DPI Annual Activity report 2019

Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI) is a global network of national organizations of people with disabilities which was established in 1981, the International Year of the Disabled. Headquartered in Canada, DPI has a presence in over 130 countries across 7 regions: Africa, Arab, Asia-Pacific, CIS, Europe, Latin America and North America, and the Caribbean. We draw our strength from our Member National Assemblies (MNAs) and have an unparalleled reach in countries of the Global South where 800 million people with disabilities live.

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Announcement of Ms. Ekaete Judith Umoh as the 1st Deputy Chairperson (Human Rights) and Mr. Mohammed Ali Loutfy as the Executive Director of Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) - February 2020

The Board of Directors and Class A members of DPI met under section 5.02 and 6.01 of DPI’s General By Law No. 2015-1, a by-law made under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, SC 2009, c 23 for the Annual General Meeting and the subsequent Board of Directors meeting.The meetings took place in accordance with Section 5.05 (b) and 6.02 (b) of DPI’s General By Law No. 2015-1 on Friday, 21st February, 2020 at 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM New York time, subsequently.

On motion made, seconded and carried under Section 8.01 and 8.12, it was resolved unanimously by a quorum of Class A members and the Directors of DPI that Ms. Ekaete Judith Umoh be elected 1st Deputy Chairperson (Human Rights) and Mr. Mohammed Ali Loutfy be appointed Executive Director of DPI.

Ms. Ekaete Judith Umoh is on the Board of DPI and is also the Regional Chairperson of DPI Africa Region. Mr. Mohammed Ali Loufty has been representing DPI at the United Nations in New York and was earlier the Executive Director of the DPI Arab Regional office. The Board and Class A members of DPI are delighted with Ms. Umoh’s election and Mr. Loutfy’s appointment and wish them all the best in their new roles. We are hopeful they will take forward the vision and mandate of DPI in advancing the rights of people with disabilities worldwide.

90 member countries endorse Global Appeal 2018 to End Stigma and Discrimination against People Affected by Leprosy, an initiative taken up by Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI) and The Nippon Foundation (TNF)

Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) Annual Activity Report 2016.

DPI delegation actively participated at CoSP9.

DPI was at the forefront at CoSP once again!

DPI also co-sponsored the following side-events

DPI has been featured as one of the three case studies in a recently conducted survey by the Global Access and Inclusion Hub on innovation through Global Solution Networks selected for highlighting innovative networked approaches to creating long-term solutions for access and inclusion.

DPI participated at the 2nd Meeting of the Global Network on Monitoring & Evaluation for Disability-Inclusive Development on May 3-4 2016 at UNHQ in New York and made a statement on the 'Key Issues for Disability Inclusive Development in the Context of the 2030 Agenda'.

DPI successfully concluded it's 9th World Assembly on 13th April, 2016 in New Delhi, India with the participation of over 200 people from across 70 countries.

The DPI World Council Meeting was held on 12th April, 2016 in New Delhi, India. The World Executive elections were also held.

DPI in partnership with NCPEDP (DPI India) and UNDP co-organized the International Seminar on Disability & Development on 11th & 12th April, 2016.

India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi sent a special message on the occasion. He said, ``The demographic dividend of people with disabilities must be tapped.`` The full message can be read here.

Ambassador Luis Gallegos, Chair, G3ict Board of Trustees & Former Chair, CRPD Preparatory Committee of the UN General Assembly said that the understanding that 15% of the world are persons with some kind of disability is too simplistic as it does not capture the size of the problem.

Yuri Afanasiev, UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Representative India, spoke passionately about disability and economic development emphasizing the need for skilling persons with disability

Former World Chair of DPI, Venus Ilagan sent her good wishes via a video message. She not only reminisced about the past but also talked about the double discrimination faced by women with disabilities and the need to develop one's capacity to overcome the same.

“We need a better handle on disability data. We need reliable and culpable data, as we plan and budget who to skill and how to skill, and as we move towards building human capital.” said Charlotte Mclain-Nhlapo, Global Disability Advisor, The World Bank via video message.

DPI held its long overdue Asia Pacific (AP) Regional Assembly on 10th April, 2016. The Regional Elections were also held on the same day.

The official website of DPI's 9th World Assembly has been launched! The World Assembly will be held from 11th to 13th April, 2016 in New Delhi, India.

DPI co-sponsored the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) celebrations on 3rd December, 2015 at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. Ms. Miki Matsue-Matheson and Ms. Dorodi Sharma represented DPI at the Opening session and the panel discussion on “Operationalizing the 2030 agenda for sustainable development with regard to data, statistics and indicators for persons with disabilities”, respectively.

DPI Global Chair visited DPI Pakistan - PDPI, and also attended a press conference along with DPI World Councillor (South Asia Region), Mr. Mohammad Mobinuddin on ``Access to Vote for persons with disabilities`` at the Karachi Press Club on 7th November, 2015.

DPI Global Chair, Mr. Javed Abidi gave the keynote address on 'Inclusive education as a roadmap for national growth and integrity' at the International Conference on Inclusive Education 2015 organised by University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan on 3rd & 4th November, 2015.

DPI Chair, Mr. Javed Abidi participated in the 2nd Committee's Informal Consultation with NGOs at the UN HQ on 22nd October, 2015 and emphasized on the 'leave no one behind' agenda regarding the SDGs.

Special Meeting of DPI Members was successfully held on 15th October, 2015 in Ottawa, Canada. 81 Members participated through proxy and the New By-Law (No. 2015-1) was adopted.

DPI South Asia held its Sub-Regional Meeting on 2nd October, 2015 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Representatives from Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka attended.

DPI South Asia members, including DPI Global Chair, Mr. Javed Abidi participated at South Asia Dialogue on Disability & Political Participation organised by IFES from 1st to 3rd October, 2015 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

DPI Latin America elects new office bearers at the DPI Latin America 5th Regional Assembly held on 12th & 13th September, 2015 in Managua, Nicaragua.

DPI NAC organized it's 9th Regional Assembly on 16th & 17th June in Kingston, Jamaica.

DPI strengthens its outreach in the Pacific Region by granting associate membership to DPOs in Micronesia, Palau, Tonga and Tuvalu. Total membership reaches 152 countries.

DPI strengthens its outreach in the Pacific Region by granting associate membership to DPOs in Micronesia, Palau, Tonga and Tuvalu. Total membership reaches 152 countries.

DPI at the forefront of the World Bank Safeguards Campaign vis-a-vis disability rights representation and inclusion. Many DPI members participate in the ongoing in-country consultations.

DPI Global Chair visits Mauritius. Sets up Ad Hoc Committee to take the DPI Agenda forward in the island.

Vietnam ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on December 3, 2014 bring the total number of ratifications to 153.

133 DPI Members participate in the Zero Project Study 2015 on Independent Living and Political Participation.

DPI Global Chair spoke at the UN DESA-UNESCO Forum on Disability and Development ``ICT and Disability: Pursuing Inclusive Development through Technology`` held at New Delhi, India on November 25, 2014.

First DPI-Arab Regional Assembly in Cairo, Egypt held from April 22-24, 2014 leads to historic elections. Executive board elected.

DPI in partnership with G3ict to organize an event titled ``ICT Accessibility: Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and Advocacy Organizations,`` on 15th-16th February, 2014 in New Delhi, India.

DPI organized it's first Regional conference, entitled 'Towards Reviving the Arab Disability Movement' in Beirut, Lebanon from 12th-14th December. The endeavor led to the establishment of a Regional Development Office in Beirut as part of the newly created DPI Arab Region.

DPI organized a successful workshop on 'Building Advocacy Capacity' on 19th-20th November in Blantyre, Malawi. Participants included more than 30 DPO representatives along with members from the Ministry of Disability Affairs.

A delegation of 6 people from DPI-India to attend a technical workshop on 'Enabling CRPD Compliant Budget Advocacy' in Bangkok, Thailand from 7-10th November, 2013.

Javed Abidi, DPI Chair to visit Blantyre, Malawi from 18th - 21st November, 2013 to attend the Module 2 Workshop under the aegis of the the Building Advocacy Capacity in Africa Project.

DPI Vice Chair, Rachel Kachaje appointed as the Minister of Disabilities and Elderly Affairs for Malawi.

DPI attends the Pre-Sessional working group at Geneva to discuss the situation of child rights in India. DPI-India which recently submitted a parallel report to the CRC will be represented by Kavya Mukhija, a 15 year old child with disability along with Radhika Alkazi, a senior activist and author of the report.

DPI organized an extremely successful side event on 'Eradicating Extreme Poverty: Addressing the Disability Disconnect’ at the High Level Meeting on Disability and Development on 23rd September, 2013. The event, co-sponsored by UNDESA, JICA, The Hans Foundation and GCAP, had speakers from different sectors addressing the issue of poverty and disability.

DPI India (National Disability Network) filed a parallel report on Women with Disabilities for India's upcoming review by the Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

DPI released it's response to the UN Secretary General's report on the Post-2015 Agenda.

DPI India submitted a parallel report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in the light of India’s upcoming review. The report captured the current situation of children with disabilities in the country.

Javed Abidi, Chairperson DPI participated in the 3rd meeting of the International Working Group for Leprosy and Human Rights that took place on 27th August, 2013 in Gunma, Japan.

Javed Abidi, DPI Chairperson spoke at the inaugural of the 4th Child Protection Forum for Central Asia in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 1st August.

DPI co-sponsored the first ever DESA Forum on Disability and Development at the United Nations on 19-20th July, 2013. The aim of the Forum was to contribute to discussions towards a post 2015 UN development framework through exchange of ideas for disability inclusive development.

DPI organized an extremely successful side event on 'Voices of Youth with Disabilities from the Global South' at the 6th Conference of State Parties. The event, co-sponsored by SCRPD/DESA, UNICEF and MphasiS had speakers from Africa, Asia Pacific and the Caribbean amongst others.

DPI co-sponsored a side event on 'Promoting Disability-Inclusive ICT Policies for Education' organized by G3ict on 18th July at the UN, New York.

DPI co-organized a side event with the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (WNUSP) on 'Transforming Communities for Inclusion of Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities' at the Conference of State Parties to CRPD.

DPI co-organized this year's Civil Society Forum (CSF) along with International Disability Alliance (IDA), Rehabilitation International (RI), and GPDD on July 16, 2013, a day prior to the Conference of State Parties (CoSP).

DPI on behalf of IDA and with the support of the Open Society Foundation successfully organized a Workshop on UPR in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 16th-17th, 2013. Technical experts included Rama Chari and Shivani Gupta from DPI-India and Saowalak Thongkuay DPI Asia Pacific

Delegation from DPI-Palestine attended the 23rd Session of the Human Rights Council from June 10th - 17th, 2013 at the United Nations Headquarters, Geneva.

Javed Abidi, Chairperson DPI visited the Parliament in Bujumbura, Burundi and appealed to the President to ratify the CRPD at the very earliest.

A successful workshop on strengthening an inclusive disability rights movement in Bujumbura, Burundi comes to an end. Chairperson, Javed Abidi urged DPI-Burundi to form an association of people/parents of children with intellectual disabilities.

UNICEF and UNDESA have thanked DPI for contributing towards the great success of the Online Consultation for a disability-inclusive post 2015 development agenda. More than 1000 posts from 60 countries in different languages were seen on the Forum.

DPI, EDF and WFD on behalf of IDA and with the support of the Open Society Foundation to co-organize a Workshop in Baku on June 11-13 for drafting Azerbaijan's Parallel Report on implementation of CRPD.

Moctar Ba, Chairperson of DPI-Mali, Imed Chaker, Chairperson of DPI-Tunisia and Saowalak Thongkuay, Regional Development Officer, DPI-Asia Pacific attended the World Bank Focus Group meeting on Safeguards and persons with disabilities in Washington on April 4, 2013.

Representatives of the Human Rights Defenders Committee of DPI Tanzania met the Director of Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG) and apprised him on various issues concerning the rights of disabled people in Tanzania

Human Rights Defenders Committee of DPI Bangladesh met Chairperson of Bangladesh's National Human Rights Commission and apprised him on various issues concerning the rights of disabled people in Bangladesh

Javed Abidi, Global Chair, DPI and Shudarson Subedi, Chair, DPI-South Asia to speak at the event titled ``Transforming Communities: A Trans Asia Initiative``, being organized by Bapu Trust in Pune, India from April 30th to May 4th, 2013

Iraq ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on March 20, 2013 bringing the total number of ratifications to 130.

Javed Abidi, DPI's Global Chair visited Tokyo, Japan in March for the second meeting of the IWG on Leprosy & Human Rights.

 

DPI-Chairperson, Javed Abidi visited Tokyo, Japan for the Second International Working Group on Leprosy and Human Rights that was held on March 14-15, 2013.

The United Nations General Assembly in December 2010 adopted a resolution which endorsed the Principles and Guidelines for the Elimination of Discrimination of Persons affected by Leprosy and their Family Members (P&G).

The Nippon Foundation is organizing a symposia series covering five regions to disseminate and encourage the implementation of these principles and guidelines throughout the world.

The second symposium of the Working Group was held in New Delhi, India in October 2012.

Mr. Abidi, while in Tokyo, also met many other organizations and individuals including DPI-Japan.

Congratulations to Jean Luc Simon, Chairperson, DPI-Europe; Sherzodbek Sharipov, Human Rights Officer, DPI; Maria Isabel Regional Development Officer, DPI Latin America; and Sylvana Lakkis, The Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union (LPHU).

DPI family is elated at your becoming the language moderators for French, Russian, Spanish and Arabic for the online consultations on disability inclusive post 2015 being organised by UN DESA and UNICEF.

On 23 September 2013, the UN General Assembly will hold a High-level Meeting on disability and development, with the overarching theme “The way forward: a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond”, at UN Headquarters in New York.

To ensure that the post-2015 agenda is inclusive of disability, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs in collaboration with UNICEF is holding an online moderated consultation to gather views from a broad range of stakeholders on how to include disability in the post-2015 development framework, in order to contribute to the ongoing work for the High-level Meeting.

Simultaneous consultations are taking place in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portugese, Chinese and Russian.

Jean Luc Simon, Chairperson, DPI-Europe; Sherzodbek Sharipov, Human Rights Officer, DPI; Maria Isabel, Regional Development Officer, DPI Latin America; and Sylvana Lakkis, The Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union (LPHU) have been chosen as the global moderators for the online sessions in French, Russian, Spanish and Arabic.

DPI-Belgium, DPI-Canada, DPI-India, DPI-Japan, DPI-Peru and DPI-South Africa participated in the Consultations for World Bank Safeguards.

The World Bank has initiated a two-year review process to overhaul its safeguard policies. Currently, these policies do not address the issue of disability rights.

The World Bank organized consultations all over the world inviting multi-stakeholders including DPOs to participate in the review process, share experiences and suggestions, and ensure inclusion of people with disabilities in this entire process.

Many of DPI’s members from all over the world participated in these consultations, which led to a World Bank Expert Focus Group Meeting on Safeguards and Disability in Washington on April 04, 2013. This Focus group meeting was also attended by three of DPI’s representatives.

Human Rights Committee set up by DPI Jamaica. First meeting held on 27th February. This is the 4th such Committee after the ones set up by DPI Bangladesh, DPI Peru and DPI Ukraine.

As part of the Human Rights Defenders Project, DPI-Jamaica set up the HRD Committee and met for the first time on February 27, 2013. The Committee comprised of representatives from different DPOs and from Combined Disabilities Association (DPI-Jamaica).

The committee discussed various issues ranging from Project activities comprising of surveys for persons with disabilities and DPOs, Milennium Development Goals and cases of human rights violations in Jamaica.

The committee will be meeting next on March 13, 2013.

Steve Estey from DPI appointed as the Global Coordinator for the Online Consultations on disability inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond.

  • On 23 September 2013, the UN General Assembly will hold a High-level Meeting on disability and development, with the overarching theme “The way forward: a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond”, at UN Headquarters in New York.

    To ensure that the post-2015 agenda is inclusive of disability, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs in collaboration with UNICEF held an online moderated consultation to gather views from a broad range of stakeholders on how to include disability in the post-2015 development framework, in order to contribute to the ongoing work for the High-level Meeting.

    Steve Estey from DPI was appointed as the Global Coordinator for the Online Consultations on disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond.

DPI joins hands with Light of the World as an implementing partner for their campaign: SAY YES TO INCLUSION!

 

Light of the World is organizing a campaign called SAY YES TO INCLUSION ahead of the UN High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development in September 2013.

Individuals and organizations around the world are invited to say YES to Inclusion by making a video or photograph of themselves making the YES sign in their sign language. The collected material will be consolidated into a short spot with key messages to be shown at the UN High-Level Meeting.

DPI has collaborated with Light of the World as an implementing partner for this campaign. Many of DPI’s members have sent their contributions which can be viewed here. These are also available on DPI’s Facebook page which can be viewed here.

Here is what you can do to join in the campaign:

  1. Email us your photograph/video at secretariat.dpi(at)gmail[dot]com. Do mention your Name, Organization, and Country.
  2. Visit the website External Website that opens in a new window and add your name to the campaign.
  3. Tweet with your message about inclusion using the hashtag #Yestoinclusion.

To ensure total participation of persons with disabilities in the 2015 general elections, DPI-Nigeria has appointed a Committee to sensitize people with disabilities on their rights and responsibilities.

JONAPWD (DPI-Nigeria) has appointed an 11-members committee, led by Rilwan Abdullahi to sensitize people living with disabilities on their civic responsibilities and rights and to ensure total participation of its members during elections.

Engr Augustine Onwuamaegbu, National President of Persons with Disability Initiative Nigeria urged the National Electoral Commission to evolve modalities that will accord persons with disabilities more time during voter registration as well as during the actual voting period to ensure total participation.

Zamir Dhale from DPI represented IDA at the Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva on February 25, 2013.

 

The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, also known as VDPA, is a human rights declaration adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights on June 25, 1993 in Vienna, Austria. A very important outcome of this Declaration was the creation of the The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Human Rights Council convened a high-level panel discussion to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA), with a focus on its implementation, its achievements and challenges and celebrate the achievements of the OHCHR.

The panel brought together different people from various backgrounds with complementary perspectives on the VDPA, including high-level representatives, who were present in Vienna in 1993, representatives of mechanisms created at the World Conference, and new human rights actors. The panellists in their presentations highlighted the main achievements of the VDPA and all its developments since the adoption in 1993.

The interactive discussion was divided into two segments – Presentations by the Panellists and Questions and comments from the floor (Seats reserved for representatives of non-governmental organizations).

Zamir Dhale (DPI-India), a person with deaf-blindness, represented IDA as a participant from the floor during the interactive high level panel discussion to honor this prestigious event.

Albania ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on February 11, 2013 bringing the total number of signatories to 155

The ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by Albania on 11 February 2013, brought a total of 128 States Parties to the CRPD, while the Optional Protocol (OP) now has a total of 76 ratifications. Cambodia has signed but not ratified the OP.

The number of signatures to the CRPD is 155 while the OP has 91 signatures.

To access the complete list of signatories and States Parties:

DPI organized a workshop on Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Mauritius on February 21-22, 2013. More than 20 DPOs participated.

DPI, supported by International Disability Alliance (IDA), organized a 2-day workshop in Mauritius, on 21st and 22nd February 2013. The objective of the workshop was primarily to expose DPOs from Mauritius to the concept of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and to motivate them to submit a Stakeholders’ Report on Disability for Mauritius’ upcoming UPR.

The workshop was attended by around 22 participants representing many DPOs. The workshop was facilitated by Shivani Gupta of DPI-India and Ellen Walker of IDA.

Javed Abidi, DPI's Global Chair presented the idea of mobilizing disability movements towards advocacy in the global South countries at the Ashoka Globalizer meeting held in Vienna on February 16 and 17, 2013.

 

Javed Abidi, Chairperson of DPI, was one of the 8 Ashoka Fellows chosen from across the world to present their ideas on ‘globalizing’ their work at the Ashoka Globaliser Campaign on February 16 and 17 in Vienna, Austria.

Abidi presented his strategy of leveraging DPI to create a strong platform for voices from the global South in the disability movement. DPI is the world’s only cross-disability global DPO and has an unparalleled reach in more than 130 countries across 5 regions of the world. A significant number of these members are from the developing countries.

Javed Abidi, DPI's Global Chair spoke at the Zero Project Conference held in Vienna on February 18 and 19, 2013.

 

Javed Abidi, Chairperson of DPI, was an invited speaker at the second Zero Project Conference organized by the Essl Foundation and the World Future Council on February 18 and 19 in Vienna, Austria. This year’s Zero Project Conference was on the issue of ‘Employment’. Abidi stressed the need for a holistic approach towards employment for people with disabilities that looks at the issue of education and accessibility along with employment. A study was conducted a few months back and as many as 82 DPI MNAs participated in this study.

To view Report

DPI-India organized a National Convention for Youth with Disabilities. Students with disabilities from top colleges and universities participated.

DPI-India organized the first-ever National Convention for Youth with Disabilities (NCYD) on 7th and 8th February in New Delhi. More than 50 students with disabilities from some of the top colleges and universities from across the country participated in this Convention. This prestigious list included IIT Guwahati, IIT Roorkee, NID, ILS Pune, IIMC, among others. The idea of this Convention was to get together some of the brightest young disabled people and expose them to various issues related to disability. The Convention saw speakers from an array of domains come together to address the students – Disabled Activists, Politicians, Corporate representatives and Media professionals.

GPDD Elections announced. DPI, its affiliates DIWA and WAFOD elected to the 3 DPO slots that were available.

The Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD) is a multi-stakeholder organization that aims to accelerate the integration of disability issues in development efforts. Its constituencies include Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs), government ministries, bilateral and multilateral donors, United Nations (UN) agencies, NGOs, national and international development organizations, and other organizations.

Recently, elections were held for the advisory board of GPDD, where DPI has been elected as one of the Organizations. The other two positions have also been taken by two of DPI’s Affiliates – Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA) and Western African Federation of the Disabled (WAFOD).

National Assembly of People with Disabilities (NAPD), Ukraine becomes a provisional member of DPI.

DPI currently has a presence in over 130 countries spread across 5 regions – Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America, and the Caribbean.

One of DPI’s endeavors is to strengthen its presence with good and credible networks of Disabled People’s Organizations not only in its existing regions but also in other neglected regions such as the Commonwealth of Independent States. As a fulfillment of both these factors, the National Assembly of People with Disabilities (NAPD) from Ukraine had been granted Provisional Membership with DPI.

NAPD is also a Project Partner for the Human Rights Defenders Project. More information on this Project

DPI initiates into the Arab region as Disabled Without Borders Organization (DWBO), Palestine becomes a provisional member.

  • DPI currently has a presence in over 130 countries spread across 5 regions – Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America, and the Caribbean.

    In its mandate, DPI strives not only to strengthen its presence in the existing regions but also to form partnerships in neglected regions such as the Member States of the Arab League. As a step in moving towards this direction, Disabled Without Borders Organization (DWBO), headed by Mr. Mohammed Barakat, has been granted Provisional Membership with DPI.

Rachel Kachaje, 2nd Vice-Chair represented DPI at the Executive Board meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) held in Geneva on January 22, 2013.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently held its Executive Board meeting in Geneva from January 21-29, 2013. The World Report on Disability was an item of discussion on January 22, 2013, at the EB meeting, where Rachel Kachaje, Vice-Chair presented her statement.

Kachaje appreciated the increased attention WHO has been giving to persons with disabilities and strongly supported the resolution. Some key suggestions for inclusions given by her were to mainstream persons with disabilities throughout WHO’s work ; greater attention to be provided to issues like violence against persons with disabilities, access to information and the availability and affordability of technology.

Pilot Project on strengthening an inclusive and cross-disability movement in Malawi and Burundi begins.

The ‘Building Advocacy Capacity in Africa’ Project aims to strengthen a genuine cross-disability and inclusive disability movement, using the human rights approach, and building leadership amongst persons with disability for advocacy.

The project, with its initiation on January 1, 2013 is being implemented in Malawi and Burundi and will include fact-finding missions and need assessment surveys to understand the current disability scenario, existing gaps and the needs of persons with disabilities.

The one year project will also include training workshops on understanding and implementing CRPD, roles and functions of DPOs, advocacy and human rights.

WAFOD General Assembly in Dakar, Senegal leads to historic elections. New office bearers elected.

 

  • The West African Federation of the Disabled (WAFOD) organized a Sub Regional Assembly on 8th-9th December 2012, in Senegal, Dakar.

The new DPI Executive since their election in Durban, October 2011, made it a mission to reignite the disability movement in Africa, especially in West Africa. A previous trip to Cotonou, Benin by DPI Chairperson led to the formation of a Caretaker Committee whose mandate was to organize elections for the region and choose new office bearers to take the way forward.

The historic elections led to the selection of a young emerging leader Alzouma Maiga Idriss from Niger as WAFOD Chairperson. The other office-bearers of WAFOD are 1st Vice-Chair – Ba Moctar (Mali); 2nd Vice-Chair – Isatou Sanyang (Gambia); Secretary – Ayassou Komivi (Togo) and Treasurer – David Cardozo (Cape Verde).

Cambodia ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on December 20, 2012.

  • The ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by Cambodia on 20 December 2012, brought a total of 127 States Parties to the CRPD, while the Optional Protocol (OP) now has a total of 76 ratifications. Cambodia has signed but not ratified the OP.

    The number of signatures to the CRPD is 155 while the OP has 91 signatures.

    To access the complete list of signatories and States Parties:

Zero Project Report 2013 published on December 3, 2012. More than 80 DPI members participated in the survey.

    • The Zero Project, first launched by the Essl Foundation in 2009, in collaboration with the World Future Council and with the help of Disabled People’s International (DPI), undertook a significant review of how various countries are addressing some of the most important issues centred around the right of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others.

      A questionnaire, based around Article 27 of the CRPD on Work and Employment was filled by more than 80 of DPI members from all 5 regions of Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America and the Caribbean.

      Click here to view The final reporttExternal Website that opens in a new window

DPI unveiled its Position Paper on the WHO CBR Guidelines at the 1st World CBR Congress at Agra.

 

India recently hosted the 1st Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) World Congress – the first-ever global meeting on community-based rehabilitation. This event was held at Agra from 26th-28th November, 2012.

Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) is the strategy for a cross-sectoral, human rights-based approach to inclusive development. This approach targets and involves people with disabilities, their families, and their organizations as primary stakeholders.

In light of the event, DPI undertook a study on the WHO CBR Guidelines  to formulate a final position paper. More than 80 of DPI members took part in the study and the final paper was made public at the CBR Congress in Agra. The paper can be read here.

Second DPI Executive Committee meeting held at Gurgaon, India on 23rd-24th November, 2012.

UPR Workshop organized in Dhaka supported by ADD, Bangladesh.

DPI organized a side-event on Voices of the Global South at the Civil Society Forum ahead of the Conference of State Parties in New York.

 

Disabled People’s International (DPI) organized a Side Event at the Civil Society Forum ahead of the 5th Conference of State Parties in New York on September 11, 2012. The session was opened by Ms. Judith Heumann, Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, US Department of State. Mr. Shuaib Chalklen, Special Rapporteur on Disability chaired the Session and Ms. Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Coordinator, Office for Disability and Inclusive Development, USAID co-chaired it.

The event saw an eclectic mix of panelists from all across the world representing different organizations and stakeholders. An emphasis on including people with disabilities from the Global South, especially women and girls with disabilities and those with psychosocial disabilities, in the social and economic framework was made.

The fact that there is a need to break the myth that the Global South does not have the ‘capacity’ to participate and engage in the process of development planning was highlighted.

What came across most strongly was that people with disabilities need to be at the forefront of the movement. It is therefore an onus on the part of the INGOs and donors and international agencies, who are working on disability, to employ people with disabilities from the Global South in decision-making roles. Unless that transition takes place, the paradigm shift will never occur. And, ‘Nothing About Us, Without Us’ will just remain that, a slogan!

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