Vol. 19/1 No Images? Click here OUR VOICE AT THE UN is a bi-monthly series that provides information and news about how we are affecting change at the UN and how to get involved in global efforts and initiatives that will impact your communities and your country. Our Advocacy Targets Our 2019 advocacy targets are guided by the priorities identified by our members globally. Related to these priorities, some of our key advocacy targets for 2019 include: ☐ Influencing the 2020 Global Education Monitoring Report on inclusion and education. ☐ Ensuring that our voice is heard in the 2019 High Level Political Forum with specific focus on the goals reviewed this year: Goal 4 on Education, Goal 8 on Employment, Goal 10 on Reducing Inequalities; Goal 16 on Peace and Access to Justice. ☐ Supporting our members to participate in country reviews and use the General Comments, especially General Comment 7 to ensure the involvment of families and persons with intellectual disabilities in decision making and CRPD monitoring processes. ☐ Influencing the Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty by ensuring the right of children with disabilities to family and to live in their communities. ☐ Influencing the Guidelines on Inclusion of persons with disabilities in Humanitarian Action to ensure that persons with intellectual disabilities and their families are included. Be heard and get involved with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Reviews Do you want to be involved? We can support and help you to navigate the United Nations! All countries that have ratified the Convention are required to report to the CRPD Committee. The following countries will be reviewed in the next CRPD Committee (11 March - 5 April): Cuba, Niger, Norway, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Turkey and Vanuatu. The following countries will be reporting this year (8 - 11 April): Albania, Bangladesh, Estonia, Greece, India, Jamaica, Kuwait, Myanmar Please let us know if you are involved in or interested to contribute to the development of your national parallel report. We are interested in learning about your experiences and would be happy to provide support. Conference of States Parties (COSP) Side Meetings The 12th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (COSP) will be held in New York from 11-13 June 2019. The theme for COSP 2019 is Ensuring inclusion of persons with disabilities in a changing world through the implementation of the CRPD. Alongside this overarching theme the event will also focus on: 1. Technology and digitisation for the empowerment and inclusion of people with disabilities Inclusion International will have a delegation at COSP and is organising and attending several side meetings. If you are planning to attend COSP and would like support to navigate the event or want to get involved please let us know. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Reporting The High Level Politcal Forum will be held from 9 to 18 July 2019, Forum in New York. 51 countries will be conducting Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) on the Sustainable Development Goals. Our Regional Representatives from the Americas and Empower Us team members met in Bolivia to discuss the barriers and recommendations for implementing the SDGs in Latin America. Please let us know if you are involved in contributing to your country's national review. We are interested in learning about and sharing your experiences.
If you’re interested in participating to the official submission of the Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities, you can follow the instructions on this link. Call for Submissions: The Rights of Older Persons with Disabilities The increasing populations of older persons with disabilties poses a significant challenges to States to ensure the full exercise of their human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others. The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Ms Catalina Devandas-Aguilar wants to hear from you! A report on the rights of older persons with disabilities is being prepared to delivered in October. The deadline is 15 April 2019. If you would like to make a submission and take part in the questionnaire, follow this link. A country visit to Canada The Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities will undertake an official country visit to Canada from 2 to 11 April 2019. A Call for submissions from DPOs and CSOs on the issues of discrimination, education, institutionalization, legal capacity and many other are welcomed to be sent by 15 March to sr.disability@ohchr.org using the title: “Submission for the official country visit to Canada”. More information here. Useful Resources and Information Report: Deprivation of Liberty The Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities reports every year to the United Nations with recommendations to support the implementation of the CRPD. Read the latest report on the deprivation of liberty here Training: Inclusive policies and inclusion of persons with disabilities Bridging the Gap project organizes webinar-based training cycle on the different aspects of the inclusion of persons with disability such as “legislating for disability rights”, “the SDGs and disability”, “Inclusive education”, etc. These webinars are delivered in French, English and Spanish. View previous webinars here. Upcoming Events
If you want to be involved in one of these events, looking for support to become involved, or you would like to contribute by sharing your experience, please contact Manel Mhiri at |