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International Conferences

"Regional Workshop towards a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities"
Bangkok, Thailand, 14-17 October 2003

This Regional Workshop was held to formulate a draft text of the Convention on Disability based on discussion resulting in the Bangkok Recommendations, which were part of the final report of the Expert Group Meeting and Seminar on an International Convention to Protect and Promote the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities held in June, 2003.

The draft is intended as a contribution to the discussions on the Elaboration of a Comprehensive Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which are being conducted within the Ad Hoc Committee.

The draft Convention proceeds on the basis that PWD are entitled to employment, equality, human rights, and fundamental freedoms. It reaffirms rights explicity.

The preamble of the draft Convention includes:

• Part I: definitions, a statement of overarching principles, a reaffirmation of existing human rights and fundamental freedoms, the general obligations of State parties, and refers to specific subgroups of PWD.
• Part II: a statement of a number of civil and political rights.
• Part III: a number of rights belonging to the economic, social and cultural fields.
• Part IV: a number of other State obligations (including the establishment of national procedures, the collection of statistics, and related matters)
• Part V: A proposal to establish a new human rights treaty body comprising independent experts to monitor the implementation of the Convention and provide for reporting, individual complaints and inquiry procedures.
• Part VI: formal and miscellaneous provisions, including a provision relating to reservation to the Convention.
  (For further information: www.worldenable.net/bangkok2003/)

Regional Meeting on an International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
4-7 November 2003, Beijing, China

This Regional Seminar was established to finalize the draft text of the Convention on Disability based on discussions, resulting in the Bangkok Recommendations, which were part of the final report of the Expert Group Meeting and Seminar on an International Convention to Protect and Promote the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities held from 2-4 June 2003. The Bangkok Recommendations were presented at the Second Session of the Ad Hoc Committee held at New York from 16-27 June 2003.

The full draft text was submitted to the Working Group of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities through the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) which will meet in January 2004.

The Seminar was attended by 27 Government experts from 17 countries of the UN ESCAP region, resource persons and a number of observers from 2 UN agencies and 19 Non-governmental organizations and other entities.

Participants unanimously adopted the "Declaration of Beijing on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities", which is a policy-oriented statement on the question of the elaboration of a comprehensive convention and integral on the rights of PWD, based on the review of existing regional documents developed by regional experts such as the Bangkok Draft and Bangkok Recommendations. The Declaration of Beijing was to show a unified support for the process towards the Convention at the Asia and Pacific level.

Keynote speakers of the event were:

1. Mr. Shen Zhifei, Deputy Secretary General of State Council Coordination Committee on Disability and Vice-President of China Disabled Persons" Federation (CDPF). He stated that a new legally-binding convention exclusively for PWD is urgently needed. He emphasized that although the convention clearly states all PWD are entitled to the rights, it is most important that State parties take positive measures to ensure a friendly environment for facilitating the realization of those rights.
2. Ms. Anuradha Mohit from the National Human Rights Commission in India noted a number of crucial aspects in the elaborating process of a proposed convention. She stated that "If the rights of persons with disabilities are set out, there will always be an aspect of duties where such entities as States have to guarantee their realization and remedies have to be provided where the rights are violated."

Three working groups studied 1) Preamble, Objectives, Definitions, General Obligation of States Parties, 2) Rights of PWD (civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights) and 3) State of Obligations/Application of the Convention. At the closing ceremony, Ms. Tang Xiaoquan, President of China Disabled Persons' Federation thanked the resource person, facilitators, rapporteurs, and the participants for their contributions.
(For further information: www.worldenable.net/beijing2003/)

The World Blind Union Asia-Pacific Regional General Assembly and Associated Events Singapore
17-18 November 2003

Representatives from APCD joined the 2nd General Assembly and Conference of the World Blind Union Asia-Pacific Region held in Singapore from 17-20 November 2003. This event focused on the latest developments in technology for the blind that will provide greater access in key areas of their lives. It will also look at the direction in the Asia-Pacific Region, which is comprised of 18 countries from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific and Oceania. This General Assembly and Conference included persons who can influence and make a difference in the lives of visually-impaired people through technology and legislation. Also included in the event, was the consideration of the proposed amendment to the WBUAP Constitution, which had been adopted at a special meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on 22 September 2001.

APCD's representatives introduced APCD during the WBUAP General Assembly session and exchanged information with the WBUAP regarding future collaboration with the APCD Project.
(For further information: www.wbuap.org)

UN Regional Coordination Mechanism: Thematic Working Group on Disability-related Concerns United Nations Conference Center,
Bangkok 1-2 December 2003

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) organized the 7th Session of the Thematic Working Group on Disability-related Concerns (TWGDC) from 1 to 2 December 2003. This working group serves as a key coordinating mechanism towards the outcomes of the second Asia and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons.

At the meetings the task forces addressed International and Communication Technology (ICT), Education of All Children and Youth with Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, Women with Disabilities (WWDs), Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (SHOs), East Timor and Afghanistan, and the Proposed International Convention of Persons with Disabilities. Specific action plans towards the implementation of the BMF were presented as well as other international disability-related seminars. APCD, as part of this thematic working group, joined the ICT and SHOs task forces, reporting on their implementation of activities related to both areas.

The next TWGDC meeting is scheduled for June 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand.
(For further information: www.unescap.org/sps/newtwgdis.htm)

Regional Symposium on Disability Dhaka, Bangladesh
9-11 December 2003

The National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD), the current apex federating body and 151 organizations working in the field of disability in Bangladesh, hosted the Regional Symposium on disability held from 9-11 December 2003. The symposium was organized under the shadow of the BMF to facilitate more clarity and reach out towards a consensus viewpoint on developing practical and achievable plans under the framework. The main theme was "Positive Action for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities Standing on Three Pillars; Rights, Organization and Independence". The objective was to facilitate the development of a uniform nature of movement in the context of the Asia-Pacific Region focusing on rights to action, and targeting specific thematic issues towards addressing the needs of PWD for social inclusion.

In addition, the symposium aimed at organizing PWD to demand their rights for leading independent lives within the mainstream of society. The organizers included a set of eleven subthematic areas that could further strengthen and complement the BMF agenda, as follows: the National Policies and Legislation, Education of People with Disabilities, Rights of Children with Disabilities, Rights of Women with Disabilities, Employment Opportunities, Self-Help Initiatives, Community-based Rehabilitation, Accessibility, Information and Communication, Prevention and Early Intervention, and Safe Environment and Social Security.
(For further information: www.disabilityworld.org/conferences/nfowdconf.shtm)

World Summit on the Information Society, First Phase: Geneva
10-12 December 2003

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was held in two phases. The first phase was hosted by the Government of Switzerland in Geneva from 10-12 December 2003. It addressed a broad range of themes concerning Information Society and adopted a Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action.

The purpose of the Declaration of Principles, was to build a people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society, where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge; to enable individuals, communities and peoples to achieve their full potential in promoting their sustainable development and improving their quality of life, premised on the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This Declaration also focuses on special needs of marginalized and vulnerable groups of society, which includes PWD.

The Plan of Action is an evolving platform to promote the Information Society at the national, regional and international levels. The objectives of the Plan of Action are to build an inclusive Information Society; to put the potential of knowledge and ICTs at the service of development; to promote the use of information and knowledge for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, and to address new challenges of the Information Society, at the national, regional and international levels. The Plan of Action is confirming APCD's ICT program since it states that "international organizations should publish in their areas of competence, including their website, reliable information submitted by relevant stakeholders on successful experiences of mainstreaming ICTs". Many issues in the Plan focus on disability.

The second phase is scheduled for Tunis from 16-18 November 2005.

Working Group on a Disability Convention
UN Headquarters, New York City, USA
5-16 January 2004

The Working Group established by the General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion on the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities will meet from 5-16 January 2004 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to present a draft text of an International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

This Group prepared a basis for negotiations from 24 May to 4 June 2004 in New York, to be presented to the Ad Hoc Committee at its third session. In addition to governments, the Working Group includes NGOs, especially organizations of persons with disabilities. The Working Group's 12 NGO representatives from the Landmine Survivors Network, the Inter- American Institute on Disability, Disabled Peoples' International, the European Disability Forum, the World Federation of the Deaf/Blind, the World Federation of the Deaf, Inclusion International, the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, Disability Australia Limited, the World Blind Union, Rehabilitation International, and one national human rights institution, the South African Human Rights Commission.

The Working Group will take into account all contributions submitted to the Ad Hoc Committee by States, observers, regional meetings, United Nations bodies, regional commissions, intergovernmental organizations, national disability and human rights institutions, and independent experts.
(For further information: www.un.org)