Consultative Forum and Training Workshop, Zagreb, Croatia, 28 to 30 September 2011

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Strengthening Capacities for Implementation and Reporting

I. Introduction

 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) , Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UNDP Country Office in Croatia and the Croatian Ministry of the Family, Veteran's Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity,will hold a sub-regional consultative forum and training workshop “The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Strengthening capacities for implementation and reporting” in Zagreb, Croatia from 28 to 30 September 2011.

The forum and training workshop aim to promote better understanding of the Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) through exchange of knowledge and experiences; strengthen the capacity of participants with regard to the implementation, monitoring, and reporting on the Convention.  The forum and workshop will focus on the experiences of the Southeast European (Western Balkan) countries.

II. United Nations and the international normative framework on disability

At the United Nations, the international policy discourse on disability has recognized disability as both a human rights and development issue for decades. In addition to the disability-specific instruments the General Assembly unanimously adopted the CPRD in 2006 and it entered into force in May 2008.  The Convention requires an integrated approach to promote the rights of persons with disabilities in development.

Most recently, General Assembly resolutions 63/150, 64/131 and 65/186, have reiterated the need to promote the inclusion of disability in all internationally agreed development goals including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In this context the CRPD has been recognized as a significant tool to realize inclusive development.  Furthermore, the General Assembly also requested the Secretary General to strengthen the role of the United Nations and its development programmes and agencies in mainstreaming disability issues and to ensure its development programmes are inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities.

III. Scope and objective of the forum and workshop

The forum and training workshop will provide participants with an opportunity to engage in discussions on the challenges and opportunities with regard to the implementation of the Convention; share the knowledge and experiences; improve the understand about the Convention and the reporting process and learn about disability issues in both the global and the regional context.  It will also provide a platform to discuss potential proposals that Governments might consider to improve the status of persons with disabilities.

More specifically, the two days training workshop will aim to build and strengthen the capacity of participants to review, adapt and implement national legislation, policies, and programmes that promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities.  The training will also focus on the role of different Governmental actors in implementation of, and reporting under the Convention and how to enhance coordination and collaboration between line ministries, as well as between government agencies and civil society organizations.

IV. Format

 Day one will be a consultative forum pursued by means of presentations; open discussions and four parallel workshops dedicated to: (i)Articles 2, 3 and 4 (Definitions, General Principles and General Obligations); (ii) Article 12 (Equal Recognition before the Law); (iii)Article 19 (Living Independently and being Included in the Community); and (iv) Article 26 (Habilitation and Rehabilitation). The Articles were chosen as they underpin the shift from medical to social model and as well as disabling barriers faced by persons with disabilities in daily lives.

Day two and three will be devoted to the training programme for capacity building organized and conducted by DESA and OHCHR. Areas covered in the programme include issues of policy analysis; disability mainstreaming; the built environment; reporting requirements and actions to strengthen consultative processes and collaboration at the national level.

V. Background resources

• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Accessibility: Innovative and cost-effective approaches for inclusive and accessible development, World Bank Headquarters, Washington, DC, 28 - 30 June 2010
• A Human Rights-Based Approach to Programming: Practical Information and Training Materials (UNFPA)
• The Link between Poverty, Gender and Disability
• Principles and Guidelines for a Human Rights Approach to Poverty Reduction Strategies
• Speaking Out for Participation and Inclusion in Development Decision-making
• Making a Commitment to Promote the Rights of People with Disabilities Who Experience Multiple Discrimination

VI. Expected outcomes

The forum and workshop is expected to produce the following results:

1. Raise awareness and improve the understanding at both governmental and non-governmental institutions about  the CRPD;
2. Bring out new perspectives on policy approaches to disability in participating countries in the framework of the CRPD;
3. Generate fresh insights into the activities of Governments, the UN system and international/national NGOs in addressing issues related to disability;
4. Identify further capacity-building needs for follow-up activities;
5. Enhance ability to collect, manage and disseminate information on persons with disabilities;
6. Increase knowledge of reporting requirements, experiences and insights of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
7. Enhance collaboration between the various stakeholders responsible for implementation of the Convention, and increased understanding of the roles of the various stakeholders in reporting and implementation under the Convention.

VII. Participation

Representatives from governmental agencies, civil society and United Nations staff from Southeastern Europe ¹. Outside of this region, representatives from Armenia, Lithuania, Moldova , Romania and Turkey have also been invited. International experts as well as representatives from DESA and OHCHR will take part to present and facilitate the sessions in their respective area of expertise.  Approximately 70 participants are expected to participate in total.

VIII. Language of meeting documentation and proceedings

The working language of the meeting is English.  Translation in Croatian language will be available as well as sign language interpretations.  Pre- and in-session meeting documentations will be provided in English in accessible formats on this website and the UNDP Croatia Office website.

Footnote 1: Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Montenegro; the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia as well as Kosovo under UN SC 1244/99.