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List of side-events and map [Excel format]
23 September 2013
1. Title: Breakfast Meeting on Disability in the Lifecycle: Investing in Children
Time: 07.30 to 8:45 a.m.
Venue: UNICEF House, Labouisse Hall, New York, NY, 10017
Organizer: The Permanent Mission of Australia, the Permanent Mission of Mexico and United Nations Children’s Fund
Details: The breakfast meeting will provide an opportunity to enhance understanding of disability within the lifecycle framework and the importance of increased investment to promote the inclusion of children with disabilities across all sectors. The momentum generated by High‑level Meeting of the General Assembly on the realization of the Millennium Development Goals provides an opportune moment to mobilize political opinion and increased commitment to inclusion, particularly for children with disabilities.
Estimates suggest that there are between 93 and 150 million children with disabilities in the world. These children—often likely to be amongst the poorest members of the population—are less likely to attend school, access medical services or have their voices heard in society. Children with disabilities face a higher risk of physical abuse, and are often excluded from receiving proper nutrition or humanitarian assistance in emergencies.
Stigma and discrimination related to disability is a lifetime concern, from childhood to old age. The discrimination experienced during childhood can determine the trajectory of the lives of children with disabilities. Access (or the lack of it) to education, health care and social services during childhood and adolescence would significantly determine the extent a child with a disability would be able to realise her potential as an adult.
Exclusion faced by children with disabilities arises—not from the intrinsic nature of their disability—but from social discrimination, which traps these children and their families in a life of poverty, social isolation, ignorance and lack of services and support. No country can achieve sustained growth unless its children with disabilities are included in all aspects of life.
Speakers:
- Mr. Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF
- A Senior Representative from the Government of Australia
- A Senior Representative from the Government of Mexico
- Mr. Yannis Vardakastanis, Chair, International Disability Alliance
For more information and RSVP, please contact: Ms. Anna Burlyaeva-Norman at aburlyaevanorman@unicef.org Please RSVP by Wednesday 18 September 2013
2. Title: Eradicating Extreme Poverty: Addressing the disability disconnect
Time: 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
Venue: S-2726-2727 (Combined) Secretariat Building, UN Headquarters
Organizer: Disabled People's International (DPI)
Co-sponsors: UNDESA, JICA, The Hans Foundation, Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) and the Permanent Mission of India
Programme: The side-event will underscore that how development is closely linked with social justice and how without addressing disability induced inequalities, it will be difficult to 'leave no one behind'. The panelists, including H.E Ambassador Luis Gallegos, will discuss issues with a focus on the importance and ways of breaking down barriers and creating enabling conditions for PWDs participation in development, so as to address the roots of poverty and build a real sustainable equitable development for all in the next phase of international development agenda beyond 2015.
Details: The post-2015 development agenda is focused on eradicating extreme poverty. The High Level Panel on Post-2015 in its report has underlined the universality of development as a human rights and the importance of 'leaving no one behind'. This can only be achieved if we focus our attention on marginalised sections such as people with disabilities. 800 million of the world's 1 billion people with disabilities live in the countries of the global South. People with disabilities also comprise 20 percent of the world's poorest. People with disabilities are not only more vulnerable to poverty but their poverty is further compounded by other inequalities.
Speakers:
- Kumari Selja, Hon’ble Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
- H.E Luis Gallegos, Ambassador and PR of Ecuador to the UN
- Shuaib Chalklen, UN Special Rapporteur on Disability
- Dr. Kenji Kuno, Disability Specialist, JICA
- Sweta Rawat, Managing Director, The Hans Foundation
- Ingo Ritz, Director of Programmes, GCAP
- Axel Leblois, President, G3ict
- Joshua Goldstein, Prinicipal Director, ACCION
- Voices from the Global South
For more information, please contact: Mr. Javed Abidi, Global Chair, DPI at abidi.j@gmail.com
3. Title: Challenges and Achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for Women with Disabilities
Time: 1.00 to 3.00 p.m.
Venue: UN Millennium Hotel - River Room, 28th floor, One UN Plaza (44th and First Avenue)
Organizer: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Details: On the margins of the United Nations General Assembly 68th Session, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host a High Level side Event entitled "Challenges and Achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for Women with Disabilities." Saudi Arabia is working firmly to advance the promotion and the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. The objective of this event is to generate respectful dialogue concerning the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in reference to women with disabilities. Saudi Arabia is grateful for the support of UNDESA and UN-Women.
Speakers: Welcome by Ambassador Abdallah Y. Al-Mouallimi (The Permanent Representaive of Saudi Arabi to the UN).Ms. Daniela Bas, Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development of DSPD/UNDESA , and Dr. Moez Doraid Director, Coordination Division of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Speakers from Saudi Arabia will include Dr. Mazen Khayatt Member of the Shurah Council, and Dr. Ahmad al Saif, Member of the Council of HRC, and Ms. Hend Alshowaier Coordinator, Deaf & Sign Language Program - Prince Salman Center for Disability Research. The event will be moderated by Ms. Raghida Dergham, Columnist, Senior Diplomatic Correspondent, and UN Bureau Chief for Al Hayat. Ms. Dergham is also the Founder and Executive Chairman, Beirut Institute.
Registration: Registration is required for this event, spaces are limited. Please register with Ms.Ceny Santiago and inform us about accessibility needs (for placement), Ceny_santiago@hotmail.com or call (212) 557-1525 EX:1000 or Fax (212) 983-4895.
4. Title: The UN delivering as one in enabling a disability - inclusive developing agenda toward 2015 and beyond
Time: 1.15 to 2.30 p.m.
Venue: NLB, CR 4, UN entrance on 46th/47th Street;
Organizer: Inter‐Agency Support Group for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Details: [See flyer] The United Nations Inter Agency Support Group for the CRPD will hold a joint-IASG side event to reinforce the commitments for action of the United Nations system to deliver on the outcome of the General Assembly High-level Meeting on Disability and Development to be held on 23 September 2013. In this session, High Level representatives from the United Nations system will highlight the joint efforts of the IASG to date and exchange ideas based on their expertise from their respective agencies on how to promote a development agenda that is accessible to and inclusive of persons with disability towards 2015 and beyond. The representatives will also discuss ways forward to promote the realisation of rights of persons with disabilities as established in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol and how the UN system can support countries with the implementation of the Convention on the ground. Within this framework they will deliver a statement “as one.” The session will provide an opportunity for interactive dialogue among Member States, the UN system and other stakeholders on how to strengthen multifaceted partnerships to support the implementation of the outcome document at the national, regional and global levels to promote a disability-inclusion in the design and execution of future international development frameworks.
Programme
Mr Hans d'Orville, Assistant Director-General for Strategic Planning, UNESCO
Ms. Navanethem Pillay, High Commissioner, OHCHR
Ms. Shamshad Akhtar, Assistant Secretary General, UNDESA
Dr Hamadoun Toure, Secretary General, ITU
Moderator: Ms. Barbara Murray, Senior Specialist, ILO
Interactive dialogue: The floor will be open for interventions by Member States, civil society and others. Kindly note statements from the floor should be limited to 3 minutes.
5. Title: Progress from poverty and social exclusion towards Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities
Time: 1.15 to 2.45 p.m.
Venue: NLB, CR.5
Organizer: Swedish Ministry for Disability Issues, in partnership with the European Network on Independent Living - ENIL and the Stockholm Cooperative for Independent Living - STIL
Programme: Moderator: the Swedish Ambassador to the UN
Official welcome – the Swedish Ambassador to the UN and Maria Larsson, the Minister for Disability Issues, Sweden (10’)
Progress in implementing the rights of persons with disabilities in Europe and globally – Navanethem Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (tbc)
Personal account of living in an institution – Ludmilla Borisova, Bulgaria
More of the same: case study of Bulgaria – Kapka Panayotova, Director of the Centre for Independent Living Sofia, Bulgaria
Wasted Money, Wasted Time, Wasted Lives: case study of the European Union – Jamie Bolling, Executive Director of the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL)
Promoting independent living in the post-2015 development framework - Panel discussion with Kalle Könkkölä, Director of Finnish Organisation for Development Cooperation, Michael Stein, Director of the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, Kapka Panayotova, Centre for Independent Living Sofia and Jamie Bolling, European Network on Independent Living
Details: What are the main challenges in realising the right to independent living?
- How can development funding be better used to develop independent living solutions for persons with disabilities?
- How can organisations of persons with disabilities be better involved in the process?
- How can we better foster cooperation with countries which have independent living services?
Closing words - the Swedish Ambassador to the UN
6. Title: NCDs and Disability: Creating Synergies, reducing inequalities, advancing development
Time: 1.15 to 2.30 p.m.
Venue: Conference Room 3 (CB)
Organizer: Permanent Missions of the Caribbean Community to the UN, the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the UN, the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the UN, the Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the UN, Pan American Health Organization, NCD Alliance
Programme: a moderated panel discussion comprising Ministers, Distinguished Experts and Disability Advocates will precede an interactive dialogue with member states, and civil society and private sector partners
Panellists: Dr. Thomas Shakespeare – Senior Lecturer, University of East Anglia
Mr. Anthony Duttine – Senior Rehabilitation Technical Advisor in Global Health, Handicap International
Dr. Alex Camacho – Director, Disability Secretariat Office of the Vice-President of Ecuador
Dr. Carissa Etienne – Director, PAHO/WHO
Details: Key Objectives:
1. Raise awareness about the relationship between NCDs and disability and the consequent social and economic impact, particularly in low and middle income countries
2. Highlight needs and challenges of persons with disabilities with regard to access to adequate and nondiscriminatory health and social services
3. Share examples of best practices of policies, programs and health services to better meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
7. Title: Assistive Technology Opens Doors
Time: 1.15 to 2.30 p.m.
Venue: UN HQ (Conference Room 8, North Lawn Building)
Organizer: Government of Philippines, the World Health Organization, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
Supported by: Cambodia Trust, International Disability Alliance, International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO), Nippon Foundation, Rehabilitation International, USAID, UNICEF, and Walk Free Philippines
Background: The availability of assistive technology (AT) for many people with disabilities is a precondition for their inclusion and participation in society, for example, for children with disabilities to access education and adults to gain employment. AT includes wheelchairs, hearing aids, low vision devices, prosthetic and orthotic devices (artificial limbs and braces) and communication devices.
The need for AT is on the increase due to a growing prevalence of disability, largely attributed to ageing populations, the rise in non-communicable and musculoskeletal conditions and increase in injuries for example from road traffic crashes, violence and falls. Despite the importance of AT, globally up to 85% people with disabilities do not have access to the devices they need – with the greatest gaps in low- and middle-income countries. As a result, many people with disabilities are thwarted in their efforts to contribute socially and economically to their communities, which undermines broader development goals and efforts to alleviate poverty.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in a number of articles, highlights the importance of AT. Article 32 specifically calls for international cooperation to improve access to AT. This side event will draw on good technical and economic practices from a broad range of stakeholders, including the Republic of Philippines, and reflect on possible mechanisms for improved international cooperation on AT as part of Global development goals and its inclusion in the forthcoming international normative framework on disability and development.
Programme:
Welcome: Leah Armamento – Under Secretary of the Department of Justice, Republic of the Philippines and Shin Young-Soo – Regional Director for the World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office
Global situation on Assistive Technologies – Etienne Krug, Director, Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability – World Health Organization
Personal account – Raissa Laurel
Panel discussion on the need for a Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology:
Venus Ilagan – Secretary General, Rehabilitation International
Josephine Bundoc – In-country Director, Walk Free Philippines
Suichi Ohno – Executive Director, The Nippon Foundation
Rob Horvath – Manager, Programs for Vulnerable Populations, USAID
Yannis Vardakastanis – Chair, International Disability Alliance
Open discussion with interventions from the floor
Issues to be discussed:
1. What are the main challenges in improving access to AT?
2. What is the global community doing to support the Member States to fulfill their obligations related to AT?
3. How can development funds better contribute to funding assistive devices – as a basic need?
4. How can global action on AT be stimulated in accordance with Article 32?
5. How can persons with disabilities, their families, and organizations be involved in the process?
Closing remarks – Marie-Paule Kieny, Assistant Director-General, Health Systems and Innovation – World Health Organization
8. Title: Community, Rights-Based and Disability-Inclusive Development
Time: 1.15 to 2.30 p.m.
Venue: CR-6 (NLB)
Organizer: The Government of Japan, The Royal Thai Government
Programme: (See flyer)
Opening: Ms. Pavena Hongsakula, Minister of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand; Remarks by a high-level representative of the Government of Japan (tbd)
Moderator: Dr. Tej Bunnag, Chairman of the Executive Board, APCD, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
Speakers:
Mr. Shybe Chalklen, UN Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for Social Development
Ms. Alana Officer, Coordinator, Disability and Rehabilitation Team (DAR), Department of Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability (VIP), WHO
Mr. Monthian Buntan, Member of the Senate of Thailand, Member of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and APCD Foundation Committee Member
Representative of DESA
Mr. Soya Mori, Senior Researcher (Disability and Development), Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
High-level representative of the Government of Australia
Closing remarks by the Minister of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand
RSVP: mbmonzon2@gmail.com
9. Title: Innovation Enables
Time: 1.15 to 2.45 p.m.
Venue: Turkish Center, 821 UN Plaza, 8th Floor, NY, NY10017
Organizer: Ministry of Family and Social Policies of Turkey, Vodafone Turkey, Peugeot Turkey
Programme:
- Opening remarks: H.E. Ms. Fatma Şahin, Minister of Family and Social Policies ;
- Speakers:
Mr. Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Turkey
Dr. Ayman Abulaban, UNICEF Representative to Turkey
Ms. Gizem Keçeci, Vice Chair, Vodafone Turkey Foundation
Mr. Marc Bergeretti, General Manager, Peugeot Turkey
Mr. Mark Coppin, Anne Carlsen Center Assistive Technology Director, Apple Educator
Mr. Ercan Tutal, President of Alternative Life Association (AYDER)
Details: The event will be open to Member States, UN agencies and civil society organizations but space will be limited.
RSVP: REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS PANEL. If you would like to attend, please send your full name as on your ID to innovation.enables@gmail.com by September 15.
10. Title: Press Conference of issuing commemoration stamps Break Barriers, Open Doors
Time: 2 p.m.
Venue: Press Briefing Room, 2nd Floor, Conference Building
Organizer: Government of China and UN Postal Administration
Details: (forthcoming)
24 September
11. Title: Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities
Time: Day long event
Venue: UNICEF House, 44th St between 1st and 2nd Ave
Organizer: UNICEF
Details: (forthcoming)
12. Title: Towards an inclusive and accessible future for all: Voices of persons with disabilities on the post-2015 development framework
Time: 12.30 to 1.45 p.m.
Venue: Labouisse Hall, UNICEF House, 44th St between 1st and 2nd Ave
Organizer: UN Partnership for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD)
Details: Panel discussion with the author of “Towards an inclusive and accessible future for all: Voices of persons with disabilities on the post-2015 development framework.”
This publication presents views and opinions of persons with disabilities on how to make inclusive development for all the world’s people a reality. It is launched in conjunction with the High Level Meeting on Disabilities and Development on 23 September. The UNPRPD is a unique partnership between UN agencies, persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, governments and others that works towards the effective implementation of the CRPD, including through promoting disability-inclusive internationally agreed development goals.
Moderator: Ms. Daniela Bas, Director Division for Social Policy and Development, UN DESA
Panelists:
Senior representative of The Government of Australia
Ms. Robinah Alambuya, World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry
Ms. Mary Keogh, Author of the publication "Towards an inclusive and accessible future for all"
Ms. Phuong Anh (Crystal) from Vietnam
13. Title: Special Event on Disaster and Disability: Lessons from Japan
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Venue: Lang Recital Hall, Hunter College, City University of New York (695 Park Ave, NY)
Organizer: Japan Disability Forum (JDF) in cooperation with the Nippon Foundation
Programme: (See flyer)
Opening Remarks:
Mr. Shuichi Ohno, Executive Director, the Nippon Foundation
Ms. Yukiko Nakanishi, Vice-Chair, International Committee, Japan Disability Forum (JDF)
Mr. Jun Shimmi, Ambassador in charge of the United Nations Affairs/
Deputy Director-General, Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Mr. Nawaf Kabbara, Third Vice-Chair, the International Disability Alliance (IDA)/
President, Arab Organizations of Disabled People
Ms. Anne Hawker, Immediate Past President, Rehabilitation International (RI)
Special Addressess
Ms. Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General
for Disaster Risk Reduction
Ms. Akiko Ito, Chief of the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
Ms. Marcie Roth, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
United States Department of Homeland Security
Keynote Speech Mr. Katsunori Fujii, Chairperson, Executive Board, JDF
Documentary Film Show: "Messages of Life -Twice as Many Persons with Disabilities Passed Away
on March Eleventh-"
Break (10 minutes)
Activity Report Mr. Takashi Kubota, Vice Mayor, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture
Discussion
Closing
Details: Japan experienced serious damages due to the Great East Japan Earthquake which took place on March 11th, 2011. Among nearly 20,000 victims, the mortality rate of persons with disabilities was double that of general population, according to the government statistics. We express our sincere gratitude for the kind support from various countries.
After more than two years from the Earthquake, we continue our efforts of reviving the affected communities. We believe from our experiences that disability-inclusiveness is essential for the building of disaster-resilient communities. In this special event, we would like to share our experiences, including the efforts of Rikuzentakata City, which was devastated by the tsunami, under the motto "building communities where there is no need for the word Normalization," and talk about our future activities towards Post-2015 Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction, and Development Agenda.
For more information, please contact: jdf_info@dinf.ne.jp
14. Title: Reception and launch of the UNPRPD publication: Towards an Inclusive and Accessible Future for All: Voices of persons with disabilities on the post-2015 development framework
Time: 6 to 8.00 p.m.
Venue: Labouisse Hall, UNICEF House, 44th St between 1st and 2nd Ave;
Organizer: UN Partnership for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Details: An evening reception will follow the launch of the UNPRPD publication of “Towards an inclusive and accessible future for all: Voices of persons with disabilities on the post-2015 development framework.” This publication presents views and opinions of persons with disabilities on how to make inclusive development for all the world’s people a reality. It is launched in conjunction with the High Level Meeting on Disabilities and Development on 23 September.
Brief statements will be made by:
-Mr. Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF
-Ms. Shamshad Akhtar, Assistant Secretary General, UN DESA
-Ms. Rebecca Greenspan, Associate Administrator, UNDP
-Ms. Heidi Hautula, Minister of International Development, the Government of Finland
-Ms. Henrietta Bogopane Zulu, Dy Minister Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Govt of South Africa
-Mr. Yannis Vardakastanis, Chair, International Disability Alliance
These will be followed by a musical performance.
The United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) is a unique collaborative effort that brings together UN entities, governments, disabled persons organizations (DPOs) and the broader civil society to advance disability rights around the world. The Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities (GPcwd) is a network of more than 240 organizations, including international NGOs, national and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), DPOs, governments and academia, working to advance the rights of children with disabilities at the global, regional and country levels.
25 September 2013
15. Title: Including People with Disabilities in the UN Development Agenda
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Venue: UN Headquarters, Fourth Floor South Dining Room.
Organizer: International Disability Alliance (lDA), International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), and the Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations.
Details: (See flyer)
RSVP: Emmanuelle Parr: emmanuelle@fortavoca.com