Attendance
Kathy Martinez, Chair and Facilitator
Jeff Rosen, NCD Staff
Joan Durocher, NCD Staff
Emily Munson, NCD Intern
Galina Sergen, NCD Intern
Yerker Andersson
Maria Reina
Daniel Florio
Sylvia Caras
Marco Nicoli
Bruce Curtis
Roseangela Berman-Bieler
Cath Rundoor
Kathy Guernsey
Alicia Contreras
Ilene Zeitzer
Mark Engman
Arlene Kanter
Susan Sygall
Don Galloway
Barbara Duncan
Lloyd Feinberg
Rob Horvath
Tina Minkowitz

I. Roll Call and Welcome

Ms. Martinez welcomed participants and asked that they introduce themselves and name the organizations they represent.

II. Amend/Approve Agenda

Ms. Martinez asked if there were any amendments or updates to the agenda. She explained that the agenda was being amended because NCD’s meeting with Ken Hackett of the Millennium Challenge Corporation was re-scheduled. Instead, Mr. Nicoli from the World Bank would be discussing his organization’s upcoming events on November 29 – December 2.

III. World Bank International Disabilities Conference “Disability and Inclusive Development: Sharing, Learning and Building Alliances”

Mr. Nicoli stated that at the end of the month the World Bank will be holding its second international conference regarding disability and development. The upcoming conference will serve as a follow-up to the previous one, held two years ago. Mr. Nicoli added that the conference will not be centered on the World Bank, but will provide the opportunity for NGOs, academia, and other international organizations to share agenda-related experiences.

While the conference’s agenda is relatively flexible at this point, the main items will begin on November 30th with several keynote speakers and a panel on mainstreaming disabilities into foreign operations. There will also be ten breakout group sessions that afternoon. The topics for these sessions are inclusive education, employment, infrastructure, access to health services, development communication, youth, the legal dimension of inclusive development, information technology, participation of civil society, and the World Bank’s experiences. A wrap-up of each breakout group’s findings will follow with feedback from the vice-presidents of the World Bank.

Because December 1st is World HIV/AIDS Day, that morning there will be a panel on HIV/AIDS and disability and HIV/AIDS and women. A plenary session on the economics of disability will follow in the afternoon.

Mr. Nicoli added that the conference will sponsor a workshop on November 29th designed to bring development professionals and the disability community together. The intention is to bridge the gap and foster communication between the two groups. The workshop will be ongoing throughout the conference, concluding on December 2nd.

The conference is also sponsoring several lunchtime lectures, including one on the legal dimensions of inclusive development. Discussion of this topic will begin online on December 8th and is open to everyone. Those wishing to participate should look at the World Bank disability website (www.worldbank.org/disability). Another lecture will present the legal framework of Jordan, this year’s winner of the Franklin Roosevelt International Disability Award.

Mr. Hizuko asked where the conference will be located, and Mr. Nicoli replied that it will be at 1818 H Street, in the World Bank’s main building. Mr. Nicoli noted that there will also be 26 booths at the conference site with information from many organizations.

Mr. Engman stated the importance of getting mainstream international development NGOs to familiarize themselves with disability issues. Even if these organizations do work with these issues, many do not have specific procedures to support them. Mr. Engman then asked if the World Bank’s conference intends to promote the participation of these mainstream NGOs.

Mr. Nicoli responded affirmatively, and emphasized that the objective is to reach beyond the disability community. Not only does the World Bank hope to educate international foundations about disability matters, but also engage the legal and human rights communities. Thus, disability organizations and non-disability organizations will share their respective perspectives.

Mr. Curtis asked Mr. Nicoli to compare the World Bank conference to the conference being held by the Japan program of the InterAmerica Development Bank. Mr. Nicoli said the World Bank scheduled their conference with the international community immediately after the 2002 conference. The reason for this was to ensure wide participation. Mr. Nicoli hypothesized that the InterAmerica Development Bank conference might have more high-level participants.

Ms. Martinez thanked Mr. Nicoli for presenting with short notice.

IV. NCD’s Convention Thematic Paper Project

Ms. Martinez said that although this administration has only given technical support to the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, NCD strongly supports the Convention. NCD has contracted Janet Lord and Kathy Guernsey to write three thematic papers regarding Convention topics. Ms. Martinez asked Kathy Guernsey to explain what the papers will be covering and how the topics were chosen.

Ms. Guernsey said that Ms. Lord is out of town and sends her regards. She continued, explaining that the papers are designed as a resource for delegations and organizations participating in the Convention. The draft-reading stage of the Convention is underway, and States are at the point where they need to evaluate ramifications of the document’s concepts. Some countries have less experience with disability issues, and would find illustrative examples helpful. These papers will show how several of these concepts work in various contexts. Additionally, the papers will provide specific examples of how the United States has addressed these issues.

The three issues being addressed are participation in political and public life, transportation, and independent living. They were chosen because delegations have expressed interest in these topics, and the US has considerable experience with each of them.

Ms. Guernsey said that she and Ms. Lord are still in the process of researching and drafting, and hope to have them prepared prior to the Fifth Ad Hoc Committee meeting. They foresee the papers being approximately fifteen pages each.

Mr. Curtis asked how independent living is being addressed, since it is culture-specific to America.

Ms. Guernsey replied that similar sentiment has arisen during the Convention proceedings, and the focus has been less on the independent living movement and more on practically providing freedom of choice regarding living arrangements. This topic paper will illustrate practical examples of how Americans with disabilities live independently.

Mr. Galloway said he just returned from Ghana, where one of the largest obstacles to independent living is a lack of infrastructure. He asked whether the paper would address how independence is related to such development.

Ms. Guernsey said that Ms. Lord would be writing the independent living paper, and apologized if she was not answering questions sufficiently. She said that they are aware delegations from the developing world may not have advanced infrastructure. One possibility for addressing their particular concerns is to include examples from rural America. She noted that analogies might be helpful to those countries in the process of developing infrastructure – they can begin by building accessibly.

Mr. Andersson asked if everyone on the International Watch Committee would be receiving copies of these papers. Ms. Durocher responded that NCD will be asking International Watch members to review the papers before publication.

Ms. Zeitzer said that she and Eric Rosenthal have written a document on community integration, examining independent living as a human right. She offered to share it with Ms. Guernsey and Ms. Lord. Ms. Guernsey said it might be helpful and thanked Ms. Zeitzer.

Ms. Minkowitz asked if all kinds of disabilities would be included in the papers. Ms. Guernsey said the intention was to include cross-disability issues, but reminded everyone of the expected length of the papers. She and Ms. Lord are going to use questions raised in the readings of the draft text and address them in the American context. If another example from another country adds variety, the authors will try to include it to be as cross-disability conscious as possible. Ms. Guernsey repeated that drafts of the topic papers will be circulated for additional input.

Ms. Caras said she would like to comment on the papers since she is an expert on psychosocial disabilities. Ms. Martinez said that she could have a copy, but there is not much time for comment since the Fifth Ad Hoc Committee is meeting in January.

Someone asked what accessible formats the papers would be in. Ms. Durocher said NCD will publish a print version, but NCD also always included a web it always puts its publications on its website (www.ncd.gov).

Ms. Contreras said she learned a lot working at a center for women with disabilities in Mexico, and stated that she would be happy to share her experiences.

Ms. Martinez asked Ms. Guernsey to share her contact information for other contributions, and Ms. Guernsey replied that her email address is K_Guernsey@yahoo.com.

Ms. Reina asked Ms. Guernsey what she thought of the Convention proceedings in general. Ms. Guernsey responded by saying there is a push for six weeks worth of upcoming sessions. African countries would prefer two three-week sessions because travel costs are expensive and they would rather not have to take so many flights. Regardless of session length, it appears that the next session will start in mid-to-late January and end around February 4th. The General Assembly still needs to have budgetary discussions. Several countries are still pushing for preparing a document for ratification in September 2005.

V. USICD Meeting with Minister Pater of Poland

Ms. Martinez introduced Ms. Zeitzer from the United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD).

Ms. Zeitzer began by explaining that recently, there was a successful push from US agencies and organizations to get language in the 2004 foreign appropriations bill that would require US foreign aid money to be spent in a way that promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities. Those agencies involved in the spending, including the Department of State and the Department of Defense, must present an annual report documenting how this was accomplished.

As a result, USICD began examining examples of disability inclusion in the reconstruction processes in Afghanistan and Iraq. Poland, the second-largest donor in Iraq, heard about this and decided to have an international summit regarding disability inclusion and reconstruction. The objective is for all countries to agree on continuing to develop such policies, as no international standards currently exist.

At the end of September, the Polish Minister of Social Policy, Krzysztof Pater, visited the US. During his stay he met with Senators, Congresspersons, and people from agencies including USAID, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense. Those he conversed with were generally supportive of the summit.

The summit will be held in Warsaw on either the third or fourth weekend of April 2005. Polish Prime Minister Marek Bulka will soon be in contact with his Iraqi counterpart, as will the Polish Foreign Minister. Unofficial reports from the Iraqi government tell that they, too, are supportive. Minister Pater will inform and welcome the other European social ministers of the summit at an upcoming meeting in Budapest. Poland will relay further information to the US embassy in Warsaw once plans become more clear. Other countries that have expressed interest in participating are Germany, Japan, Australia, Russia, Afghanistan, and Vietnam.

Due to high security concerns, the location of the summit will be the conference center of the Polish army. The Polish secret service will be responsible for security.

The first day of the summit will be a plenary session with top-level representatives. Those in charge will be speaking on behalf of their country. The remainder of the summit’s time will be spent in breakout groups with NGOs and experts in fields such as architectural design and rehabilitation. Although many will be involved, access to the summit is by invitation only.

Ms. Zeitzer concluded by saying she would keep everyone informed, and asked that anyone with questions contact her. Her e-mail address is ILENEZDC@yahoo.com. She is also looking for pictures of infrastructure built, as well as names of NGOs involved in Iraq.

Someone asked who would be funding the summit. Ms. Zeitzer said the Polish government would assume host country costs, as well as costs incurred to bring Iraqi NGOs. US NGOs are responsible for their own costs. She added that USICD is currently looking for philanthropic assistance, as they do not have funding for the trip.

Mr. Curtis stated that many international aid organizations are leaving Iraq because of security concerns, and the conference has consequently been postponed several times. He asked how progress on the ground could be made given the circumstances.

Ms. Zeitzer replied that it was difficult convincing several Senators that accessibility should be a concern at all considering the situation. She said Minister Pater responded to their criticism by explaining the high costs associated with retrofitting a building. He also said that whether the building is accessible or not, the workers are getting shot at, so they might as well build an accessible one.

Mr. Zeitzer continued, saying that the summit’s postponement had more to do with a change of government in Poland than problems in Iraq. The current prime minister spent a year in Iraq prior to being elected. He reported to Ambassador Bremer, and was responsible for civil society in Iraq. Thus, he is familiar with the concepts being addressed at the summit and is a crucial leader of its implementation.

Ms. Martinez asked if there were any additional questions for Ms. Zeitzer, and as there were none, she thanked her for her presentation.

VI. 2005 International Watch Schedule

Ms. Martinez said she would like to discuss the International Watch schedule for 2005.

Ms. Durocher reported that this was the last conference call of the year. The calls for 2005 will follow the same schedule; they will be at 12:00 p.m. EST on the first Thursday of every other month. The dates are January 6th, March 3rd, May 5th, July 7th, September 1st, and November 3rd. Ms. Durocher said she would e-mail the schedule, and it can also be found in the Federal Register.

VII. New Business

Ms. Martinez asked if there were any announcements.

Mr. Galloway said he is traveling to the World Blind Institute in South Africa at the end of the month. He offered to bring back a report.

Ms. Martinez thanked everyone for attending, and thanked the speakers especially.

VIII. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 1:10 p.m. EST.