International Watch Federal Advisory Committee
Quarterly Report
National Council on Disability
March 9-11, 2005
Honolulu, Hawaii
Facilitator: Kathleen Martinez
Designated Federal Official: Joan Durocher

Federal Advisory Committee meetings (International Watch):

Since the last Board meeting, two International Watch Federal Advisory Committee Conference calls have been held. On January 6, the agenda included discussion of the recent foreign policy legislation adopted by Congress; an update on the Center for International Rehabilitation’s (CIR) Disability Rights Monitoring Project; and an update from InterAction on the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s compact submissions and civil society participation.  On March 3, the discussion focused on the latest Ad Hoc Committee meeting, the February 16 InterAction meeting, and CIR’s current projects on tsunami relief and the Library of Congress’ upcoming international disability law event.

Update on Foreign Assistance:

NCD’s impact continued to be felt through the adoption of several pieces of legislation in the FY 2005 Omnibus Appropriations bill, (originally under Section 579 of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, which was folded into the Omnibus).  The significant pieces of legislation included:  (1) The creation of a fund in the amount of $2.5 million that will be made available for programs and activities that address the needs, and protect the rights of people with disabilities in developing countries (these funds can also be made available for an international conference on the needs of people with disabilities, including disability rights, advocacy and access); (2)  The legislation requires that the Secretary of State and USAID each designate a disability advisor in their respective agencies; (3) the Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, and the USAID Administrator shall seek to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are met where appropriate in democracy, human rights, rule of law, programs and activities supported by the Department of State, Department of Treasury and USAID; and (4) the USAID Administrator shall fully comply with its September 12 policy paper on disability which requires that USAID implement procedures to require prospective grantees seeking funding from USAID to specify, where relevant, how the proposed program will include protecting the rights and addressing the needs of people with disabilities. 

NCD staff drafted a letter on the tsunami relief efforts to urge the US to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are addressed in all foreign assistance efforts.

NCD staff provided technical assistance to delegations from Kosovo (December 3), Spain (December 8), and Australia (January 31) since the last Board meeting. NCD staff met with the International Disability Equality Agency on February 7 to discuss disability in development as follow-up to NCD’s Foreign Policy and Disability Report. On February 16, NCD staff participated in a briefing given by InterAction and Mobility International regarding disability mainstreaming and building an inclusive development community.

Update on the International Convention:

The United Nations Ad Hoc Committee on the Protection and Promotion of the Human Rights of People with Disabilities met from January 24th to February 4 th in New York City. NCD contractors are developing three topic papers for continued use by delegates to the AHC Meeting. The papers give a broad overview of the US experience with transportation, independent living and living in the community, and political participation. 

NCD staff met with Representative Lantos’ staff (the House International Relations Committee) on December 16 and February 15 to discuss re-introduction of House Concurrent Resolution 169 (Resolution 169), which expresses the Sense of Congress that the U.S. should support a UN Convention on disability rights. Last year, in our advisory role to Congress, NCD recommended that Resolution 169 be supported as drafted.