USICD Board Members in the News!
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The National Council on Disability (NCD) - an independent federal agency that advises the President, Congress and other federal agencies regarding disability policy -welcomed USICD Board Member Jeff Rosen as its new Chairperson. Click here to read more.
Congratulations Jeff!
The USICD membership and board of directors also congratulates all nine recipients of the first ever Henry Viscardi Awards, which celebrate members of the global disability community who, through their actions and achievements, have profoundly impacted the quality of life of people with disabilities. Five of these leaders, the Honorable Tony Coelho, Kathy Martinez, Lex Frieden, Rosangela Berman-Bieler, and Laurie Ahern, have had long standing membership, friendship and shared work with USICD. We are proud of you all! |
Visit from Haiti's Disability Secretary of State
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USICD continues to work with and share information with our partners in the disability community around the world. This month David Morrissey and USICD staff met with Gerald Oriol, Haiti's Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities, to discuss the CRPD, disaster relief, and how the U.S and Haiti can continue to partner on issues of disability inclusion.
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Interview with AAPD's Julie Arostegui! |
Julie Arostegui (JA) has been a Policy Advisor for the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) in Washington, DC since 2011. In December, she traveled to Africa and shared her experiences and insight with USICD. Please visit USICD's blog to see Julie's interview in its entirety!
USICD: When did you go to Africa and what countries did you visit?
JA: In December I was in Uganda and Rwanda, where I am working on a project studying the experience of incorporating international standards on gender equality and women's rights into their post-conflict legal systems and working with groups there to address persistent issues around gender inequality and gender-based violence. In the coming months we will be using these best practices and lessons learned in the region to work with groups in South Sudan and Sudan as they are going through the post-conflict processes of writing their constitutions and legislation and establishing their justice systems.
USICD: Give us some examples of how the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was discussed in the countries you visited in Africa.
JA: Although my visit and work were not specifically related to disability or the CRPD, through discussions with stakeholders as well as my own observations I know that there is a focus on raising awareness of and implementation of the CRPD. In Uganda, for example, it is important especially in the north, which suffered conflict for more than 20 years. More than two million people were internally displaced, women suffered extreme sexual violence, and children were abducted as child soldiers. Some people still remain in IDP (internally displaced person camps). There are both women's groups and disability groups working on the issue. Uganda ratified the CRPD in 2008, and the focus is now on implementation. While I was there I saw several organizations working on CRPD and disability issues, and noted several opportunities for funding to groups to help with implementation.
READ MORE! |
Kenya, Pakistan, and the GDRL! | - With the assistance of American donors, the Pakistan Disabled Foundation (PDF) has purchased two eGranary Digital Libraries, each containing the full Global Disability Rights Library (GDRL) collection of materials on disability rights and advocacy. They report to USICD that the eGranaries have successfully landed in Pakistan and been cleared through customs. They look forward to installing the eGranaries in two different locations in Pakistan so they can begin accessing its resources. PDF has highlighted the arrival of their new GDRL collection on their Facebook page.
- USICD's Global Disability Rights Library (GDRL) project has delivered an extensive, off-line collection of digital resources on disability rights to 60 organizations in 12 countries who have limited Internet connectivity. One of these organizations is the Action Network for the Disabled (ANDY) in Kenya, which has been using the GDRL as a resource in developing projects and writing proposals. ANDY reports that they have used the GDRL to locate additional information on the accessibility to health and incorporated this into the training curriculum they use. They also have compiled articles on the rights of people with disabilities from the GDRL and posted them on the notice board in their field office. They tell us that browsing the Internet for disability information, due to their slow Internet connectivity, used to be a tedious, time-consuming job. The GDRL is contained inside a special hard drive called an eGranary Digital Library, produced by the WiderNet Project. The eGranary allows users to access a specialized collection of web pages, Word documents, videos, and other electronic documents stored inside without needing to connect to the Internet. In countries where bandwidth is slow, expensive, and unreliable, navigating and downloading materials from the eGranary often can be done hundreds of times faster than obtaining the same materials via a local Internet connection.
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CRPD Education Update |
With spring just around the corner and activities stirring up for the ratification of the disability treaty, what an exciting time to learn more about the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and global disability inclusion! USICD has been providing presentations, webinars, and whatever advoctates need to have the latest information on the treaty and global disability rights abroad.
Here are a few key highlights! This month Executive Director David Morrissey met with the Maryland Council on Developmental Disabilities as well as the Board of the National Council on Independent Living to provide them the latest updates on the CRPD. Disability Rights Program Manager Esme Grant presented to graduate students in international development in a partnership program between Gallaudet University and Georgetown University on improving disability inclusivity in development and aid projects abroad. David and Esme were joined by Rhonda Neuhaus of the Disability Rights Education Fund and Amber Smock of Access Living this month to present a statewide "Train the Trainer" webinar to CRPD advocates throughout Illinois. Next month stay tuned for more education updates, including our CRPD presentation at the Disability Policy Seminar!
Are you interested in a presentation, webinar, or other educational opportunity from USICD? Please contact Esme Grant at [email protected]!
CRPD Committee Update
The CRPD Committee will be holding its 9th Session from April 15-19. The Committee plans to review and adopt Paraguay's concluding observations and review the reports of Austria, Australia, and El Salvador. On April 17 they will hold a half day general discussion on women and girls with disabilities. For more information CLICK HERE.
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International Disability News |
- International Symbols of Access: Ever wonder where the international symbol for accessibility came from and where it's heading? Will universal design cause the accessibility symbol to disappear? Read an interesting background and perspective in Stimulus Respond. READ MORE
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| Maca Bristo and Carol Gill | International Women's Day: In honor of International Women's Day on March 8, USICD President Marca Bristo and her Chicago-based organization, Access Living, hosted an event with experts and advocates that highlighted the many issues facing women in the disability community. The panel featured experts like UIC Professor Carol Gill who acknowledged that with many women issues pertaining to women with disabilities, "we're not seen and we're invisible." READ MORE
- Equality for all from Arizona to Ethiopia: Jessica Cox, a woman from Arizona, is traveling to Ethiopia next week to spread the message of the important of inclusiveness for children with disabilities in society. Cox, born without arms, grew up to become a motivational speaker and the first pilot to fly a plane without arms. She is visiting Ethiopia as a guest of Handicap International. READ MORE
- World Down Syndrome Day: March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day, celebrating people with Down Syndrome that make a difference in their friends' and families' lives and raising their voices and awareness around a common set of issues. Paras Raj Walia and Shreya Gami are two people with Down Syndrome who have exceeded the expectations that society had for them. In an article featuring the two young adults, their mothers recount their son and daughter's early childhood and how they are making their way as a successful student and renowned dancer in India. READ MORE
- South Asian Autism Network: In February the South Asian Autism Network (SAAN) held its first conference in New Delhi. Sri Lanka newly joined the network which allows government representatives including health ministers to discuss their actions and commitment to the issue of autism. The conference included the New Delhi Declaration which confirmed the South Asian region's respect for all people with disabilities in line with international instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the CRPD. READ MORE
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CRPD in the EU: Roundtable Discussion
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Julia Wolhandler, a former practicum student at USICD, reports on an important roundtable discussion from Brussels, Belgium where she is working with the International Disability and Development Consortium on CRPD implementation.
On February 19 as a closing event to the Making Development Inclusive project, the International Disability and Development Consortium hosted a roundtable discussion with European Parliament member, Marian Harkin, on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the role of the European Union's (EU) external action. The roundtable discussion was opportune in that the first monitoring report by the EU on the CRPD is due this year. Participants discussed which EU development programs have contributed to best practices, including in the areas of education, employment, and health care.
Key highlights included:
"Each of us only has one life to live and this is it. And we need to ensure that persons with disabilities are included and have choices." Marian Harkin, European Parliament Member.
Munyaradzi Mahiya of Leonard Chesire's Disability's Young Voices recommended that the EU to sensitize the public on disability through television and radio programs. Also, he discussed campaigning in Zimbabwe to ratify the CRPD and Young Voices' involvement in that process.
"Disability rights are still not a mainstream issue in the Latin American region." Silvia Quan, CRPD Committee Member, on the lack of focus and investment in disability rights in Latin America.
Valerie Moran, Manager of Longford Centre for Independent Living Ltd, Ireland, discussed her organization's implementation of the CRPD through EU funding to support independent living for persons with disabilities.
"Disability rights are universal. It doesn't know any boundaries or borders." -Mary Keogh, Advocacy Coordinator of CBM Ireland, while discussing the importance of including disability rights in the post-2015 MDG indicators and the process of trying to ratify the CRPD in Ireland.
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Member News and Opportunities
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Seed Grants Form Partnerships for Inclusive Development March 11, 2013 Source: MIUSA
Announcing 5th International Disability Law Summer School March 8, 2013 Source: Centre for Disability Law & Policy, National University of Ireland
CBM's international Advocacy and AlliancFebruary 2013 Newsletter March 7, 2013 Source: CBM
NOD Board Member Michael Stein Selected As Winner Of Prestigious Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards March 4, 2013 Source: National Organization on Disability
NAB to collaborate with Perkins to educate people with vision disabilities in India February 12, 2013 Source: Global Accessibility News
Launch of Volume 3 of the European Yearbook of Disability Law and Research Colloquium Tuesday, April 9, 2013 - Tuesday, April 9, 2013
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Health Disparities Research at the Intersection of Race, Ethnicity, and Disability: A National Con Thursday, April 25, 2013 - Friday, April 26, 2013
InterAction Forum 2013 Monday, April 29, 2013 - Wednesday, May 1, 2013
InterAction's Young Professionals Summit Tuesday, April 30, 2013 - Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Nominations are now being accepted for the NCIL Women's Caucus Award Posted: Thursday, February 28, 2013 opportunity
First 2013 Request for Proposals: Haiti, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, and Ukraine
Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 opportunity
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WORLD HEADLINES AND OPPORTUNITIES |
Special Rapporteur on Torture calls for absolute ban on forced psychiatric interventions March 11, 2013
American University Disability Law Update Spring 2013 March 13, 2013 Source: American University College of Law Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
European Disability Community Reacts to EC's Legislaive Proposal on Web Accessibility March 11, 2013 Source: European Disability Forum
EDF CALLS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN & GIRLS WITH DISABILITIES March 8, 2013 Source: European Disability Forum
Subscribe to Disability Law eJournal March 8, 2013
IDA Attends UN Human Rights Coiuncil holds Annual Discussion on Human Rights and Persons with Disabilities March 6, 2013 Source: IDA
UN Commission for Social Development Hears from Disability Perspective March 5, 2013 Source: UN Enable
New Enable webpage on Indigenous persons with disabilities March 5, 2013 Source: UN Enable
My World: The United Nations global survey March 5, 2013 Source: UN Enable
Leadership meeting on Addressing Inequalities in the Post-2015 Development Agenda February 27, 2013 Source: INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY ALLIANCE
UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: IT'S TIME FOR IRELAND! February 24, 2013 Source: European Disability Forum
Malta NGO Files Judicial Protest of Stadium Accessibility February 18, 2013 Source: Global Accessibility News
Maltese with hearing disabilities want a fair hearing on film and TV subtitles February 16, 2013 Source: Global Accessibility News
Philippines DPWH official reiterates strict implementation of Accessibility Law February 13, 2013 Source: Global Accessibility News
Raise your voice: Say YES To INCLUSION!
The Jerusalem International Conference on Neuroplasticity and Modifiability Sunday, March 10, 2013 - Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Online Moderated Consultation on how to include disability in the post-2015 development framework Friday, March 8, 2013 - Thursday, March 28, 2013
Be a Part of Creating the Post-2015 Development Goals Monday, March 18, 2013 - Monday, March 25, 2013
The World Bank's Core Course on Disability and Development Monday, March 18, 2013 - Friday, March 22, 2013
Second Regional Conference of the Arab Forum for Women with Disabilities: Saturday, April 6, 2013 - Sunday, April 7, 2013
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 9th session Monday, April 15, 2013 - Thursday, April 19, 2012
Labour market inclusion of persons with disabilities Monday, April 22, 2013 - Friday, April 26, 2013
29th Pacific Rim International Forum on the Rights ofPersons with Disabilities Saturday, April 27, 2013 - Sunday, April 28, 2013
Pacific Rim International Forum on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Annual Pacific Rim Co Saturday, April 27, 2013 - Sunday, April 28, 2013 First Virtual Master's in Disability Policy - Fellowships Available Monday, April 30, 2012 Universal Design Summit 5 Monday, May 6, 2013 - Thursday, May 9, 2013 AIDS and International Development Forum Tuesday, May 21, 2013 - Wednesday, May 22, 2013 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM The Participation of Deaf People in Political and Public life: Implementation of CRPD Article 29 Monday, May 27, 2013 - Tuesday, May 28, 2013 M-Enabling Summit 2013: Global Summit on Accessible Mobile Technology for Senior Citizens and Users Thursday, June 6, 2013 - Friday, June 7, 2013 CREA's 7th Sexuality, Gender, and Rights Institute: Exploring Theory and Practice Saturday, June 22, 2013 - Sunday, June 30, 2013 Symposium on Disability, Technology and Rehabilitation in Low and Middle Income Countries Thursday, June 27, 2013 - Friday, June 28, 2013 Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 10th Session Monday, September 2, 2013 - Friday, September 13, 2013 UN High-level Meeting on Disability Monday, September 23, 2013 - Monday, September 23, 2013 Inthernational Congress Autism - Europe 2013 Thursday, September 26, 2013 - Saturday, September 28, 2013 2nd International Conference of the WFD Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - Friday, October 18, 2013 The Next Chapter Book Club and Beyond Friday, October 18, 2013 - Saturday, October 19, 2013 Education consultant specialised in children with sensory impairment (deafness) Posted: Monday, March 18, 2013 opportunity Mental Health Initiative Seeks a Program Officer (Media Strategy) Posted: Thursday, March 7, 2013 opportunity Advisor - Disability Inclusion Posted: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 opportunity Public Policy Fellowship Program 2013-2014 Posted: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 opportunity POSITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER FOCUSED ON ISSUES FOR HARD OF HEARING PEOPLE Posted: Friday, March 1, 2013 opportunity Arabic and Russian overseas language immersion programs this summer Posted: Friday, March 1, 2013 opportunity Written Submissions Welcomed How does having a disability affect a woman's Posted: Thursday, February 28, 2013 opportunity Interdisciplinary Studies in Global Health and Disability Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 opportunity First 2013 Request for Proposals: Haiti, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, and Ukraine Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 opportunity
CALL FOR PAPERS: Special Issue: Disability, Asylum and Migration Posted: Monday, February 18, 2013 opportunity Calling all inventors and entrepreneurs: It's time to apply for MassChallenge 2013! Posted: Monday, February 18, 2013 opportunity Inclusive Education Technical Support (May-September 2013) Posted: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 opportunity Interdisciplinary Studies in Global Health and Disability Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 opportunity
African Journal on Disability Invites Articles for Peer Review Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 The African Journal on Disability is an open-access journal focusing on disability and development issues which can be accessed free by anyone who has an internet connection. People are invited to submit articles for peer review. opportunity
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CRPD Ratification Watch |
As of March 2013
CRPD:
- 155 Signatories
- 129 Ratifications
Optional Protocol:
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91 Signatories -
76 Ratifications
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Recent Ratifications:
Barbados Ratified the Convention on February 27, 2013
Albania Ratified the Convention on February 11, 2013
Cambodia Ratified the Convention on December 20, 2012
Singapore Signed the Convention on November 30, 2012 Dominica Ratified the Convention on October 1, 2012
Israel Ratified the Convention on September 28, 2012
Chad Signed the Convention on September 26, 2012
Poland Ratified the Convention on September 25, 2012
Russian Federation Ratified the Convention on September 25, 2012
Swaziland Ratified the Convention on September 24, 2012
Ghana Ratified the Convention on July 31, 2012
Liberia Ratified the Convention on July 26, 2012
Benin ratified the Convention on July 5, 2012 |
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