(www.perkins.org/international/africa/idp)

7 5 October: World Habitat Day

(http://unhabitat.org/world-habitat-day/)

8 October: World Sight Day

(www.iapb.org/advocacy/world-sight-day)

10 October: World Mental Health Day

(www.who.int/mental_health/world-mental-health-day/en/)

28 to 30 October: DESA – UN Habitat: Forum on disability inclusion and accessible urban development (http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=15&pid=1624)

31 October: World Cities Day

(http://unhabitat.org/wcd/)

14 to 15 October: DEEP 2015 - Designing Enabling Economies and Policies

(http://deep.idrc.ocadu.ca)

17 to 25 October: 2nd World Chess Championship for the Disabled (http://worldchess-disabled.com)

17 October: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2015

8 (csonet.org/index.php?page=view&nr=304&type=13&menu=14)

5 to 6 November: COE Conference on Promoting Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Ambitions, Impact and Challenges Ahead

(http://www.coe.int/t/dg3/disability/DisabilityDublinConference2015_en.asp)

10 December: Human Rights Day

(www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/)

3 December: International Day of Persons with Disabilities

(www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=111)

2 to 12 February: 54th session of the Commission for Social Development

(http://undesadspd.org/CommissionforSocialDevelopment/Sessions/2016.aspx)

21 March: World Down Syndrome Day

(www.un.org/en/events/downsyndromeday)

2 April: World Autism Awareness Day

(www.un.org/en/events/autismday)

9 11 to 13 April: 9th World Assembly of Disabled People's International (DPI), New Delhi, India

(www.disabledpeoplesinternational.org)

25 to 26 April: Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, Hawaii

(www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/)

25 to 27 April: VIII Latin-American Congress of the Blind, Montevideo

(www.ulacdigital.org/montevideo2016)

23 to 24 May: World Humanitarian Summit, Istanbul, Turkey

(www.worldhumanitariansummit.org)

13 June: International Albinism Awareness Day

(www.un.org/en/events/albinismday/)

14 to 16 June: 9th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD

(http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1535)

25 to 27 July: Habitat III - 3rd session of the Preparatory Committee, Jakarta, Indonesia

(https://www.habitat3.org/the-new-urban-agenda/preparatory-committee)

10 18 to 25 August: IX General Assembly of the World Blind Union

(www.worldblindunion.org/English/general-assembly/Pages/default.aspx)

17 to 20 October: Habitat III, UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, Quito, Ecuador

(www.habitat3.org)

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.)

Framing Perceptions exhibit at UN Headquarters An exhibition by Guardian photographer Graeme Robertson entitled “Framing Perceptions: Creating a world inclusive of persons with disabilities”, was held at UN Headquarters from 14 to 18 September. With the support of UN DESA and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the UN, the exhibition has been organized by the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC). The photo-exhibit presented stories of empowered lives and the impact of exclusion. (www.sightsavers.org/framingperceptions/; #Imagine2030)

WFD adopts resolution at its XVII World Congress

The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) adopted a resolution at its recent World Congress held from 28 July to 1 August in Istanbul, Turkey. The resolution recognizes disability as a part of human diversity, which is essential for appreciating the abilities of people with disabilities. The resolution calls on the UN, Governments, and research partners to recognize and promote the multiple benefits of sign language in education for all children, as well as to promote the

11 full participation of deaf people in all human rights processes. Read the complete resolution at: http://bit.ly/1PLL2WL.

DPI rallying DPOs in Latin America Region Disabled People's International Latin America Region (DPI LAR) recently concluded its 5th Regional Assembly on 12 to 13 September in Managua, Nicaragua. The members elected their new Regional Executive and representatives to the DPI World Council and discussed challenges and issues faced by people with disabilities in the Latin America Region. Strategies were discussed to reunite, reactivate and re-energize the Region. Members also discussed possible steps to be taken vis-a-vis advocacy related issues and capacity building in the region. With hopes for a better future for the disability movement, particularly in the Global South, the DPI members are now preparing for DPI's 9th World Assembly to be held in New Delhi, India from 11 to 13 April 2016. For glimpses of the DPI LAR Regional Assembly, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/DisabledPeoplesInternational/timeline/

Ensuring that no-one is left behind in the Syrian refugee crisis

Handicap International’s teams reach out to Syrian refugees living in camps or Jordanian communities. According to UNHCR – the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, some 8,000 Syrians flee their country every day to seek safety abroad. Handicap International supports vulnerable and displaced families through distributions of food and hygiene item. Its teams work in close collaboration with local and international organizations to ensure that services for refugees and displaced people are also accessible to people with reduced mobility and other disabilities. (www.handicap- international.us/syria_refugee_crisis_ensuring_none_are_left_behind)

DRF improving the lives of persons with disabilities in Haiti

Disability Rights Fund (DRF) grantees came together in Port-au-Prince from 14 to 16 September to discuss their on-going work and strategize around critical disability rights issues in the country. Organizations of women with disabilities held a panel discussion on prevention of violence against women and girls with disabilities, citing high rates of gender-based violence due to cultural myths on sexuality and disability and an inaccessible justice system. Advocates also

12 highlighted exclusion from the broader women’s rights movement as another barrier in making long-term progress. DRF grantees also participated in a one- day training on the Universal Period Review and how to draft a submission to the alternative report by the Plate-forme des Organisations Haïtiennes de Défense des Droits Humains. (www.disabilityrightsfund.org)

New HRW report on access to education for children with disabilities A new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report documents the challenges to accessing education for the approximately 540,000 children with disabilities in Russia. The report highlights key issues in specialized schools and the quality of education, as well as later challenges of securing meaningful professional skills necessary to secure employment. The report provides viable recommendations and proposes solutions to address these issues to make inclusive education accessible to children and adults with disabilities at all levels of the education system. ([email protected], [email protected]; www.hrw.org/news/2015/09/03/making-russias-back-school-more-inclusive)

Toolkit for reporting on the CRPD: Key indicators of accessibility

Prepared by GAATES - the Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments, this resource identifies key indicators on Universal Design and Accessibility in national and international contexts. The toolkit serves to inform States Parties and was initiated and funded by The Delta Centre at the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs. It identifies a set of indicators that would work to help countries compile their reports on developments in the area of universal design, in accordance with their obligations to the CRPD, especially under Article 9 on Accessibility. It also provides an overview of accessibility/universal design indicators and measures that have been reported on by signatories to the CRPD. (http://bit.ly/1PLNZql)

CONTACT INFORMATION

Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

13 Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD)

Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)

S-2906, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY 10017, USA.

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