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Joining the Vice President of Ecuador and other USICD Outreach Program Activities
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 "It's one thing to know your rights but it's another thing to know you deserve the rights and know how to advocate for them." - Self Advocate, Attendee of CRPD Education & Advocacy Presentation
On March 8th, David Morrissey joined the Vice President of the Republic of Ecuador on a panel hosted by the Institute on Disability and Public Policy at American University. Morrissey and Vice President Lenin Moreno Garcas, joined by a panel of disability experts, discussed the role disability plays within national policy.
"What an honor to meet Vice President Moreno and join with colleagues in this event. American University hosted an important discussion that challenged us all to build a society that respects differences and empowers every individual to lift their voice," Morrissey said. For more details on the event, titled "Disability Rights and Public Responsibilities: The Role of Public Policy in Fostering an Inclusive Society, The Ecuadorian Experience," please click here.
USICD's CRPD Education & Advocacy program continues to reach diverse and engaged audiences. In February, David Morrissey presented a webinar to the ASEAN program at American University, primarily focusing on the CRPD's relationship with the Asian region. In early March, Morrissey also visited with the School of Teaching, Education, and Health at American University to introduce students in the introductory disability course about the CRPD's innovative and social model framework. He will also have a feature presentation at the annual conference for Columbia University's Teachers College in New York, presenting "The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Entering a New Century of Disability Rights and Inclusion."
If you are interested in more education about the CRPD, please visit our Community Education and Outreach page or contact Outreach Coordinator Susie Richard at srichard@usicd.org.
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Membership Drive in Full Swing! | |
 The 2012 USICD Membership Drive is underway and response has been strong! Our existing USICD members should have received individualized renewal reminders on or about January 27. New and returning members can find the membership form and process on our membership page.
For member organizations who have renewed, please watch for your confirmation email that includes a "Member 2012" logo for your website, and the request to send us your own logo and a two sentence description that we can promote on our members page!
Let Suzanne Richard at the USICD office know if she can be of any help in your membership enrollment. We truly look forward to building our relationship and collaboration for advancing the status of people with disabilities worldwide. |
More Disability Rights Resources Now Available on GDRL | |
 The Global Disability Rights Library (GDRL) now provides more content than ever. Nine information portals, recently expanded from five, provide materials on topics relevant to the needs of DPOs, government officials, professionals, grassroots advocates, and others working to improve the lives of people with disabilities. An on-line version of the library is available at http://gdrl.org. An off-line version is also stored inside eGranary Digital Libraries for delivery to developing countries where Internet access is limited. The GDRL team is now no longer accepting applications to receive an off-line eGranary for 2012. However, organizations interested in receiving notification of future opportunities can submit their full contact information at: http://www.widernet.org/digitallibrary/GDRLSiteSelection/. The GDRL project is a joint initiative of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities and the University of Iowa WiderNet Project made possible by the support of the American people via the U.S. Agency for International Development.
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New International Disability Resources! | |
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recently launched a new Human Rights Index. The database provides access to the recommendations issued by treaty bodies (including the CRPD Committee), the special procedures, and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council. The new database allows the user to search its index through a variety of identifiers (body, State, right). The new online index has also been noted for having good accessibility functions for people with visual disabilities. The purpose of the database is to promote dissemination of the concluding observations and recommendations of UN bodies and assist the advocacy work of people around the world. By using the Advance Search feature, you can research content related to people with disabilities (Right 31).
 The European Disability Forum, a nonprofit disability organization that represents the interests of Europeans with disabilities, recently released the Freedom Guide. The guide is a compilation of interviews, articles and examples about how to secure the fundamental right of the freedom of movement for people wi th disabilities. David Capozzi, Executive Director of the U.S. Access Board, contributed input in the guide on the successful structure of disability rights in America over the last fifty years. The Freedom Guide also uses the CRPD as a framework for how countries can achieve full integration for people with disabilities.
On March 1st the Human Rights Council held its annual discussion on the human rights of people with disabilities. For a summary of this meeting, please click here.
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International Women's Voices | |
 A voice is rising in the international women's movement, and it it is the voice of women and girls with disabilities. One of USICD's Zambian partners in The Global Disability Rights Library, Zambia Deaf Women and Youth, issued this statement on March 2, 2012 on the occasion International Women's Day. Also, on March 28 the European Parliament will meet in Brussels for a hearing on violence against women with disabilities.
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Lend your Leg on April 4th! | |
 Fundación Arcangeles, a Colombian disabled peoples' organization, has teamed up with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) to raise international awareness about the impact of landmines on people around the world. These groups are taking the "Lend your Leg" campaign global in 2012 which involves rolling up a pant leg on April 4th, 2012 to symbolize solidarity around this important issue. On March 1st, the Lend your Leg website was launched. Email info@lendyourleg.org to request log-in details - everyone is welcome!
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Member News and Opportunities
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World Down Syndrome Day
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Pacific Rim International Forum
Saturday, March 24, 2012 - Sunday, March 25, 2012
28th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity
Monday, March 26, 2012 - Tuesday, March 27, 2012 | |
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| WORLD HEADLINES AND OPPORTUNITIES | |
Conference on Disability-Inclusive MDGs and Aid Effectiveness
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - Friday, March 16, 2012
Human Rights Council holds Annual discussion on the Human Rights of persons with disabilities
March 1, 2012
7th Session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Monday, April 16, 2012 - Friday, April 20, 2012
Bob Costas and Friends Celebrate the Life of Max Starkloff
Saturday, April 28, 2012 - Saturday, April 28, 2012
Universal Design Conference 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012 - Wednesday, June 13, 2012
3rd International Disability Summer School, Galway
June 18-23 2012 |
| CRPD Ratification Watch | |
As of
February 7, 2012
CRPD:
- 153 Signatories
- 110 Ratifications
Optional Protocol:
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90 Signatories -
63 Ratifications
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Recent Ratifications:
Mozambique ratified the Convention on January 30, 2012
Macedonia (FYORM) ratified the Convention on December 29, 2011
Myanmar ratified the Convention on December 12, 2011
Indonesia ratified the Convention on December 7, 2011
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