National Council on Disability
Federal Advisory Committee International Watch
Conference Call Minutes
January 4, 2007
12:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Present

John Vaughn
Kathy Martinez
Joan Durocher
Sylvia Caras
Maria Reina
Anne Hayes
Tina Minkowitz
Cindy Lewis
Alicia Contreras
Michelle Magar
Chris Fotopulos
Yerker Andersson
John Vaughn
Catherine Townsend
Rob Horvath
Rick Opstelten
Leah Varnum
Dawn Blankenship
Chris Tester
Cappie Morgan
Eric Rosenthal
Don Galloway                                     
Marca Bristo
Nora Groce

I.          Roll Call and Welcome

II.        Amend/Approve the Agenda
The agenda was accepted and presented.

III.       Update on the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities-Next Steps (Tina Minkowitz)

Ms. Minkowitz stated the Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 13th.  For those who have been following the issues around Article 12, it was removed on December 5th.   There were interpretive statements made during the proceedings of the General Assembly on Articles 12 and 25 on in the areas of legal capacity and sexual and reproductive health.  The international disability caucus sponsored speakers (Tina Minkowitz and Maria Reina) at the General Assembly adoption which was an important statement reflecting the participation of people with disabilities from civil society and the Convention process.

Ms. Minkowitz stated that the next steps would be signature and ratification by governments.  The Convention will be open for signature on March 30, 2007.  Entry into force requires ratification by 20 governments and it is expected that there will be a very quick entry into force, and it is noted that funds have been budgeted in the United Nations for the Conference of States Parties to have its first full meeting in 2007.

Ms. Minkowtiz stated that funds have also been budgeted for the first meeting of the Committee of Experts to take place in late 2007 or early 2008.  The appointment of the Committee of Experts is one of the jobs that happens at the Conference of States Parties.  One issue in terms of the signature and ratification is to pay close attention to any weakening reservations made by states parties. Attention needs to be paid to legal capacity issues and sexual and reproductive rights and also areas that require oversight of the private sector or expenditure of funds. 

Ms. Minkowitz stated that the United States is considering signing the convention which is a huge step from its initial position.  This presents an opportunity and a challenge for the US disability movement.

Ms. Martinez stated that the ultimate decision is with the White House and State Department and there has been some change of attitude about whether or not to go further with this. This would be the time for the disability community to begin educating folks at all levels about why it is critical to see the Convention through.

Ms. Minkowitz suggested that people who are interested in promoting the signature and ratification should have some way of coordinating so that there is no duplication of efforts or contradiction on what the community is doing.

Ms. Reina asked Ms. Minkowitz what she sees as the major challenge once the Convention is ratified.  Ms. Minkowitz responded that the major challenge will be for the disability community in each country to ensure that the Convention is implemented in the way it is intended.

Dr. Andersson added that it is very important for the community to band together and make sure the Convention is interpreted in the different languages in the appropriate way.

Ms. Martinez added that obviously the Council has supported the ratification and signature of the Convention and we will be working with whoever organizes the effort for bringing the disability community together.

Ms. Minkowitz asked what role the Council has in moving the US towards signature and ratification.

Chairman Vaughn responded that the Council is discussing this issue and that he joined the conference call today to get up to speed on the status of the Convention.

Congressional Human Rights Caucus Briefing on the Convention (Maria Reina)

Ms. Reina stated that the Congressional Human Rights Caucus organized a briefing on the Convention on December 5th B the same date the Ad hoc committee reconvened to approve the draft that was later adopted by the General Assembly.  The meeting was chaired by Congressman Jim Langiven, co-chair of the House Bi-partisan Disability Caucus.  Ms. Reina said that the Congressman stated that he is very interested in this issue and committed to understanding the rights of people with disabilities beyond the border. Witnesses included Ms. Reina; Eric Rosenthal of Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI);  Mark Lagon and Steve Hill from the State Department; Ambassador Gallegos from Ecuador; and Mike Deland from the National Organization on Disability (NOD).

Mr. Rosenthal stated that the key organizers were Congressman Lantos, Chair of the Human Rights Caucus and Chair of the House International Relations Committee.

Ms. Reina stated that the Department of State testified that the treaty does not create new rights, but with that being said, they would join the consensus for adoption of the Convention and they are pleased with the trajectory of the negotiations and especially pleased with the participation of civil society throughout the process. The Department of State also added that throughout the process, the US provided technical assistance on the draft document.

IV.  Update from the United States Agency for International Development-New Fellowship          on Disability and Gender (Anne Hayes)

Ms. Hayes stated that the Fellowship is an Investment in Women and Development Fellowship.  It is primarily concentrated on trying to monitor the inclusion of people with disabilities in all of USAID=s practices and policies.  Instead of developing separate programs for people with disabilities there should be a component for people with disabilities in all programs that are established and in all requests for proposals (RFPs) and applications (RFAs). The other important aspect of the fellowship is to improve coordination among disability related programs.

Ms. Hayes stated that she stared the Fellowship in December after a month of training. She hopes to establish a work plan for the year and has identified four objectives which include holding a series of stakeholder meetings so that we can find out what people are doing and hear from folks about what they feel USAID is doing well and if where AID needs to improve.  The other aspect of the Fellowship will be to try and work with other USAID offices to help them to focus and to reiterate the importance of including disabilities with their programs. 

Mr. Rosenthal added that one of NCD=s critical recommendations in its Foreign Policy and Disability report was to require that disability be incorporated.  Mr. Rosenthal strongly recommends that NCD follow-up on that recommendation to be sure that it is implemented.

V.        Fund for Global Human Rights (Catherine Townsend)

Ms. Townsend stated that she is representing an international human rights funders group, which is a network of grantmakers that fund both human rights in the US as well as abroad.  These funders have been following the Convention proceedings very closely.  They've formed a disability rights group within the funders group.  This is new for them and many are getting educated on the disability field.  They=re looking for opportunities to jump in and how to be involved.  They're looking for a consultant right now, and she has sent around the job posting.

Marca Bristo emphasized that it is important to get people with the right disability expertise, and the right sub-grantees B not the large institutional entities that don't really understand grassroots disability work.

VI.       Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm eastern time.