Civil Society Participation in Ratification and Implementation of the CRPD
Programme
1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Tuesday 10 June, 2014
Conference Room 7, United Nations, New York
CART and International Sign Language will be provided
Background
6 years have passed since the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) came into force in 2008. Underlying the CRPD is the philosophy of "Nothing about us, without us," valuing the involvement of citizens - in particular those with disabilities - in all aspects. Over 140 Member States have today ratified the CRPD, and strengthening the partnership between Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and government is of great importance for its successful implementation. The aim of this event is to share experiences of CSOs during the process of ratification and implementation of the CRPD as well as good practices observed, and thereby to explore ways that government and civil society, especially Disabled Persons' Organizations (DPOs) can work together.
Objective and expected outcome
1) To share the progress of the CRPD implementation in post-ratification Member States and thereby to facilitate the enforcement of the CRPD
2) To explore how to secure the participation of persons with disabilities through reviewing the good practices and the way of participation by CSOs including DPOs
3) To discuss the ideal partnership between CSOs and the governments for working together, and to promote the partnership
Participants
This side-event is for the Conference attendees and registered participants only.
Program
Opening Remarks
Mr. Yasuo Arashidani, President, Japan Disability Forum
Panel Discussion
Panelists:
Ms. Judith Ellen Heumann, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, US State Department, USA:
To discuss the current U.S. approach to the ratification, and to explain the significance of CSOs' involvement from the perspective of a person with disability
Mr. Katsunori Fujii, Chairperson of the Executive Board, Japan Disability Forum, Japan
To explain the process of the negotiation with UN Ad-hoc committee of the CRPD, to report the efforts of Japanese DPOs, and the partnership with the governments and the Parliamentarian League to make the domestic laws for ratifying, and to discuss DPOs' initiatives toward the implementation after ratifying in Japan
Prof. Jun Ishikawa, Chairman, Commission on Policy for Persons with Disabilities, Japan
To introduce the efforts of the Commission on Policy for Persons with Disabilities, a mechanism to monitor implementation of the present Convention in Japan, and the participation of persons with disabilities in the Commission
Ms. Joanna Maciejewska, Minister Counsellor, Department of Economic Analyses and Forecasts, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of Poland (TBC)
To introduce the efforts of Poland as a State Party
Ms. Akiko Ito, Chief of the Secretariat for the CRPD and UN/Focal Point on Disability
To introduce the significance of CSO participation in the process of CSOs participation
Moderator:
Mr. Ryosuke Matsui, Professor Emeritus, Hosei University, Tokyo / RI National Secretary for JapanOpen-floor discussion
Closing Remarks
The ambassador, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
For more information: jdf_info@dinf.ne.jp http://www.normanet.ne.jp/~jdf/en/