Newsletter from IDA Secretariat, November 2019

By IDA

 - November 29, 2019

14 Members of the International Disability Alliance

1.    HIGHLIGHTS

Launch of the IASC Guidelines

The IASC Guidelines were officially launched in New York on November 12, 2019. The high-level event was opened by Ana Maria Menendez, UN Under-Secretary-General and Senior Adviser of the Secretary General on Policy and Mark Lowcock, Chair of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, Emergency Relief Coordinator and UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. Panelists comprised representatives of the three co-chair organizations of the former Task Team: Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Deputy Executive Director for UNICEF, Vladimir Cuk, Executive Director for International Disability Alliance and Florence Daunis, Director of Operations and Technical Resources for Humanity & Inclusion. Robinah Alambuya, Founding Director, TRIUMPH Uganda and Vice Chair of the African Disability Forum, also participated to share her experience.  The guidelines are now available online in multiple accessible formats, with translations forthcoming. They will be disseminated at regional and national levels in collaboration with multiple stakeholders and complemented with accompanying resources to support operationalization. 

2.    TREATY BODY REVIEW

CEDAW: Between 21 – 22 October IDA supported the participation of a representative from Iraqi’s Alliance of Disability (IADO) to attend the 74th Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Every Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). 

3.    ACTIVITIES OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS

  • Linguistic Rights of Deaf Children: On 31st October and 1st November 2019, WFD Human Rights Officer Alexandre Bloxs was invited to represent WFD at the National Conference on Special Education in Quzhou, China. This conference was co-hosted by the Chinese government and Amity Foundation, the biggest charity organization of China. WFD gave an intervention on their perspective on the linguistic rights of deaf children as well as presenting WFD position on inclusive education. For more information visit the WFD Facebook page by clicking here.
  • Bridge CRPD-SDGs in Francophone West Africa: Module 1 of the Bridge CRPD-SDGs training cycle for West African Countries was held between 2 to 8 November 2019 in Niamey, Niger. There were 31 participants, representing 12 countries from Francophone West Africa. The event was facilitated by the West African Federation of Associations of People with Disabilities (WAFOD) which is a member of ADF. This Bridge would not have been possible without the support of IDA and Humanity and Inclusion (HI), and through the financial support of the European Union; DPOD, CBM, LFTW, Belgian Development Cooperation, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. For more information click here.  
  • SDGs Regional Report: RIADIS completed the regional SDGs monitoring report at the beginning of November, you can read the full report in Spanish by clicking here.
  • IDA Board and General Assembly meeting: The IDA Board and General Assembly meetings were held from 2-6 November 2019 in Seoul, Korea.
  • Exchanges with North East Asian DPOs: On November 8-9, following its Board meeting in Seoul, Republic of Korea, IDA hosted a workshop to bring together DPOs from the Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia and China.
  • EDF Summit Access4All: the accessibility of transport and built environment event was held November 9, 2019 in Helsinki, Finland.  During this event the newly agreed upon European Accessibility Act was discussed, including the improvements for accessibility and the shortcomings.
  • EDF Board Meeting: was held 9-10 November in Finland.  
  • Accessible Cities: WBU participated at the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, convened by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), in Durban, South Africa, 11-15 November. As an active member of the Global Network for Disability-Inclusive and Urban Development, the WBU, together with their partners have contributed to a Town Hall session on inclusive and accessible cities, and a side-event on the same theme. WBU continues to advocate for inclusive and accessible cities where blind and partially sighted persons can enjoy equal access to barrier-free digital and physical spaces and services.  Click here for more information. As part of the Global initiative on Accessibility in Smart Cities WBU rolled out a social media campaign in October, click here for more information on the campaign.
  • Access to Employment: The Global Business and Disability Network Annual Meeting was hosted by the ILO November 21 to 22 in Geneva, Switzerland. The ILO Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN) held a “Future of Work” conference on 21 and 22 November 2019, at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • WFD Board Meeting: From the 22th to 26th November 2019, the World Federation of the Deaf and the World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section (WFDYS) respectively held their 119th and 37thBoard Meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia. The board meeting started with a two-day long training to the newly elected WFD and WFDYS board members. This training focused on the WFD Strategic Direction, internal organisations, and capacity building. The WFD and WFDYS board members also discussed the next 2019-2023 Action Plans to implement the 2020-2030 WFD Strategic Direction.  On the fourth day, the WFD, WFDYS, and Union of the Deaf in Georgia organised a seminar with representatives from the government of Georgia and associations of the deaf to bring an overview of the Human Rights of the Deaf.
  • The Belonging Conference: Inclusion International and AKIM Israel hosted the The Belonging Conference between November 24 and 25h in Tel Aviv, Israel. The event explored how to turn the Person-Centred Approach into public policy that supports people with intellectual disabilities, with the principles of inclusion and the right to choose guided discussions.
  • Business and Human Rights: on November 27th in Geneva, Switzerland the Inclusion Can’t Wait: The business Case for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities panel session was held, hosted by IDA along with OHCHR, the ILO, the Office of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Bridging the Gap Project. The panel discussion presented good practices to promote the employment of persons with disabilities and to consolidate the business case for inclusion.
  • IFSBH related activities: During the European Day of Persons with Disabilities IFSBH actively took part in several events, ensuring younger persons were included in these discussions. On November 28, IF Board Member, Rasmus Isaksson was a speaker on the panel titled, “What do you expect from the EU for the next decade in the disability area? - Part II – Debate with NGOS”. 
  • Nepal CRPD-SDGs Workshop: Prior to Bridge Module 1 South Asia, between November 24 to 26, a workshop on CRPD-SDGs for Nepali DPOs (CRPD Coalition) was held by DPOD and IDA in Kathmandu, Nepal 
  • Pacific Regional Inclusive Education Framework (PRIEF): Setareki Macanawai, CEO, PDF, presented on behalf of the Inclusive Education Task Force the mapping report on the Pacific Regional Inclusive Education Framework (PRIEF) against the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF). The presentation was made to the Pacific Heads of Education System (PHES) Steering Committee at their meeting held at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji. This exercise was undertaken by the Inclusive Education Taskforce consisting of representatives of the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and Niue, and representatives from regional partner agencies: the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), The Pacific Community (SPC), The University of the South Pacific (USP), The Pacific Disability Forum (PDF), UNICEF, UNFPA, UNESCO, and the Australia-Pacific Training Coalition (APTC).
  • Disability data advocacy: WBU has been training DPOs in Uganda to advocate for inclusive data collection. WBU and Uganda National Association of the Blind (UNAB) with support from CBM International are training members and representatives from DPOs in Uganda about advocating for inclusive data collection particularly using the Washington Group of Questions in national censuses and surveys. The goal is to ensure that the government and other data collection agencies understand the importance of disaggregated data for implementation of inclusive development policies and programmes. To learn more click here.

4.    UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

DECEMBER

  • Bridge CRPD-SDGs in Asia: Bridge Module 1 for South Asia + Laos will be taking place in Kathmandu, Nepal between November 28th and December 5th. IDA and TCI-Asia Pacific will welcome participations from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh Sri Lanka and Laos.
  • The International Day of Persons with Disabilities: will be marked on December 3, 2019. The UN announced that their theme for the 2019 IDPD is ‘Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda’.
  • Virtual Career Fair: IDA is joining several UN entities in presenting a Virtual Career Fair entitled “Attracting Talent with Disabilities to the UN System”, discussing career opportunities in the UN for persons with disabilities. It will take place on Tuesday 3 December 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM (EST) online. It will be in English with International Sign and captioning. To register click here.
  • Launch of Amnesty International’s report: Excluded: Living with Disabilities in Yemen’s armed conflict, co-hosted by IDA. The event will take place December 3, 2019 in the Baha’i International Community's United Nations Office at 1:15 PM.
  • Women’s Agenda: IDA is joining UN Women, Finland Mission, UNICEF, OHCHR, UNDP, UNPRPD, Women Enabled, HI, CBM, and Sightsavers to present an event on Empowerment of women and girls with disabilities: How to better facilitate cross movement building and synergies to ensure meaningful participation of women and girls with disabilities. The event will take place on December 3 between 2 – 3:30 PM at the UN Women Officer in New York. To RSVP click here.
  • UNDIS: On December 3 atPalais des Nations – United Nations in Geneva, to raise the standards of the UN’s performance on disability inclusion across the board, the Permanent Missions of Finland, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Mexico will organize a high-level panel event on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The high-level panel will highlight the main elements of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy and point to the transformations that the United Nations system needs to achieve for the inclusion of persons with disabilities across all its work. The event is co-sponsored by the Missions of Bulgaria, Israel, Norway, Ecuador, Argentina and Namibia as well as the International Disability Alliance.
  • Inclusion International: is holding The Forgotten People: Including Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action in Oslo, Norway on December 3. Conflicts, emergencies and disasters do not discriminate. With numerous armed conflicts around the world, it is critical for the global community to reaffirm its commitment to leaving no one behind in humanitarian response, including persons with physical and intellectual disabilities.  Register here. 
  • Indigenous Persons with Disabilities: Following Bridge Module 1 South Asia, a training on CRPD-SDGs for Indigenous Persons with Disabilities will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • WFD Post-Bridge: Following Bridge Module 1 South Asia, a specific training for Bridge alumni who are deaf will be held by WFD in Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • WNUSP CRPD Trainings: In Sierra Leone, December 4 to 6, a CRPD training will be held for persons with psychosocial disabilities organized by WNUSP, HI and IDA. December 9-11 WNUSP, HI and IDA will be hosting a CRPD training for persons with psychosocial disabilities in Togo. 
  • Qatar Disability Summit: A Disability Summit will be held December 7 to 8 in Qatar by Qatar Social Work.
  • EDF Webinar: will be hosting the 2nd webinar in their series which will cover Article 27 (Work and Employment) and Article 28 (Adequate Standard of Living and Social Protection) of the UN CRPD, click here for more information: Webinar #2 : Innovation to Inclusion (i2i) Monitoring T
  • Global Refugee Forum -The Global Refugee Forum will be held by UNHCR between December 17-18 in Geneva, Switzerland. Under the Article 11 project, IDA will be supporting

JANUARY 2020

  • Bridge CRPD-SDGs Tanzania – Module 2 will be held from 16 - 23 January 2020. The training will be hosted by Shivyawata, ADF, IDA and CBM.
  • Review of the Bridge Module 3 on the Art 11: will be held 24-26 January 2020 in Nairobi, Kenya. The session will bring together participants that had a key role in the preparation and/or during the implementation of the Bridge Art. 11 training held earlier in 2019.
  • Review ofthe Bridge CRPD-SDG training initiative meeting: will be held 27-29 January 2020 in Nairobi, Kenya. The workshop will bring together individuals who have particular interest in Bridge and can support its review and evolution.
  • IDA Programme Committee Meeting: will be held 29-31 January 2020 in Nairobi, Kenya. The 3-day meeting will bring together IDA’s International Programme Committee, to discuss updates and future planning. 
  • UKAC and DID project meeting: will be held 31 January to February 2, 2020 in Nairobi, Kenya. This event will bring together IDA’s Inclusive Livelihoods Task Team with ADF representatives, along with IDDC members to discuss the Inclusion Works and DID projects.

5.    UN SYSTEM, AGENCIES AND MECHANISMS 

International Labour Organization: The International Labour Organization (ILO) has published a policy brief on the nexus of climate change, persons with disabilities and labour issues. It highlights that implementing a just transition that ensures disability inclusion in climate action will require appropriate legal standards, social protection mechanisms, skills development initiatives and attitudinal changes at the societal level. Download the ILO policy brief "Persons with disabilities in a just transition to a low-carbon economy" in accessible formats by clicking here.

6.    OTHERS

Red Cross Red Crescent Congress: will be held between 11-13 December in Geneva, Switzerland.

7.    VACANCIES AND CONSULTANCIES

The international Disability Alliance is currently recruiting for a number of full-time vacancies and consultancies. Learn more and apply through our careers page.  

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