By IDA-Communications

 - March 29, 2018

March 2018

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General information
The 2018 High-level Political Forum (HLPF) will be held from Monday, 9 July, to Wednesday, 18 July 2018 in New York. The theme is "Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies." The set of Goals to be reviewed in depth are Goals 6, 7, 11, 12, 15 and 17.

Forty-seven countries will report on their progress achieved on implementing the SDGs. These countries include: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Cabo Verde, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Namibia, Niger, Paraguay, Poland, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, State of Palestine, Sudan, Switzerland, Togo, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Vietnam. More information can be found here.

Parallel events to be organized during the HLPF:

  • July 11th - Higher education institutions and universities, more information here.
  • July 13th - Partnership exchange, more information here.
  • July 16th - Local/regional authorities’ forum (forthcoming)
  • July 17th - Business forum (forthcoming)

In this edition:

I. Global processes

  1. New! Thematic Group on Disaster Risk Reduction!
  2. Webinar series on SDGs
  3. Official Submission to HLPF – Final Comments
  4. HLPF Side event on Goal 11
  5. Manuel de préparation des examens nationaux volontaires (ENV)
  6. West African regional VNR consultation
  7. UN Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of the General Assembly resolution
  8. March Webinars on HLPF
  9. EDF report on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals
  10.  EDF resolution on disability-inclusive sustainable development goals
  11. World Urban Forum 9
  12. Expert meeting on disability disaggregated statistics for monitoring of the SDGs
  13. 49th Session of the UN Statistical Commission

                    II. Regional section.

                    I. GLOBAL PROCESSES

                    [NEW!] Thematic Group on Disaster Risk Reduction! You are invited to JOIN!

                    Under the Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities, we are launching the establishment of a NEW!Thematic Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). This thematic group will support the engagement of persons with disabilities, their representative organizations and other relevant stakeholders to contribute to the monitoring of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (included within the 2030 Agenda framework), under the umbrella of the Major Groups and Other Stakeholders mechanism. The DRR Thematic Group will be led by one permanent and one alternate focal point. All those interested to engage / participate in the creation of a Terms of Reference for the group, scope of work, as well as the election of focal points, please contact Georgia Dominik: gdominik [at] ida-secretariat.org. Further details can be found on the IDA website.

                    [NEW!] Webinar series on SDGs

                    We will be launching a webinar series covering the following topics:

                    • Disability Data and SDGs (10am – 11am EST, 19 April 2018) 
                    • Financing for Development (May 2018) 
                    • SDG 6 (May 2018) 
                    • Goal 11 and CRPD Art 19 (June 2018)
                    • European Development Days/ European SDGs report and resolution (June 2018)

                    The first webinar will be on data on 19th of April 2018!!! Click here to register.

                    If you would like to suggest any further thematic topics or wish to comment on webinars please fill out our survey here.

                    [COMMENT: FINAL OPPORTUNTIY] OFFICIAL SUBMISSION on behalf of the Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities – Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable Societies and Persons with Disabilities

                    Thank you to everyone who already contributed and provided feedback to the draft HLPF submission. The HLPF Secretariat integrated the majority of comments received. Kindly review the updated final draft (link below) and share key, concise, and relevant comments and recommendations by 8April. Please note that we will be unable to accept comments after this date. The document is available here: http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/sites/default/files/hlpf2018_draft_submission_2ndconsultation.docx

                    [ACTION!] HLPF side event on Goal 11

                    The Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities proposes to organize a side event during this year’s HLPF on Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.  We propose that panelists share suggestions and best practices on how to implement Goal 11 for persons with disabilities in line with the CRPD by addressing issues such as independent living, universal design, accessibility, road transportation  and other relevant areas. If you wish to engage please contact hlpf2018 [at] ida-secretariat.org and indicate in the subject line “side event.”

                    [INFORMATION] Manuel de préparation des Examens nationaux volontaires (ENV)

                    Le Secrétaire général des Nations Unies a publié la version française du manuel produit à l'intention des États membres sur la manière de mener des examens nationaux volontaires lors du Forum politique de haut niveau. Cliquez ici pour le lire.

                    [INFORMATION] Atelier de renforcement de capacités des parties prenantes au processus du Forum Politique de Haut Niveau (FPHN) sur le développement durable pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest

                    Dans le cadre de son positionnement entant que leader en Afrique de l’Ouest, la Fédération Ouest Africaine des Associations de Personnes Handicapées (FOAPH) en collaboration avec le Forum Africain des Personnes Handicapées (FAPH) a réalisé une mission à Dakar (au Sénégal) du 22 au 24 mars 2018. L’objectif de la mission est de participer à un atelier de renforcement de capacités des parties prenantes au processus du Forum Politique de Haut Niveau (FPHN) sur le développement durable. Le rapport complet peut être trouvé ici.  

                    [INFORMATION] UN Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of the General Assembly resolution 71/165

                    On behalf of International Disability Alliance (IDA) and International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), we contributed to the UN Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of the General Assembly resolution 71/165 entitled “Inclusive Development for persons with disabilities.” Click here to read it.

                    [INFORMATION] March Webinars on HLPF

                    Two webinars on preparatory information over the HLPF were held on 21 March (English) and 28 March (Spanish); the recordings can be found with International Sign and captioning here.

                    [INFORMATION] EDF report on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals

                    The European Disability Forum (EDF) presented its second human report entitled “2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) report: A European perspective to respect, protect and fullfil the United Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”. The report provides an overview of the strong link between the Convention and the SDGs and presents recommendations on how to ensure Europe takes a human rights based approach to the Sustainable Development agenda, fully including persons with disabilities. This report, presented during the SDGs conference, has been designed as a resource for organisations of persons with disabilities and decision-makers in Europe to learn more about the 2030 Agenda and what opportunities exist for advocacy around the SDGs in order to respect, protect and fulfil the CRPD, in Europe and in international cooperation.

                    [INFORMATION] EDF resolution on disability-inclusive sustainable development goals

                    EDF board members agreed to adopt a resolution where they call on the EU to fully include persons with disabilities in all policy dialogues regarding the SDGs, in Europe and in the context of international cooperation.

                    [INFORMATION] World Urban Forum 9

                    From 7-13 February, the Disability Inclusive and Accessible Urban Development (DIAUD) Network actively engaged in the ninth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9). The WUF9 mobilized diverse stakeholders in urban development to discuss their best practices, inputs on monitoring and evaluation, and facilitate strategic partnerships for the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda. You can read more here. 

                    [INFORMATION]Expert meeting on disability disaggregated statistics for monitoring of the SDGs

                    A disability data meeting organized by UNICEF, ILO, Washington Group, and the GLAD Network took place from 26-27 March in New York. Vladimir Cuk, Executive Director of IDA presented multiple times during the meeting on behalf of IDA and IDDC. Click here to download the presentation. There were DPO representatives from various regions, including: RIADIS, Ecuador; Pacific Disability Fund, Fiji; World Blind Union, United States; The Arab Forum for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (AFRPD) and Disabled People International (DPI), Lebanon; and African Disability Forum, Uganda.

                    [INFORMATION]49th Session of the UN Statistical Commission

                    The 49th Session of the UN Statistical Commission took place on 6 to 9 March at the UN Headquarters in New York. There were two important agenda items: discussions on the SDG global indicator framework (general debate, not specific to persons with disabilities) and discussions over the work of the Washington Group and disability statistics. Read more here over the session.

                    II. REGIONAL SECTION

                    EUROPE

                    Europe is getting ready for the High-Level Political Forum!

                    EDF attended the second Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. The forum focuses on monitoring the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and took place on the 1st and 2nd March.

                    The forum was organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). They promote sustainable development in the ECE region. The ECE region has 56 Member States and includes Europe, but also countries in North America (Canada and United States), Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) and Western Asia (Israel).

                    The forum had 600 participants from more than 50 countries. The theme was "Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies”. Participants from governments, civil society, academia and the private sector engaged in intense discussions, learning and exchange across a range of key sustainability priorities.

                    EDF Executive Committee Member Nadia Hadad was selected by approximatively 70 civil organisations to talk about sustainable cities (SDG 11). EDF Vice-President John Patrick Clarke gave the final closing speech, on behalf of civil society.

                    Our participation was a real success! Persons with disabilities were systematically mentioned as a group needed to be reached for strong SDGs

                    We also had the pleasure to talk briefly with the ECE Secretary General, Olga Algayerova, who we met at the High Level Political Forum last year in New York.

                    However, we have deep concerns about the lack of accessibility of the event.

                    There was no captioning, and no international sign language interpreters. The stages were not always accessible to wheelchairs users. Accessibility in these events is essential for inclusive Sustainable Development Goals. We call for:

                    • Investing in an efficient and accessible registration system. In fact, it has been really difficult and chaotic to register this year and last year due to a poor system.
                    • Including civil society in the Regional Forum agenda, where we appear on the stage and among speakers. Civil society should also be able to contribute to setting the agenda and to suggest topics for panel debates.
                    • The Regional Forum must be physically accessible. It must have captioning and international sign language interpreters. It is already happening at the UN in New York, it should also be feasible in Geneva and others Regional Forums.
                    • The organisation of side-events should be transparent. All civil society allowed to apply similarly to the High Level Political Forum and with a defined selection process.
                    • Funding to civil society should continue to be provided and not decreased. Many organisations (such as persons with disabilities, youth, refugees, LGBTI and older persons) are often based on volunteerism with limited financial capacity.

                    For more information about the event, consult the UN ECE press release, where pictures are also available.

                    ASIA PACIFIC

                    ESCAP: Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development

                    The Asia-Pacific Forum is currently taking place in Bangkok (28-30 March 2018). A more comprehensive report will be shared in next month’s issue.

                    AFRICA

                    ECA: Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

                    Dates have been announced, the Forum will take place from 2-4 May 2018 in Dakar, Senegal.

                    LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

                    ECLAC: Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development

                    The Latin America and Caribbean Forum will take place in Santiago de Chile from 18-20 April 2018. The annual progress report has been released. Click here to read it (in Spanish).

                    ***

                    Contact information

                    If you have information to share or would like to get in touch with us, please use the email hlpf2018 [at] ida-secretariat.org.

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