In early May USICD hosted a community webinar explaining the CRPD and why U.S. ratification is vital for over 500 disability organizations and allies.   Click here for an online version. See our shorter clips and other information at our new website: www.disabilitytreaty.org!

Thank you to to our wonderful coalition members who made this webinar possible:

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society
• National Disability Rights Network
• National Council on Independent Living
• National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
• The Arc
• Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
• Easter Seals
• Vets First  
• National Federation of the Blind   

Don't forget to sign-on your organization as supporting the CRPD so we can reach our goal of 1000 Strong!  

USICD's Esme Grant (far right) joins UNICEF and Special Olympics CEOs and Special Olympics Global Messenger Frank Stephens at the launch of UNICEF'S State of the World's Children Report

On May 30^th, UNICEF issued the 2013 edition of The State of the World's Children. Entitled Children with Disabilities, the report examines the discrimination and deprivations that children and their families around the world confront. It also describes the progress that is being made with the CRPD in ensuring that children with disabilities have the fair access to services and opportunities that is their right and urges governments, their international partners, civil society, and employers to take concrete steps to advance the cause of inclusion. The report also contains a series of personal essays by young people with disabilities and some of the people who work with children and adolescents with disabilities - among them, parents, caregivers and advocates.

REPORT: You can access the full report,  in the range of accessible formats, including video summary, photo library, additional materials are at www.unicef.org/sowc2013.

Full report [PDF]
Report corrections and updates [PDF]
Executive Summary [PDF]
Executive Summary Easy Read version [PDF]
 Accessible formats   EPUB, DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) HTML Multi-pageBraille Ready file
Other languages and previous editions

MEDIA ABOUT REPORT:

New York Times

Huffington Post

Through DRI, Rosenthal has provided global leadership and effected worldwide change to protect a vulnerable and overlooked population. He documents human rights abuses, has trained activists in 25 nations, and works with governments to end abusive practices. He was instrumental in the United Nations' adoption of a new Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - now ratified by 130 countries - and through DRI recently launched the Worldwide Campaign to End the Institutionalization of Children.

READ MORE  

Each year, the Secretary of State releases the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. These reports thoroughly illustrate the human rights issues each country in the world is facing, and address the many injustices occurring across the globe. USICD specifically compiles the disability rights issues from these annual reports into a  concise and comprehensive document, to provide a clear lens into the complex and ongoing efforts surrounding disability rights around the world. This year, the 2012 report demonstrates the array of advancements and difficulties each country faces, so as to explicate the current state of international disability rights.

Several of the most significant narratives within this report stem from the vast political movements that have arisen this past year. The Arab Spring has led to historic elections in countries like Egypt and Libya, abusive governments have greatly impacted the progress of nations like Iran and North Korea, and a new country, South Sudan, has been established in the aftermath of a political divide. Taken together, these changes represent our changing global environment and illustrate what the report dictates is a "shrinking space for civil society activism."

While many countries are increasing their efforts to create a more accessible and inclusive environment for their citizens with disabilities, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, there is still a long way to go. Even with the strongest of efforts, success necessitates government stability and united activism, neither of which is ever fully guaranteed. In these ways, we look to the 2012 Report as a guide to the multitude of issues each country is facing, to gain a greater understanding for and context of the current state of their disability rights efforts.

To read the 2012 human rights reports, CLICK HERE.  Stay tuned for USICD's 2012 compilation of disability references in the reports!

• New World Bank Campaign: The Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union and the Bank Information Center are joining forces to create the Disability and World Bank Safeguards Campaign. The Campaign aims to make the World Bank's policies and project designs more inclusive of the rights and vulnerability of people with disabilities in the developing countries where the World Bank is most involved. The Campaign will collaborate with like-minded organizations in hopes to guarantee the World Bank's creation of strong and clear safeguards for people with disabilities in its projects to come. READ MORE  
• Norway ratifies the CRPD! Norway has become the 130th nation to ratify the disability treaty! READ MORE
• Indigenous people with disabilities cited:The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is meeting for its 12^th session May 20-31^st in New York. For the first time ever, a report on indigenous people with disabilities will be presented at the event, with a specific focus on the obstacles they face with respect to their human rights and inclusion within society. READ MORE 
• Zimbabwe maintains support systems: The Zimbabwe government has announced they will begin to fund disability grants for its citizens through this June and onwards. Originally, budgetary constraints forced the government to stop these payments in January of 2012. The government has now reinforced its commitment to support all of its citizens with disabilities, with the belief that these individuals should not have to suffer because of their different capabilities.
• Call for inclusive education in China: Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling on the Chinese government to amend its education legislation to create a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities. While the government made amendments to its 1994 regulations for special education this past February, many barriers still exist that prevent the mainstreaming of children with disabilities into regular schools. HRW is asking the Chinese government to align its laws with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in order to create a more accessible and inclusive environment within regular schools. READ MORE

USICD is excited to welcome Eileen Magan as a Program Coordinator within the Disability Rights program. Eileen joins Disability Rights Program Manager Esme Grant working on the CRPD campaign as well as other program priorities.

Eileen Magan came to USICD from The Arc of DC, where she served as a Policy Specialist focusing on special education policy issues in the District of Columbia. 

Eileen has completed two periods of service with the Peace Corps. While serving in Romania, she worked with children with disabilities living in institutions and helped develop educational programs for children with autism. While living in West Africa, Eileen developed the first school library in the rural village of Sibanor, The Gambia, and encouraged its use as a teaching tool. Eileen earned a Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Maryland College Park. She has taught special education in both public and charter schools in Washington, DC.

An active volunteer, Eileen serves as Director of the Refugee Assistance Program, which matches recently arrived refugee families with volunteers in the Washington, DC area.  Please welcome Eileen, and feel free to reach her at emagan@usicd.org.

Also joining USICD for the summer is intern Steven A. Rodriguez.  Steven is a rising senior and Skadden, Arps honors scholar pursuing a B.A. in International Studies at The City College of New York of The City University of New York (CUNY) and holds an A.A. in Liberal Arts from Kingsborough Community College. He is aiming for law school next, with a focus on disability law and public policy. 

Before USICD, Steven interned with the National Disability Rights Network where he first had the opportunity to participate in outreach for the CRPD. He has held student leadership roles at CUNY in various capacities, most notably in the CUNY Pathways initiative, a historic reform of the general education framework across CUNY's 26 Colleges & Schools. In 2012, Steven became chairperson of the CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities, a not-for-profit, membership, student-led organization dedicated to increase awareness, opportunity and foster community amongst CUNY's more than 9,000 students with disabilities. Please welcome Steven and reach out to him at srodriguez@usicd.org.

Connect with USICD!

Member News and Opportunities

The Getting It Right Conference - Shelter and Transportation Accessibility for People with Disabilit
Monday, June 3, 2013 - Wednesday, June 5, 2013

M-Enabling Summit 2013: Global Summit on Accessible Mobile Technology for Senior Citizens and Users
Thursday, June 6, 2013 - Friday, June 7, 2013

Down But Not Out: An interview with David Oaks
Saturday, June 8, 2013 - Saturday, June 8, 2013

5th International Disability Law Summer School 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013 - Saturday, June 22, 2013

Annual Justice for All Awards and ADA Celebration
Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - Tuesday, July 23, 2013

2013 Annual Conference on Independent Living
Wednesday, July 24, 2013 - Saturday, July 27, 2013 

Opening of Letter of Interest (LOI) Process for 2013 Second Round: Bangladesh and Uganda
Posted: Thursday, May 9, 2013  opportunity