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. Conference of States Parties (COSP)Inclusion International will be participating in the 12th Conference of States Parties (COSP) that will be held 11-13 June 2019 at the UN in New York. COSP is the regular meeting of the States Parties to review their progress implementing the CRPD. The theme of this year is Ensuring inclusion of persons with disabilities in a changing world through the implementation of the CRPD. Sue Swenson, our President, will lead a delegation of Inclusion International's council and members at the Conference of States Parties. Sue will start the week by chairing a session on Protecting the rights of children with disabilities to live with their family, through deinstitutionalization, inclusive education, and access to health and adequate medical services at the civil society forum on the Monday afternoon. Luis Gabriel Villareal, council Representative for the Americas, from Colombia will speak at the closing session of the COSP. Jaime Cruz, Empower Us fellow and member representative from Peru, will be among the panelists of the third roundtable on Inclusion of persons with disabilities in society through participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sports. Kory Earle, member representative from Canada, will be among the panelists of the second roundtable on Social inclusion and the right to the highest attainable standard of health. Inclusion International will be co-hosting with different partners from UN agencies, organizations, Governments and private companies, side events with relation to digitalization and persons with intellectual disabilities, political participation, deinstitutionalization and article 19 and social inclusion. Self-advocates and family members from different countries will be panelists in these side events. Registration for the COSP is now open until 28 May 2019. If you are planning on attending the COSP, please let us know. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) ReviewsKlaus Lachwitz, our Past-President, and Manel Mhiri, our Human Rights Officer, attended the 21st session of the CRPD Committee. Cuba, Niger, Norway, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Turkey and Vanuatu were reviewed. The next session will be held during 26 Aug - 20 Sep. The following countries will be reviewed during the 22nd session : Albania, Australia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Greece, India, Iraq, Kuwait and Myanmar. Please let us know if you will or wish to attend the next CRPD session and if you are involved in the parallel report process. We are interested in learning about your experiences and would be happy to provide support. Do you want to be involved? We can support and help you to navigate the United Nations! Making the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) inclusiveOur network contributed to the Submitted Paper by the Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities to the High Level Political Forum, in particular on Education (SDG 4) and Employment (SDG 8). Diane Richler, Chair of our Catalyst for Inclusive Education, was member of the Expert Group on Education. In July this year six goals will be reviewed: SDG 4 on Quality Education, SDG 8 on Decent work and Economic Growth, SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities, SDG 13 on Climate Change, SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong institutions and SDG 17 on Partnerships and cooperation. Regional Preparatory meetings Our council member, Elena Dal Bo, representative for the Americas, participated in the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development. The goals of equality, ending poverty, education and creating a healthy environment are particularly relevant for persons with intellectual disabilities and their families because they are usually among the poorest and most invisible members of society.Please let us know if you are involved in contributing to your country's national review or if you plan to attend the High Level Political Forum. We are interested in learning about your experiences. GLAD MeetingInclusion International, Global Affairs Canada and World Blind Union co-hosted the Global Action on Disability (GLAD) Network's 3rd meeting in Ottawa, Canada. The meeting further developed our shared commitment to disability inclusive development and humanitarian action in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). Upcoming Events
If you want to be involved in one of these events, are looking for support to become involved, or you would like to contribute by sharing your experience, please contact Manel Mhiri, manel@inclusion-international.org |