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TWGDC - Sixth session, 6 June 2003 Bangkok Annex8

Annex 8

Minutes of Task Force on Proposed International Convention on Persons with Disabilities
Room A, UNCC, Bangkok
5 June 2003, 14:00-16:00

Chaired by Mr Monthian Buntan, Thailand Association of the Blind (TAB)

Agenda

  1. Introduction of Participants
  2. Adoption of the Agenda
  3. Reports on the Expert Group Meeting and Seminar on International Convention to Protect and Promote the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
  4. Discussion on Future Activities of the Task Force, Possible Roles It Can Play in the Elaboration of the Proposed Convention
  5. Possible Structure of the task force
  6. Other Matters
  7. Adjourn

Agenda 3

Reports on the Expert Group Meeting and Seminar on International Convention to Protect and Promote the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities

Mr Buntan briefly summarized the meeting given that most of the task force meeting participants were present at the EGM. He noted that the EGM was held in response to a series of following events that took place during the course of a year; 1st Ad Hoc Committee on a proposed convention, High-level Inter-governmental meeting, GA resolution 57/229 to encourage regional meetings. More than 130 persons were in the meeting.

As the outcome of the meeting, "Bangkok Recommendation on the Elaboration of a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities" a set of recommendation on a proposed convention, was adopted.

ESCAP Secretariat then clarified the actual status of the recommendation within the context of the 2nd Ad Hoc Committee. He said that there are three ways that outcome of the EGM meeting can be communicated to the Ad Hoc Committee:

1) Report made by Mr Clinton Repley to Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee (already submitted)
2) Electrically file of the set of recommendation will be sent to the Ad Hoc Committee prior to the meeting as soon as possible.
3) Ms Akiyama participated the Ad Hoc committee and can share the recommendation.

There are some critical observations made about the EGM;

- Participants expressed a frustration that the EGM did not produce modification on extension a draft like Mexico

- And some of the comments made during the meeting were not relevant to the concept of human rights.

- 3-day meeting was not long enough to have satisfactory discussion on the subject.

Agenda 4

Discussion on Future Activities of the Task Force, Possible Roles It Can Play in the Elaboration of the Proposed Convention

ESCAP Secretariat introduced meetings ESCAP plans to have for the rest of the year. There are some discussions on strategies on Ad Hoc Committee.

1) Many governments in the region do not know information on the convention. Dissemination of information is essential. ESCAP Secretariat says that information on the convention and the process is available on the web and task force member should utilize this good medium to disseminate information

Representative of OHCHR - three suggestions for role task force (See the attached)

  1. "Cross"training
  2. Encouraging States to tailored for Asia-Pacific
  3. Internet information

In terms of encouraging States to support

Different challenges were discussed and following suggestions were made.

  1. ESCAP send outcome of the EGM and relevant information to member states
  2. ESCAP send information to UNDP coordinator in the region
  3. Participants of this meeting persuade governments to include persons with disabilities in their delegation to the Ad-hoc Committee
  4. Dissemination to general public and use mass media
  5. National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) in the region voice their support for the convention in each country. In this regard, Asia Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions Conference in New Delhi, confirmed the importance of supporting the convention.
  6. There were observation made that European DPO might be more influential to government, and there is a need to strengthen [SHO?] in the Asia-Pacific region.

Agenda 5

Possible Structure of the task force

  1. Following suggestion was made and endorsed.
    Representatives from Disability Community, Mr Monthian Buntan, Mr Shoji Nakanishi, Human Rights Commission
    Supported by ESRCAP secretariat, Ms Aiko Akiyama, Co-chair the task force
  2. Making this task force as a permanent structure.
  3. Scheduling of next task force and was discussed. It was proposed that the next task force should be convened before the meeting (Bangkok in October/Beijing in November). Since it concerns TWGDC and participants' access to the meeting, it was agreed that this will be discussed in the plenary on the following day.

Meeting adjourned

*List of participants, suggestion from OHCHR is attached.

Task Force on International convention on PWD

Name Organization E-mail
Mr Frank Hall-Bentick DPI Australia frankhb@connexus.net.au
Mr Michael Boddington Lao Disabled People's Association copeldpa@laotel.com
Mr Enam Hoque Jesh Foundation enam@planet.net.au
Mr Mary Read ACFOA Working Group Disability & Development readmary@hotmail.com
Mr Susan Appleyard Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) appleyard@un.org
Mr Takada Eiichi World Federation of the Deaf info@jfd.or.jp
Mr Etsuko Ueno Asia and Pacific Disability Forum (APDF) eueno@dinf.ne.jp
Mr Nghiem Xuan Tue The National Coordinating Council on Disability (NCCD) nccd@fpt.vn
Mr Ha Thanh Que, International Cooperation Officer, International Relations Department, Ministry of Labour-Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA)htque@netillage.netnam.vn
Ms Kay Nagata UN ESCAP nagata@un.org
Mr A.H.M. Noman Khan Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) cdd@bangla.net
Nazmul Bari Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) cdd@bangla.net
Mr Khandaker Jahurul Alam, National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled nfowd@bdmail.net
csid@bdonline.com
Mr Misako Nomura Japanese Society for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD) nomura@dinf.ne.jp
Mr Muhammad Shafi Government of Pakistan mehrshafi@hotmail.com
Mr Abdul Shakoor Government of Pakistan mehrshafi@hotmail.com
Mr Mohd Ihsan Faiz Mohd Comprehensive Disabled Afghanistan Programme majida@unopsmail.org
Mr Ahmad Zia Langari, Commissioner Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission zialangarii@yahoo.com
HE Mr Abdullah Wardak Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled ministry@disability-afghanistan.org
Mr Majid Al-Turmsuani, Comprehensive Disabled Afgans' Programme/ United Nations Office for Project Service, UNOPS unopsaif@unopsmail.com
Mr Shoji Nakanishi DPI Japan humancare@nifty.com

Suggestions for role of Task Force on the International Convention

The TF could make recommendations about how ESCAP and other UN agencies could strengthen work on the convention in Asia-Pacific: (i) support by governments in the region and (ii) the capacity of disability movement to do advocacy on the convention.

The TF could suggest how to implement the recommendations made by Working Group 3 of the 2-4 June expert meeting.

For example, the TF could recommend that ESCAP, OHCHR and other UN agencies help with the following:

- 'Cross' Training: Could ESCAP or other UN agencies organize/sponsor/ support national and sub-regional training sessions over the next 1-2 years that bring together disability organizations and human rights organizations (NGOs and national human rights commissions) to 'cross-train' Human rights organizations would learn about disability issues and disability NGOs would learn about the UN human rights system of treaties/monitoring bodies and experiences/strategies in negotiating other human rights treaties. In these workshops they would also identify how they will do joint advocacy in their countries.

- Encouraging states to support: As suggested in the expert seminar, ESCAP and OHCHR could encourage governments to support the convention, consult with disability NGOs on their positions, contribute to the voluntary fund to help participation by disability groups and try to include disability NGOs in delegations going to future New York sessions. ESCAP/OHCHR could start by writing to all governments in the region enclosing the conclusions of the 2-3 June expert meeting.

- Internet information tailored for Asia-Pacific: Who will provide disability groups in Asia-Pacific with information about developments relating to the convention tailored to Asia-Pacific (e.g. statements by Asia-Pacific governments and by Asia-Pacific NGOs, how issues considered important to Asia-Pacific disability groups are dealt with in NY ...). Is there any role for ESCAP/other UN agencies to contribute to this information, to develop further the website used for the 2-4 June Expert Group Meeting and Seminar on an International Convention to Protect and Promote the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities

Would the TF itself have a role in implementing such recommendations? The lead might be taken by different parts of the UN or by specific NGOs?

Nicholas Howen
5 June 2003