National Council on Disability
Federal Advisory Committee International Watch
Conference Call Minutes
November 1, 2007
12:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Present

Kathleen Martinez, NCD Liaison
Joan Durocher, NCD Designated Federal Official
Lisa Grubb, NCD
Michael Collins, NCD
Eric Rosenthal, Member                             
Judith Heumann, Member               
Yerker Andersson, Member
Andrew Erwin (for Arlene Kanter, Member)
Susan Sygall, Member
Mary Keogh
Catherine Townsend
Rik Opstelten
Sylvia Caras
Karen Heinicke-Motsch
Susan Parker
Cara Galbraith
Stephanie Ortoleva
Susan Sygall
Anne Hayes

I. Roll Call and Welcome

Kathy Martinez opened the meeting at 12:05 pm.  The roll call of the above-listed International Watch Members and members of the public was confirmed.

Mike Collins, NCD’s Executive Director introduced Lisa Grubb to the Committee.  Lisa recently joined NCD as the Special Assistant to the Executive Director.

II. Amend/Approve the Agenda

Kathy Martinez, Council Liaison to the Committee requested permission to amend the agenda due to Ms. Reina’s absence by moving up the update from the United States Agency for International Development on disability inclusion efforts from Ms. Anne Hayes. There being no objections, the agenda was amended.

III. Update from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on disability inclusion efforts (Anne Hayes)

Anne Hayes shared the following updates with the Committee:

• USAID is in the middle of its operational plans. The report for the American Institute for Research (AIR) was recently released.  A recommendation was made for International Watch member Jerry Mindes to report to the Committee at a future meeting. AIR will be working in three countries to determine how to integrate disability working groups with DPOs (Disabled Peoples Organizations) within the country. AID is hoping to request four concept papers, as was done about a year and a half ago. There are four small grants for $300,000 to $350,000. Admissions will review different concept papers and make recommendations to a panel based in Washington D.C. Geographic distribution will be considered in selecting programs.
• Hayes further shared that AID is still operating under a continuing resolution.

Hayes received the following questions and recommendations from the committee members.

• How many applications were received for the award that went to AIR?
• Hayes was unable to disclose how many applications were received for the award.
• International Watch member Judy Heumann made a recommendation to encourage capacity building between larger companies and smaller disability groups that may be at a disadvantage due to their infrastructure.  It was also recommended that AIR and others that are receiving funding from USAID be given directives about the need to collaborate with disability organizations that are doing international work so that it will become a long-term integrated approach. 
• Hayes shared that AID is working with visible organizations to find ways to help build capacity. The concept paper would provide for capacity building.
• Heumann asked whether it was explicit in the proposal that they should involve DPOs in the implementation or in the formulation of the grant proposal?
• Hayes responded in the affirmative stating that the implementation and formulations should involve DPO’s, but not necessarily as a co-applicant.
• Is it accurate that most of the implementing partners are in other countries?
• The program is being implemented in different countries. A lot of headquarters submitted applications. For example, the AIR group in Washington submitted the application. However, most of the work is being done in three countries. In the case of AIR, the applicant was not a DPO and inclusion international was part of it.  AIR was a letter of support and involved an international design of the program as well as included disability groups within their local countries.
• Susan Parker asked what are the three countries?

Hayes responded that the countries have not been made public.  However, they are geographically distributed. 

• Stephanie Ortoleva asked, “Will we know when you select the countries, so we could inform our embassies? “
• Hayes responded sharing that was what they were going after. 
• If the State Department wanted to participate, could we afford them that opportunity?
• Hayes responded stating that was a wonderful idea, further stating that she would get that idea to AIR, feeling certain that they would want to have this training open to a variety of stakeholders. 

Hayes closed her report by sharing that they were trying to systemize the disability training and disability awareness into all USAID trainees. A session was presented in Georgia on how to mainstream disability into current portfolios for all health training leaders.  The participation was encouraging and we are hoping to do more and see how we can build disability capacity and awareness. In the future, we are hoping to bring in disability groups.

Liaison Martinez thanked Hayes for her report and turned the call over to Stephanie Ortoleva to give an update from the United States Department of State.

IV. Update from the United States Department of State on disability inclusion efforts (State Department Federal Advisory Committee, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, CRPD) (Stephanie Ortoleva)

Stephanie Ortoleva shared the following updates with the Committee:

• Ortoleva gave a brief update about the country reports on human rights practices.  Congress did not mandate that disability questions be included in the country reports on human rights practices.  However, the [State] department has taken that on as a mandate to include coverage of disability issues within the human rights reports.  The reports from a few years ago did not include much coverage on disability.  Ortoleva has incorporated disability materials in the current training manuals used by the State Department to develop the reports.  She has also featured disability issues in the Department’s human rights conferences. Ortoleva reported that she participated in trainings at the Human Rights Officers Conference last year and one session was called Human Rights Reports to 02.  The focus was on increasing the coverage of disability issues within the human rights officer’s reports. The materials were a little more comprehensive than previous years. Ortoleva could not share the materials but welcomed ideas from committee members. The reports included appropriate information on language, definitions of disability and resources for identifying the local disabled person’s organizations (DPOs) Ortoleva cited the Romanian report as an example of extensive coverage of disability issues.  She added further that those groups who are the most vocal get their issues covered in more detail.

Ortoleva received the following questions and recommendations from the committee members:

• International Watch member Eric Rosenthal shared information about a training video he had created when Harold Koh was head of human rights.  It seems as if the office has misplaced the video.  However, Rosenthal reported that he had a copy that he would be happy to share. 
• Susan Sygall shared that she has a 650 page book called “Building an Inclusive Development Community” aimed at getting people with disabilities more involved in development work. She also shared that she thought a lot of International Watch committee members contributed to the publication. The book and her web site are good resources. The web site has a searchable database and an extensive list of DPOs.
• Cara Galbraith shared that Mobility International has a new publication focusing experiences of organizations, DPOs and some of the US missions with respect to disability access. This includes an online searchable publication.
• An Australian report on women was discussed.

Ortoleva responded to the questions and recommendations and shared her email with the committee as ortolevas@state.gov

• Ortoleva shared that she was surprised that the report from the Australian group did not address disabilities, as in the past they had included disabilities.  Ortoleva stated it is important to ensure that disabilities are included and examples given so people recognize that they need to include all forms of disability within their analysis of the human rights situation.
• Ortoleva requested committee members to hold a spot on their calendar for the next meeting of the [State Department’s] advisory committee on persons with disabilities tentatively scheduled for February 4th.
• The status of the advisory committee was discussed and clarified that it was initially chartered for a two-year term and last year it was renewed for a second two-year term.
• The entire community signed a letter in late August or early September urging the Secretary [of State] to support the U.N. Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Ortoleva responded to Martinez’ inquiry by stating that there has been no indication of response from the Secretary [of State].   

There being no further questions or comments, Kathy Martinez asked if anyone could provide an update on how many countries have signed and ratified or any other developments with respect to the international treaty?

• Joan Durocher shared that she can report seven countries have officially ratified the treaty. Durocher further clarified that only three of those have also ratified the optional protocol.
• Ortoleva reported on a meeting in New York to discuss the working group being formed to discuss implementation of the CRPD.  Rosenthal elaborated that the UN produced, in combination with the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights with the Interparliamentary Union, a user friendly handbook for parliamentarians. The handbook provides an overview with information and steps on ratification.
• In closing, there was some discussion about the accessibility of the United Nations. International Watch member Yerker Andersson shared that it is true that the UN is still inaccessible for many people with disabilities.  

Liaison Martinez thanked Stephanie for her report and opened the floor for new business or announcements.  

V. New business

The following announcements were shared.

• Rosenthal shared that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture is holding a meeting on December 11th in Geneva on the implications regarding the definition of torture.   It is uncertain if it is an open meeting.
• Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI) will be releasing a report on November 14th on NBC highlighting situations for children and adults with disabilities in Serbia.  The Today show will also include discussion on the issue of torture.  There are very serious abuses of children. It will be a powerful series of findings.
• Sygall reported that recruiting is underway for young people with disabilities ages 15-17 to go to Bahrain, which is a small island in Saudi Arabia. This program is scheduled for March. There are generous scholarships.  Information can be found on the website. The priority is to find young people with disabilities, but the scholarships are open to those with and without disabilities.
• Andersson reported that the World Federation for the Deaf (WFD) conference in Spain met with the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters. The Swedish government has given a grant to the Swedish Coordinator of the Deaf to educate on the UN CRPD and human rights. The Swedish government has agreed to establish that program.

Martinez encouraged everyone to come to the State Department Advisory Committee meeting in February.

VI. Adjournment

There being no further comments or announcements, Liaison Martinez adjourned the call at 12:55 p.m.