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NATIONS UNIES : newsletter « Enable » de décembre 2013

lundi 13 janvier 2014

NATIONS UNIES : newsletter « Enable » de décembre 2013

ENABLE NEWSLETTER
December 2013

The United Nations Enable Newsletter is prepared by the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (DSPD/DESA) with input from UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes, as well as from civil society organizations, including organizations of persons with disabilities. It is also available online at : www.un.org/disabilities.

In this issue :

 2013 Holiday Greetings from SCRPD
 Status of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
 Highlights from the UN system
 Upcoming calendar of events
 Other news

2013 Holiday Greetings from SCRPD
A message of Inclusion !
(http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/newsletter/2013_scrpd_holiday_greeting.doc)

STATUS OF THE CRPD

139 ratifications and 158 signatories to the CRPD
79 ratifications and 92 signatories to its Optional Protocol (OP)
Tuvalu acceded the Convention on 18 December 2013
Kiribati ratified the Convention on 27 September 2013
Papua New Guinea ratified the Convention on 26 September 2013
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) ratified the Convention on 24 September 2013
Bahamas signed the Convention on 24 September 2013

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE UN SYSTEM
High-level Meeting on Disability and Development

On September 23, the United Nations General Assembly convened the first-ever High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development at the level of Heads of State and Government on 23 September 2013 under the theme : “The Way Forward : Adisability inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond”.

The Meeting presented a historical opportunity to translate the international commitment to disability-inclusive society and development into concrete action and changes on the ground, and to mainstream disability in the global agenda towards a post -2015 development framework.

The Meeting was attended by Heads of State and Government, Ministers, private sector and civil society organizations. Approximately 120 Member States inscribed to the speakers lists and speakers included one Head of State and more than 50 Ministers. In addition to the interventions of Member States, representatives from three UN entities, three civil society organizations and one private entity made statements. Approximately 500 representatives from 200 civil society organizations and organizations of persons with disabilities.

The High Level Meeting was a United Nation’s milestone. Through its landmark outcome document, Member States reiterated their determination to ensure the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for persons with disabilities and stressed the importance of giving due consideration to all persons with disabilities in the emerging post-2015 development agenda. The document provides a framework for all stakeholders to take steps towards these goals. Specifically, it sets out a series of follow-up actions to be taken in the coming years.
(http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1590)

International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December 2013
Are you preparing to commemorate and celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December 2013 ? The theme of this year’s commemoration is : “Break Barriers, Open Doors : for an inclusive society and development for all”. Following this year’s High-level Meeting on Disability and Development, the International Day will be marked by “Messages of Inclusion” based on any key issue from the Outcome document of the HLMDD, highlighting its importance and how individuals, organizations and communities envision its translation into action.

Let us know about your “Message of Inclusion” it and we will showcase it on our website so as to inspire others to do the same. Among the events to be held at UN Headquarters, will included a UN ENABLE Film and UN ENABLE Theatre performance. See the Annex below for information on the Programme at the UN HQ.
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1607)

ALL DAY, Dec 3 : #GivingTuesday Volunteerism
This year, #GivingTuesday, 3 December, coincides with the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). The United Nations Foundation and #GivingTuesday will join DESA to promote volunteerism. Join the global community in givingyour Time, Knowledge, or Funds. Take steps to create enabling environments for persons with disabilities to fully participate in society and development as beneficiaries and leaders.
Follow us on Twitter, #GivingTuesday, and Facebook to help raise awareness.
www.un.org/disabilitiesandwww.givingtuesday.org)

Launch of the United Nations Accessibility Centre
On Dec 4,the United Nations Accessibility Centre, located on the lower level of the UNHQ Conference Building with satellite stations in other locations of NY HQ, will be formally inaugurated at this special event. Made possible by contributions of the Republic of Korea to make the United Nations accessible, the Center is part of on-going efforts by the international community to enable the full participation of persons with disabilities in the work of the United Nations. The event will feature the Secretary-General, a representative of the Government of Republic of Korea, the President of the General Assembly and civil society.
(3.30pm, CR1, Conference Building, UNHQ).Co-organized by DPI, DGACM and DESA. Additional information is available at : http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/idpd/idpd2013_savethedate.pdf)

DESA-UNISDR Panel discussion on "Disaster Resilience and Disability : Ensuring Equality and Inclusion"
On 10 0ctober, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) co-organized with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), in collaboration with Norway and Indonesia (co-chairs of the Group for Friends of Disaster Risk Reduction) and the Nippon Foundation, this multi-stakeholder Panel Discussion at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, in observance of the 2013 International Day of Disaster Reduction (IDRR)which focused on persons with disabilities for the first time. Outcomes of the Panel discussion served as an inputto inform the development of the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction (HFA2) as well as other post-2015 processes. (http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1614)

UNICEF : 2nd meeting of the Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities
On 24 September, UNICEF hosted the second gathering of the Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities (GPcwd). At the meeting, partners discussed plans for future steps, including regarding the Gpcwd’s organizational structure, funding and thematic strategies for 2014-2015 to ensure children with disabilities are included in the post-2015 development agenda. (http://www.unicef.org/disabilities/index_69776.html ; gpcwd@unicef.org)

WHO : Initiates Process for Developing Action Plan to ensure Better Health for Persons with Disabilities
The 66th World Health Assembly adopted a resolution calling for better health care for people with disabilities. Among other actions, the resolution requests the WHO Director-General to prepare a comprehensive WHO action plan on disability in consultation with UN organizations and Member States based on the recommendations of the World report on disability and in line with the Convention. An extensive consultation process on the development of the WHO Action Plan 2014 – 2021 : better health for persons with disabilities is ongoing. Based on this, a draft will be revised before being submitted to the WHO Executive Board, to be discussed at its 134th session in January 2014 in preparation for consideration and approval by Member States at the 67th World Health Assembly in May 2014.
(http://www.who.int/disabilities/actionplan/en/index.html)

ESCAP : Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific
From 9-11 October 2013 in Bangkok Thailand, approximately 120 youth with diverse forms of disabilities from 10 Asian countries competed on a range of computer-based skills during the Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. It was organized by ESCAP in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Korea, the LG Corporation and the Korean Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities. In parallel, an IT policy seminar took place to provide an opportunity for IT policymakers and experts from the same countries to share their views and experiences in developing and implementing national IT policies targeting specifically persons with disabilities. (http://www.unescap.org/sdd)

ESCAP Meeting to promote the regional Decade of Persons with Disabilities
ESCAP organized a series of meetings recently to promote the regional decade and related actions in Asia Pacific region. A group of ESCAP Champions and Promoters for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities ( 2013-2022), met in Bangkok (9-10 October 2013) to discuss how to accelerate implementation of the Incheon Strategy to ‘Make the Right Real’ for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. An Expert Group meeting (6-7 November 2013, Bangkok) was also held to review the draft guidebook and share national experiences for data collection on persons with disabilities. The meeting was attended by more than 40 senior officials and experts from national statistical offices, government disability focal agencies, academia, the UN system and international organizations from Asia and the Pacific. More information about the meetings is available at http://www.unescapsdd.org/events/consultative-meeting-champions-and-promoters-asian-and-pacific-decade-persons-disabilities) and (http://www.unescapsdd.org/events/isindicators-egm-2013)

ECLAC : Statistical Conference of the Americas
From the 5th to the 7th of November, a regional Task-Force on Disability Measurement was created in the framework of Resolution 8(VII) in Santiago, Chile. The Task-Force has a two-year mandate and is integrated by Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic under the coordination of ECLAC. Its mandate is to coordinate the drafting of a regional report on the statistical information available in LAC countries and following the conclusion of the report, to offer guidelines to liaise with the member countries of the Washington Group on Disability Statistics and PAHO/WHO to explore avenues for collaboration and training. Link to the resolution in English : http://www.eclac.cl/deype/noticias/noticias/8/50668/SCA7-ResolutionFINAL.pdf
Link to the resolution in Spanish : http://www.eclac.cl/deype/noticias/noticias/5/50665/CEA7-ResolucionFINAL.pdf

ECLAC Expert Group Meeting Report to Define Strategic Priorities for the Regional Agenda
This Report regarding the situation of persons with disabilities organized by ECLAC in Santiago, 14-15 may 2013, is now available. It includes a series of general and specific recommendations addressed to the governments of the region. These recommendations were presented as an input for the position document of the HLMDD and inspired the creation of a regional Task-Force on Disability Measurement during the Statistical Conference of the Americas.
Link to the Report in English : http://www.cepal.org/dds/noticias/noticias/4/51524/2013-691_Report_of_experts_of_persons_with_disabilities.pdf
Link to the Report in Spanish : http://www.cepal.org/dds/agenda/7/49807/2013-Informe-reunion-discapacidad.pdf

ITU : New report on the Potential of Information and Communication Technologies to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
A new joint report “The ICT Opportunity for a Disability-Inclusive Development Framework” contributes to a better understanding of how ICTs can enable and accelerate the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities. It lists challenges to be addressed and outlines concrete actions to be undertaken by each group of stakeholders, additionally proposing indicators to help measure progress towards the achievement of an inclusive post-2015 agenda. This report is the result of collaborative effort from the Broadband Commission, G3ict, the International Disability Alliance (IDA), ITU, Microsoft, the Telecentre.org Foundation and UNESCO. (Access the full report at : http://bit.ly/ICTsOpp.For more information on ITU’s activities on ICT accessibility access at : www.itu.int/accessibility)

Regional Commission, New York Office : International Conference on Population and Development beyond 2014
Organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and UNFPA,the regional conference “Enabling Choices : Population Priorities for the 21st Century” held in Geneva on 1-2 July 2013 was the culmination of the ICPD review in the UNECE region comprising Europe, Central Asia and North America. Based on the outcomes of the regional review over 200 high-level experts from governments, civil society and academia, as well as members of parliaments and youth representatives discussed strategies for action beyond 2014. In the chair’s summary of the conference it was highlighted that all participants underlined the need for full and equitable social inclusion of all marginalised groups including disabled persons. It was emphasised that, inter alia, the rights of disabled persons must be guaranteed to ensure equal access to social services and political participation. The implementation of cross-sectoral strategies was highlighted as necessary to aid in the prevention of discrimination and stigmatisation of disabled persons. (http://www.unece.org/icpd-2014/unece-regional-conference.html).

UPCOMING EVENTS
(Send us information on major international disability events for possible inclusion in the list below)

25-26 November 2013 : 8th Meeting of the Interagency Support Group (IASG) on the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
UNESCO will host the meeting at its Headquarters in Paris. The IASG has two chairs, including the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN OHCHR). Among the items to be discussed will be a debate on the implementation of the Outcome Document of the High Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Realization of the Millennium Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities, which took place during the General Assembly meeting on 23 September 2013. The IASG meeting will thus be instrumental to carving out the vital role that disability-inclusive development will play in the post-2015 development agenda. The second day will include a thematic workshop in the areas of inclusive education ; access to information and knowledge, ICT Accessibility and Disaster Preparedness and Response ; as well as social inclusion and internal disability policies and practices.

25-26 Nov 2013:The first World Meeting on Disabilities
The Meeting will be celebrated in Guayaquil, Ecuador from the 25th to the 26th of November. The meeting is organized by the Technical Secretary of Disabilities of the Government of Ecuador and will be a forum for discussion with participants from around the world who will present best practices on programs, projects, innovations and technologies applied at the national and international level to guarantee the rights of persons with disabilities. The meeting will consist of lectures, presentations, roundtables and panels, creative exhibitions and cultural events, and a Technology and Entrepreneurship Fair, showing innovations made by and for persons with disabilities. (http://www.setedis.gob.ec/)

2 Dec 2013:Roundtable Discussion on Poverty and Disability
The University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) will convene the roundtable discussion on findings from CSDA’s research project A National Study on Poverty and Disability. The purpose of discussion will be to debate the implications of the findings for policy, program delivery, and advocacy work. (For more information, contact : Keolebogile Mbebe, keom@uj.ac.za www.uj.ac.za/csda)

3 Dec 2013 : ESCAP : Award Presentation Ceremony to honour Disability-Inclusive Business in Asia and the Pacific
ESCAP, the Nippon Foundation and the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability will present the first ever ESCAP-Sasakawa Award for Disability-Inclusive Business in Asia and the Pacific on 3 December 2013, in Bangkok. The Award will be conferred to three companies from the region –representing, respectively, a multinational enterprise, a national enterprise and an entrepreneurial business – that have achieved excellence and innovation in delivering disability-inclusive business practices. For more information, please visit ( http://www.di-business-award.com).

31 Jan 2014 : Call for Comments on Draft General Comments on Article 9 and 12
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities invites all interested stakeholders to comment on the initial following Draft General Comments, which were adopted in September 2013, during the Committee’s 10th session : Draft General Comment on Article 12 of the Convention – Equal Recognition before the Law, and Drfat General Comment on article 9 of the Convention- accessibility : Deadline to submit comments is 31st January 2014. Strict respect for this deadline only will ensure the Committee’s attention to the submitted documents. (http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/DGCArticles12And9.aspx)

11 – 21 Feb 2014 : 52nd Session of the Commission for Social Development
The session will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York, under the priority theme is “Promoting empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all”. This year will be devoted to the policy segment of the cycle. ( http://undesadspd.org/CommissionforSocialDevelopment/Sessions/2014.aspx )

31 March-11April 2014 : 11th session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The 11th session will take place in Geneva and include the consideration of State reports for Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, and Sweden, and the adoption of Germany’s report. (http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=909&Lang=en)

5-11 April 2014 : Seventh session of the World Urban Forum (WUF7)
This session, organized by the UN-HABITAT will discuss issues related to sustainable urban development. It will be held in Medellin, Columbia under the theme “Urban Equity in Development - Cities for Life.”

19-20 May 2014 : Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity
The 30th Anniversary of the Pacific Rim International Conference will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii. (http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/)

10 -12 June 2014 : Seventh session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Official dates of the COP7 have been determined, with the session to be held the United Nations Headquarters in New York. During this session, members of the CRPD Committee will be elected. The DESA Forum on Disability will be held in conjunction with the COP7.

14-15 Jul 2014 : First PrepCom Meeting for the 3rd UN World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction
The first preparatory committee meeting for the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) has been attentively scheduled to be held in Geneva Switzerland. The meeting will officially start the global inter-governmental process of designing the next phase of the UN framework on natural disaster reduction beyond the 2015. (http://www.preventionweb.net/files/32998_03efdrr23sep2013norwayunisdrbriefin.pdf)

July 12-15 2014 : Inaugural International Summit on Accessibility
CarletonUniversity, with support from the Province of Ontario and the City of Ottawa, is organizing the first International Summit on Accessibility in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The International Summit on Accessibility, Making it Happen : From Intention to Action, embraces the positive progress in creating accessible and inclusive communities and brings together a diverse leadership collective to share achievement and create action. Our conference promotes access and inclusion for persons with disabilities in all aspects of life. From our major theme, three primary streams have been developed including Innovation, Technology and Accessible Communities. In each stream we will address issues of accessibility in education, communication, recreation, mobility health and the physical environment with a special emphasis on employment. Additional information is available at (www.accessibilitysummit.ca)

1- 4 September 2014 : The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States
Held in Apia, Samoa, the Conference will focus the world’s attention on a group of countries that remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities. (http://www.sids2014.org/index.php?menu=1498)

19-22 October:Destinations for All. A World Summit in Montréal in October Held under the theme, “Tourism, Culture and Transportation, A Common Strategy at the International Level”, this will be the 1st World Summit on Destinations for All. The Summit aims to establish an international strategy to develop inclusive tourism. (http://www.accessibletourism.org/?i=enat.en.events.1325)

OTHER NEWS
(DISCLAIMER : The information below is provided by civil society organizations and others for informational purposes only. This does not constitute endorsement of, or an approval by, the United Nations of any of the products, services, or opinions of the organization or individual. The United Nations bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of their statements and opinions.))

CONTACT INFORMATION

Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD)
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
S-2906, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA.
Website : www.un.org/disabilities
Email : enable@un.org
Facebook : www.facebook.com/pages/United-Nations-Enable/196545623691523
Twitter : http://twitter.com/UN_Enable

If you do not wish to receive future messages from us, please click on this link to remove your name from our list : http://esamail.un.org/u?id=4470817.5f6b16fb72b434bcf341da7830c13294&o=8324034&n=T&e=gihp.mip@laposte.net&l=enable_news

ANNEXES
Annex 1 : Information Note, International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 3 December 2013

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

“Break Barriers, Open Doors : for an inclusive society and development for all”.

3 December, 2013. Conference Room 6, NLB

United Nations Headquarters, New York

Information Note

Background

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is celebrated annually on 3 December around the world to promote awareness and mobilize support for critical issues pertaining to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society and development.

The theme for this year’s International Day is : “Break Barriers, Open Doors : for an inclusive society and development for all”.

On September 23, only a few months ago, the United Nations General Assembly convened the historic first-ever High-level Meeting on Disability and Development, and adopted a landmark outcome document aimed at promoting disability-inclusive development to guide efforts towards the creation of a fully inclusive society through 2015 and beyond.

This year’s events will be co-organized by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the Permanent Mission of Japanto the United Nations, and Leonard Cheshire Disability and co-sponsored by Member States and civil society organizations.

The United Nations Foundation and GivingTuesday.orgwill join the Day’s celebrations to promote volunteerism by taking concrete steps to create enabling environments across the world for persons with disabilities to fully participate in society and development as beneficiaries and leaders.

Format and Participation

Following this year’s High-level Meeting on Disability and Development, the International Day will be marked by “Messages of Inclusion” by Member States, UN system and civil society, highlighting how they can be translated into action.

The program of the Day includes the “Enable Theatre”, an “Enable Film” and a series of panel discussions on emerging topics on disability and development.

All are welcome to attend.

3 Dec (Tuesday)

Opening of the 2013 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (10-10.50 am, Conference Room 6, TNLB, UNHQs).
“Messages of Inclusion” : The Opening of the International Day will include the message of the Secretary-General, and of Governments and civil society. (http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1607)

UN ENABLE Theatre(10.50-11.20 am, Conference Room 6, TNLB)

Following the Opening, a theatrical performance by the Broadway Theatre Breaking through Barrierswill illuminate the theme of the International Day by bringing to fore, voices of persons with disabilities on inclusion, empowerment and development.

Panel Discussion : “Mental Well-being, Disability and Development” (11.30am-1.00pm, CR 6, TNLB).Co-organized by DESA, the NGO Committee on Mental Health, the University of Tokyo, United Nations University - International Institute for Global Health

This panel will discuss mental well-being in relation to poverty, development and situations of conflict and peace-building, and also the life cycle perspective and its emphasis on people-centered approaches to development.

UN ENABLE Film : “Gold : You can do more than you think”(1.15 pm-3.15pm, CR 6, TNLB)

This is a must-see documentary featuring three Paralympic athletes from Kenya, Germany and Australia, who overcame odds to participate in the 2012 London Paralympics Games. Following will be an interactive discussion with the producers.

Panel Discussion : “Key to the Future, Financial Inclusion and Opportunity forall” (3-4:30pm, S-2723BR - Board Room/27th floor of the Secretariat Building).Co-organized by DESA and the Center for Financial Inclusion at ACCION

This interactive panel will explore financial inclusion for the empowerment of persons with disabilities, highlighting the recently concluded “Financial Inclusion 2020 Global Forum”, the role ofmicrofinance institutions and large financial services’ providers in inclusion efforts, and concrete best case practices from the ground.

Panel Discussion : “WIPO Marrakesh VIP Treaty on Access, Intellectual Property and the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities” (3.15-4. 4.5pm, CR6, TNLB).Co-organized by DESA and WIPO

This panel will discuss the new treaty and how its implementation will enable inclusive and equitable development. Focus will be on opportunities for persons with disabilities to have access to information, communication and knowledge, thereby facilitating their participation in all aspects of development and society in a meaningful way.

ALL DAY : GivingTuesday Volunteerism

This year, GivingTuesday, 3 December, coincides with the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). To commemorate and celebrate the Day of Giving, join the global community to Giveamong others, your Time, Knowledge and Funds to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society and development.

4 Dec (Wednesday)

Launch of the United Nations Accessibility Center (3.30pm, CR1, Conference Building, UNHQ).Co-organized by DPI, DGACM and DESA.

The United Nations Accessibility Centre, located at the lower level of the UNHQ Conference Building with satellite stations in other locations of NY HQ, will be formally inaugurated at this special event. Made possible by contributions of the Republic of Korea to make the United Nations accessible, the Center is part of on-going efforts by the international community to enable the full participation of persons with disabilities in the work of the United Nations. The event will feature the Secretary-General, a representative of the Government of Republic of Korea, the President of the General Assembly and civil society.

***

Annex 2 : Outcome Document of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development. 23 September 2013

Sixty-eighth session

Item 27 (b) of the provisional agenda*

Social development : social development, including
questions relating to the world social situation and
to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family

Draft resolution submitted by the President of the General Assembly

Outcome document of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities : the way forward, a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond

The General Assembly,

Adopts the following outcome document :

Outcome document of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities : the way forward, a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond

I. Values and principles

1. We, the Heads of State and Government, have gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 23 September 2013 to reaffirm our resolve to work together for disability-inclusive development and the commitment of the international community to the advancement of the rights of all persons with disabilities, which is deeply rooted in the goals of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.[1]

2. We reaffirm the need for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities towards 2015 and beyond, and recognize persons with disabilities as agents and beneficiaries of development, acknowledging the value of their contribution to the general well-being, progress and diversity of society.

3. We are concerned that this commitment has yet to be fully translated into the inclusion of disability in internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and as 2015 approaches, strongly reiterate our determination to ensure the timely realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities who make up an estimated 15 per cent of the world’s population, or 1 billion people, of whom an estimated 80 per cent live in developing countries. In this regard, we stress the importance of ensuring accessibility for and inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of development and of giving due consideration to all persons with disabilities in the emerging post-2015 United Nations development agenda.

II. Realizing the development goals for persons with disabilities towards 2015 and beyond

4. We underline the need for urgent action by all relevant stakeholders towards the adoption and implementation of more ambitious disability-inclusive national development strategies and efforts with disability-targeted actions, backed by increased international cooperation and support, and resolve to undertake the following commitments leading to 2015 and beyond :

(a) Achieve the full application and implementation of the international normative framework on disability and development by encouraging the ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,[2] and by considering the ratification of its Optional Protocol,[3] as both human rights and development instruments ;

(b) Ensure that all development policies, including those regarding poverty eradication, social inclusion, full and productive employment and decent work, and access to basic social services, and their decision-making processes take into account the needs of and benefit all persons with disabilities, including women, children, youth, indigenous peoples and older persons, who can be subject to violence and multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination ;

(c) Develop specific plans, including, when necessary, the enactment or amendment and enforcement of national legislation, the harmonization of national legislative, policy and institutional structures, and the adoption and implementation of national plans relevant to the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed goals to advance the inclusion of persons with disabilities ;

(d) Recognize the right to education on the basis of equal opportunity and non-discrimination by making primary education accessible, free and compulsory, and available to all children with disabilities on an equal basis with others, ensuring that all children have equal opportunity for access to an inclusive education system of good quality and making early and secondary education generally available and accessible to all, in particular to children with disabilities from low-income families ;

(e) Ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities to health-care services, including primary health-care and specialized services, inter alia, by investing in and improving the affordability of such services for persons with disabilities ;

(f) Strengthen social protection for meeting disability-related needs and promote access to relevant schemes based on social protection floors, on an equal basis with others, including income support, and access to appropriate and affordable services, devices and other assistance ;

(g) Encourage Member States to take sustainable measures to ensure equal access to full and productive employment and decent work on an equal basis and without discrimination to persons with disabilities, including by promoting access to inclusive education systems, skills development and vocational and entrepreneurial training, in order to enable persons with disabilities to attain and maintain maximum independence ;

(h) Ensure accessibility, following the universal design approach, by removing barriers to the physical environment, transportation, employment, education, health, services, information and assistive devices, such as information and communications technologies, including in remote or rural areas, to achieve the fullest potential throughout the whole life cycle of persons with disabilities ;

(i) Improve disability data collection, analysis and monitoring for development policy planning, implementation and evaluation, fully taking into account regional contexts, share, where appropriate, relevant data and statistics with relevant agencies and bodies within the United Nations system, including the Statistical Commission, through appropriate mechanisms, and underline the need for internationally comparable data and statistics disaggregated by sex and age, including information on disability ;

(j) Strengthen and support, in coordination with academic institutions and other relevant stakeholders, research to promote knowledge and understanding of disability and development, and adequately and efficiently allocate resources in this regard ;

(k) Urge Member States, the United Nations system and humanitarian actors, in accordance with their relevant mandates, to continue to strengthen the inclusion of and focus on the needs of persons with disabilities in humanitarian programming and response, and include accessibility and rehabilitation as essential components in all aspects and stages of humanitarian response, inter alia, by strengthening preparedness and disaster risk reduction ;

(l) Encourage increased understanding, knowledge and the greatest social awareness about persons with disabilities, inter alia, by developing and implementing communication and social media campaigns by and in conjunction with persons with disabilities and organizations of persons with disabilities, in order to promote positive perceptions of persons with disabilities, and seek to eliminate discriminatory social and attitudinal barriers so that they participate fully in society ;

(m) Strengthen national efforts, including with the appropriate support of international cooperation, upon request, aimed at addressing the rights and needs of women and children with disabilities and the realization of the internationally agreed development goals and commitments related to gender equality and to the rights of the child ;

(n) Encourage regional and international development banks and financial institutions, consistent with their mandates, to include disability in all their development efforts and lending mechanisms, taking into account that persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected also during economic crises ;

(o) Encourage the mobilization of public and private resources on a sustainable basis to mainstream disability in development at all levels, and underline the need to promote and strengthen international cooperation and the exchange of good practices, including regional and subregional, South-South and triangular cooperation as a complement to rather than a substitute for North-South cooperation, and partnerships for disability-inclusive development, in support of national efforts, inter alia, by ensuring that resources, capacity-building and technical assistance, including by facilitating access to and sharing accessible and assistive technologies and through the transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms and other interventions, advance disability-inclusive development, ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities and promote their empowerment ; special attention should be paid to developing countries that are experiencing increasing difficulties in mobilizing adequate resources to meet pressing needs in mainstreaming disability in development, including rehabilitation, habilitation, equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities, health promotion and public health campaigns for the prevention of diseases, and in addressing social, environmental and health risk factors, inter alia, by improving health care, maternal health and access to vaccination, clean water supply and sanitation, and safe transport ;

(p) Encourage private sector entities to partner with the public sector and civil society, in particular, organizations of persons with disabilities, to integrate, adopt and implement a disability perspective in accordance with national plans, policies and priorities in their corporate social responsibility initiatives ;

(q) Support the objectives of the United Nations Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Multi-Donor Trust Fund, including through voluntary contributions, and encourage other stakeholders to do so.

III. Follow-up of the outcome document of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities : the way forward, a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond

5. We urge the United Nations system as well as Member States to stay engaged in the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities towards 2015 and beyond, and encourage the international community to seize every opportunity to include disability as a cross-cutting issue in the global development agenda, to give due consideration to disability in the emerging post-2015 United Nations development agenda with a view to enhancing cooperation, and to provide relevant technical assistance to Member States upon their request.

6. We call upon the Economic and Social Council to give due consideration to the issue of disability and development, including within the framework of United Nations operational activities, in accordance with relevant mandates, in order to enhance awareness and cooperation at all levels, including the participation, where appropriate, of United Nations agencies, multilateral development banks and institutions, and other relevant stakeholders, while ensuring coordination and avoiding possible overlapping.

7. We note the inclusive preparatory process for this high-level meeting, including the online and regional consultations.

8. We request the Secretary-General, in coordination with all the relevant United Nations entities, to include information on progress made in the implementation of the present outcome document in his existing and already mandated periodic reports on issues concerning disability and development, and to make recommendations, as appropriate, for concrete and further steps to implement the present outcome document within the context of the development agenda beyond 2015.

9. We underline the importance of closely consulting with and actively involving, as appropriate, persons with disabilities, including through their representative organizations, as key actors and stakeholders in the elaboration, implementation and monitoring of the emerging post-2015 development agenda.

10. We request the General Assembly to include in its final review on progress made towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals steps taken to implement the present outcome document. We also request the President of the General Assembly at its seventieth session to follow up on the status and progress made towards the realization of the development goals for persons with disabilities.

***


* A/68/150.

[1] Resolution 217 A (III).

[2] Resolution 61/106, annex I.

[3] Ibid., annex II.

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