National Council on Disability
International Watch Federal Advisory Committee
Conference Call
Meeting Minutes
July 7, 2005

Meeting Commencement: Approximately 12:00 noon ET.

Roll Call and Welcome (Kathleen Martinez)

Present:

Joan Durocher
Lex Frieden
Jeff Rosen
Pam O’Leary
Kathleen Martinez
Judy Chamberlain
Marca Bristo
Ilene Zeitzer
Maria Reina
Yerker Andersson
Judy Brewer
Judy Heumann
John L. German
Sylvia Caras
Mark Engman
Susan Sygall
Michele Magar

Sixth Session of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities/National Council on Disability and Mental Disability Rights International co-sponsoring briefing (Joan Durocher)

Ms. Durocher gave an overview of NCD’s role in the Sixth Session of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. NCD will be co-sponsoring a briefing with Mental Disability Rights International. NCD has prepared seven (7) topical papers to address disability legal issues that will be addressed by upcoming Articles in the treaty including: political participation, independent living, transportation, education, employment, information technology, and health. The papers are to inform the delegates of U.S. disability policy, but not give recommendations or present positions.

Ms. Durocher stated that the briefing is going to be entitled, “Experiences from the United States and the Inter-American System of Human Rights.” It will be on August 2 nd from 1:15pm to 2:45pm in Conference Room C in the U.N. The panelists so far include Kathy Martinez, Janet Lord, Eric Rosenthal, Allison Hillman, and possibly Gerard Quinn. There will be plenty of time for discussion and questions and answers.

Ms. Brewer asked whether she could see a draft of any of the topical papers, particularly the paper on information technology.

Ms. Martinez stated that she would like Ms. Brewer to see the IT paper.

Ms. Bristo stated that it would be useful for individuals to see the drafts before the committee meeting in order to see what NCD is saying about various disability topics.

Ms. Durocher stated that the papers are in various stages of completion and if there is time prior to the Ad hoc Committee meeting, she would appreciate receiving input from Members, but it is unlikely there will be an adequate amount of time to solicit member review of the drafts in advance of the Ad hoc Committee Meeting.

Ms. Caras stated that the North America region will be having its meeting at 8:30am on Tuesday, August 2 nd in Conference Room C. On the agenda will be to select the North America region representative for the steering committee for ad hoc six. Ms. Caras stated that she has been doing it for a couple years, and she will send an e-mail to everyone.

Ms. Caras wanted a follow up on the House resolution that was discussed on the last call.

Ms. Durocher stated that the resolution was put into the State Department bill and was reported out of committee. She stated that the bill was going to the House floor later in July.

Ms. Caras noted that in order for NGOs to play more of a role they should attend the North America region meeting. They should also attend the Ad Hoc IDC meetings which are at 9am every morning and the steering committee meetings at 6pm every evening. There is also an organizing meeting on Sunday at 10am. She stated she would encourage individuals to join the ad hoc e-mail list she has put together.

Mr. Rosen stated that the U.S. delegation has encouraged more involvement of individuals with disabilities. NCD is not really in a position to help out, but NCD has sent a letter to Kofi Annan about accessibility at the UN.

Ms. Reina noted that to get on the ad hoc listserv, people should send an e-mail to Mreina@cirnetwork.org.

Ms. Magar asked whether it would be possible to do interventions at the beginning of the discussions of every article instead of at the end so we can frame the discussions.

Ms. Reina stated that she was not sure if that was possible.

Ms. Brewer asked if accreditation was still possible for new NGOs.

Ms. Reina stated that the deadline was June 15 th, but you should try anyway.

World Bank Update (Judith Heumann)

Ms. Heumann summarized World Bank activities on disability. The Bank created a position called the advisor on disability and development, which started in June 2002, and she has been in that position since that time. She has not yet met with the new President of the Bank, Paul Wolfowitz, so she does not know what his views are on disability. The Bank’s objective is to identify what the population is of individuals who have disabilities and to determine what their needs are. The World Bank is part of the UN group that was established in 1944 in order to provide loans to poor and middle income countries. The Bank also works with governments to lay out plans to move countries from poverty to economic independence.

Ms. Heumann noted that the Bank is divided into regions and networks. These regions are Africa, Middle East & North Africa, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia, and Latin America & Caribbean. Each region receives about $75,000 to do work on disability within their region. For Latin America, there are 2 individuals focused on disability issues. Other regions are doing work with Bank staff to learn more about disability issues.

Ms. Heumann stated that one area that they have been working on is inclusive education. Some governments are including education for children with disabilities in their loan agreements on education. The Bank is gathering quality data on what is the population and what are their needs. Also, what is the effect of having a disability, are they working, are they in school, are they married, etc.

Ms. Heumann noted that Latin America and East Asia and some countries in south Asia are doing fairly less work on including children with disabilities in primary education. The rate of participation of children with disabilities in school is very low, and the Bank doesn’t have data on those children that enter school and complete it. The Bank has also been doing work on technology which began internally to look at the Bank’s website and the employees at the Bank in using accessible technology. Discussions are starting to happen with client countries on issues like e-government and distance learning. There are efforts being made to bring more individuals with disabilities into the Bank.

Ms. Heumann stated that the Bank is working on a global partnership for disability and development. There is a multi-donor trust fund that at the moment will be funded by the Italians, Norwegians, and Finns. The fund will start some time in the next six months and none of the money will be available to the northern countries, except Eastern Europe and Russia. The intent of this partnership is to be able to help support the development of NGOs in low and middle-income countries and to help improve the work that is being done in economic development.

Ms. Heumann noted that the Bank is developing trainings for civil society on how they can participate in the processes that the government uses with the Bank and with other donors. The work on disability in general is increasing, but pretty fragile. The U.S. is a reasonably quiet player. Some of the more known international groups come from the Scandinavian countries. The Bank will be participating in the Convention and will advise governments.

Ms. Martinez asked whether any U.S. organizations have requested a meeting with Paul Wolfowitz about disability issues.

Ms. Heumann stated that she was not sure whether anyone has requested a meeting, but noted that NCD sent a letter requesting more work be done on disability issues.

Ms. Heumann noted that the global partnership has been doing some good work. Individuals can get involved by linking to the global partnership on-line. The partnership has been working on committees, such as a Tsunami committee, poverty reduction committee, and an education committee.

Ms. Chamberlain asked whether psychiatric disabilities and intellectual disabilities are being included in the discussions at the Bank.

Ms. Heumann stated that these disabilities are always included, although no specific disability is discussed.

Ms. Heumann noted that the Bank is also looking at a project in Iraq that would be dealing both in the area of rehabilitation but also working towards helping them develop a way of prioritizing and developing legislation.

Ms. Heumann stated that some work has been done in the area of communication. The Bank worked on effective methods of including disability into media work at the Bank.

Update on State Department Federal Advisory Committee on Disability (Kathleen Martinez)

Ms. Martinez reported that the new State Department Federal Advisory Committee Meeting has had one informal meeting via conference call. The first formal meeting will be on either the 15 th or 16 th of August.

One of the members asked if other members of International Watch are on the new Committee. Ms. Martinez responded that John Kemp is also on the new Committee.

Ms. Magar asked what the goal of the first meeting is.

Ms. Martinez noted that the goal of the first meeting is to let individuals know that the State Department is attempting to move forward on including disability in its agenda and to plan some solid action items. Section 504 and the Convention are at the top of the agenda. Christopher Camponovo and Stephanie Ortoleva of the Department have been the contact persons thus far.

Announcements

Ms. Zeitzer announced that the United States International Council on Disabilities’ election meeting is on July 25.

Mr. Andersson announced that the World Federation of the Deaf is having an international convention on human rights in Finland on September 30-October 1. There will be speakers from UNESCO and UNICEF.

Ms. Brewer announced that for those who are interested in technology standards relating to accessibility, there is an organization called the Joint Technical Committee-1 with a special working group on accessibility and there is an effort to conduct a survey across all different accessibility standards for technology and there are some organizations that are trying to coordinate the development of those standards towards more harmony. To date there has been very little involvement from the disability organizations. The World Wide Web Consortium is participating to see if we can move it in a positive direction. Ms. Brewer encouraged any disability organizations who are interested in more information to contact her.