EU & International

EU AND INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL POLICY

World Bank/GPDD –Disability and Development Forum

From 21 to 23 September 2011, the Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD) will hold its 3rd Disability and Development Forum and Membership Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Members and partners will focus on options for action towards the social and economic inclusion of people with disabilities, particularly in light of Article 32 of the CRPD.

Development Partners will review current processes and challenges, as well as explore options to achieve development goals.

Launch of the Access City Award 2012

The European Commission has opened nominations for the second edition of the Access City Award, the European Award for Accessible Cities.

As part of the EU’s wider effort to create a barrier-free society, this award aims to reward cities which take exemplary steps to improve their accessibility for people with disabilities in fundamental aspects of city living.

Improved accessibility is important especially in the context of demographic ageing; by sharing best practices, the successes of some cities can be an inspiration to many other countries.

Preparations underway for the fourth session of the Conference of States Parties

The fourth session of the Conference of States Parties will be held at UN Headquarters in New York from 7 to 9 September 2011.

The Conference will include a high-level segment and general debate, as well as two Roundtables entitled “Realizing the CRPD through international cooperation” and “Ensuring effective and full participation in political and public life”. This session will also include an informal session entitled “Realizing the right to work”, as well as an interactive dialogue on the implementation of the Convention”.

Young voices call for greater inclusion of youth with disabilities in development

On 25 July, DESA hosted an interactive discussion titled “Including youth with disabilities in development”, aimed at ensuring the inclusion of youth with disabilities in all aspects of development.

STATUS OF THE CONVENTION (CRPD)

103 ratifications of the Convention
149 signatories to the Convention

Optional Protocol to the Convention

62 ratifications of the Optional Protocol
90 signatories to the Optional Protocol

Pakistan ratified the Convention on 5 July 2011 

Including children and persons with disabilities in education

DESA along with its partners will organize a side-event panel discussion on realizing the MDG of universal primary education for children with disabilities at the 2011 High-Level Segment of the substantive session of ECOSOC Annual Ministerial Review in Geneva on 5 July. The event entitled "Education for All: inclusion of children and persons with disabilities" will highlight the findings of the first World Disability Report and explore the barriers facing children with disabilities in their access to education and ways to foster inclusive education which benefits all children.

PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT

30 June 2011 - Yesterday, the European Disability Movement (EDF) met with Vice President of the European Commission, Siim Kallas responsible for Transport. EDF wants to make sure persons with disabilities are not discriminated anymore when boarding a plane or otherwise travelling in Europe.

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

  • 149 signatories
  • 102 ratifications

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

  • 90 signatories
  • 62 ratifications

Cyprus ratified the Convention on 27-6-2011
Cyprus ratified the Optional Protocol on 27-6-2011
Belize ratified the Convention on 2-6-2011
Papua New Guinea signed the Convention on 2-6-2011

Using sports as a tool for development

The universal popularity of sport and the physical, social and economic developmental benefits derived from it, make it an ideal tool for fostering the inclusion and well-being of persons with disabilities. On 27 June, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in collaboration with Achilles International and other stakeholders will organize an interactive panel discussion to help draw attention to the role of sport as a platform and catalyst for fostering the inclusion and well-being of persons with disabilities in society and development.

UN hands out awards for innovative tourism projects

3 June 2011 – An initiative that has made hotels in Slovenia more accessible for people with disabilities and a project in Australia that allows people to volunteer to protect biodiversity are among the winners of United Nations awards aimed at encouraging innovation in tourism.
The 2011 Ulysses Awards – handed out last night in a ceremony in Vilamoura, Portugal – were given by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to a series of State institutions, private enterprises and non-profit organizations.

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