International Watch Members (Present)
Kathleen Martinez, Facilitator
Lex Frieden, ex officio, NCD Chair
Yerker Andersson
Bruce Curtis
Eric Rosenthal
Susan Sygall

NCD Staff and Consultants (Present)
Jeff Rosen
Joan Durocher
Joelle Balfe

I. Call to Order

II. Roll Call and Welcome
Ms. Martinez welcomed the members and asked who was on the call.

III. Amend/Approve the Agenda
The agenda was approved.

IV. NCD's Release of "Foreign Policy and Disability: Legislative Strategies and Civil Rights Protections To Ensure Inclusion of People with Disabilities"

Joan Durocher reported that NCD's foreign policy report is completed and will be released on September 9, 2003. A press conference is scheduled featuring Kathy Martinez, Senator Harkin and Representative Langevin. The press conference will be followed by a briefing on the report by a panel of international disability experts including Eric Rosenthal and Arlene Kanter, co-authors of the report; Holly Burkhalter; Victor Pineda; John Kemp; Sue Suter; and NCD Board members Kathy Martinez and Milton Aponte. The event will include a panel discussion of the topic and members of the disability community are encouraged to attend to lend their support to the report's recommendations. Kathy Martinez informed the group that both USAID staff and State Department staff are also expected to attend. Joan Durocher added that the report would be available on the NCD website on September 9.

V. International Convention Working Group

Kathy Martinez reported that the UN Ad Hoc Committee had established a Working Group tasked with developing a draft text for consideration by the Ad Hoc Committee next summer. The working group includes 27 governmental delegates, 12 NGO representatives and one representative from a National Human Rights Institution. One problem with the process is that, while governments have money to attend meetings of the working group, NGO participants generally do not.

Joelle Balfe added that it will interesting to see what approach the NGO participants take in order to integrate in this group and affect its work. They could work closely together, trying to achieve consensus among themselves so they can argue their points as a group. Alternatively, they could work individually, focusing more on one-on-one relationships with governmental delegates they perceive as allies to promote their positions.

Lex Frieden stated that, in any case, it will be an interesting process. There are already difficult issues on the table, such as the definition of disability. Some seem to favor a more traditional and narrow definition (excluding, for instance, HIV status) while others are arguing for a more inclusive and progressive definition.

John German observed that already in this process there were groups that felt as if they were being marginalized, such as people with invisible disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, etc. It will be important for people with disabilities involved in this process to decide whether to fight for the most comprehensive convention and strongest principles and risk being defeated, or to set the bar somewhat lower which would increase the likelihood of success but risk excluding some issues and groups.

Yerker Andersson added that some disability groups do not have the resources or capacity necessary to participate as fully as they would like.

John German asked if NCD was planning anything in DC on December 3 (International Day of Disabled Persons). Some groups were planning events in New York on that day to publicize the convention.

Lex Frieden responded that it would be more appropriate for NGOs to plan and lead such events, as opposed to government agencies such as NCD.

VI. Discussion of NCD's foreign policy work in Fiscal Year 2004

Joan Durocher stated that she would like to hear from the International Watch members on the call regarding priorities for the work of the Committee in the coming fiscal year.

Bruce Curtis expressed his gratitude for the work NCD has done on international issues and said that we are now at a critical point - especially on the foreign assistance issues - where we are seeing substantive discussions take place at the State Department and with some members of Congress. International Watch provides essential coordination that must be continued. Too often we see great work kick start a process and then insufficient follow-up to ensure real change.

Eric Rosenthal agreed that the work of International Watch over the past few years had led to very important progress on international issues. He affirmed that a solid follow-up strategy to the foreign policy report was critical to ensure that the recommendations in the report would lead to action by the government. He added that as a result of NCD's report and the follow-up underway, we are already seeing specific legislative action on disability inclusion in reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He also informed the group that the Polish government was convening a donor's meeting to discuss accessibility in relation to Iraq reconstruction on November 23-25, 2003, largely as a result of USICD's efforts to promote this issue.

Yerker Andersson reminded the committee that the State Department had indicated that NCD was the contact point on international issues but that we need to make even stronger efforts to improve relations with the State Department.

Joan Durocher asked for other comments specifically on what NCD might do in relation to the UN Convention process.

Eric Rosenthal stated that NCD has a critical role in the area of information sharing. There needs to wider awareness and stronger engagement among the US disability community and NCD is the link and the vehicle for achieving that.

Bruce Curtis suggested that the committee look for ways to use state and national meetings of the disability community as a mechanism to inform people about international disability issues.

Kathy Martinez thanked everyone for their suggestions and said that they would all be considered as we decide how best to move forward. She then asked if anyone had information on other matters they wanted to share.

Bruce Curtis said that the World Institute on Disability had just been awarded two USAID grants with a partner in Russia. One was from the human rights sector, the first time disability had been funded by this area, and the other was from humanitarian funds, also a first for disability. The programs will train activists to remove barriers in the education system. NCD and International Watch had played a role in this success by increasing the US government's awareness of disability issues.

Susan Sygall informed the committee that training, using the Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) standards developed for InterAction, had just been completed with five major development groups and now each has developed an action plan for disability. Also, MIUSA was about to publish a book on technical assistance and would be holding an international leadership conference for women with disabilities in the coming weeks. She promised to report back on that event.

Yerker Andersson reported that the World Federation of the Deaf had held it's 14th Congress in Canada and had experienced problems getting visas for some participants with disabilities.

VII. Adjournment

Victor Pineda, the guest speaker on the agenda, was unable to participate. Joan Durocher suggested that he be invited again at a later date.

Kathy Martinez thanked participants for their support of International Watch and the many good ideas put forth.

The call adjourned at 1:00 pm.