Resolutions Presented at the 8th General Assembly of the World Blind Union in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 12th- 16th 2012

Prepared by the Resolutions Committee:

Mr. Alan Suttie – Chair

Ms. Michiko Tabata

Mr. Amer Makarem

Mr. José María Viera

Ms. Lesley Brinklow – Secretariat

16 November 2012

Introduction

The following resolutions and vote of thanks were presented at the eighth WBU General Assembly. All resolutions submitted to the WBU Resolution Committee were edited where necessary and presented in a standard format with a one or two line background statement as an introduction, followed by one or more actions to be taken. Two resolutions were not brought forward based on consensus by the committee that these issues had been considered at previous General Assemblies.

2012-1Disaster Preparedness

Background statement

Japan experienced the devastating disaster of earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. In the past quadrennium, the world saw a number of disasters, and our experiences show that the blind and partially sighted are likely to be left as among the most vulnerable to disasters. In recognition of difficulties experienced by those affected by disasters, WBU issued its Policy Paper of April 2011 “Responding to Situations of Emergency in Member Countries”.

Action

The 8th General Assembly resolves that:

  1. WBU Officers should continue the implementation of necessary actions in line with the relevant Policy Statement.
  2. National delegates should advocate with their national and local governments
  • about the specific needs of blind and partially sighted persons so that they will be reflected in disaster planning policies and emergency response operations including rescues and evacuation;
  • to promote awareness in local communities to facilitate the safe evacuation of blind and partially sighted persons;
  • to promote sharing of information about the needs of blind and partially sighted persons amongst relevant sectors to ensure smooth, prompt and safe management of individual need.

2012-2 Encourage Employment

Background statement

Unemployment amongst blind and partially sighted persons remains unbearably high despite efforts at various levels, including the employment initiatives of WBU that have been going on for the past few years, including jointly with ILO.

Action

The 8th General Assembly resolves that:

  1. WBU Officers should continue actions under its employment initiatives.
  2. National leadership should advocate with their governments to:
  • Promote research regarding policies and measures to support the promotion of employment opportunities for blind and partially sighted persons;
  • Promote the establishment of vocational training programmes and institutions that will enable and ensure equal access to work-related qualifications and professional registration, run by public and private sectors;
  • Urge companies producing ICT technologies to ensure and develop accessible technologies that will assist blind and partially sighted individuals at the workplace;
  • Urge and formulate mechanisms for employers to positively introduce accessible ICT technologies for their blind and partially sighted employees;
  • Enhance the system of human assistance supporting blind and partially sighted employees in the area of document processing, mobility and other aspects; and including systems to share work functions between sighted, and blind and partially sighted employees, in such a way that suit to their individual abilities.

2012-3Encourage Massage/Physiotherapy

Background statement

Massage/physiotherapy has proven itself to be one of the promising sources of employment opportunities across the world. The Regional Massage Commission of the Asia Pacific Region, formed as a regional committee, has been successful in promoting an exchange of techniques and experiences in the area of massage, which has promoted employment opportunities for blind and partially sighted persons in the member countries/territories.

Action

The 8th General Assembly resolves that:

  1. WBU Officers and the Regions should:
  • Consider the possibility of organising regional seminars in this field in order to promote exchange of skills, knowledge and experiences among blind and partially sighted therapists;
  • Consider assisting the formation of committees or working groups in the field to promote employment of blind and partially sighed therapists, and to emphasize their activities in the strategic plans
  1. National delegates should consider advocating with their government to:
  • Promote and assist the formation of organisations of blind and partially sighted therapists in order to enhance their status;
  • Raise awareness to promote employment of blind and partially sighted therapists in public and private sectors.
  • Ensure access to professional standards and regulatory systems regarding compliance with regulations, in order that blind and partially sighted therapists are able to practice

2012-4ISO on Usage of Braille

Background statement

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has recommended but not yet published standards (ISO/DIS 17351) for Braille labeling of medicine packaging.Standards for Braille on, for example, handrails and elevators in publicly accessible areas are currently under development.

Action

The 8th General Assembly resolves that:

  • WBU Officers and national delegates should advocate with their governments and pharmaceutical companies to comply with and raise awareness about standards for Braille labeling of medicine packaging and public areas, currently under development, so that persons with visual impairment in respective countries can be helped to live independently.

2012-5The Right to an Independent Vote for People who are Blind or Partially Sighted

Background Statement

Considering that the right to suffrage on an equal basis with others signifies the highest possible expression of political participation by members of a democratic society;

Recognising that discrimination against any person on the grounds of disability is a violation of the dignity and inherent value of humankind;

Noting that article 29 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities calls upon states to ensure all persons with disabilities enjoy the right to vote on an equal basis with others, among other forms of participation in political and public life;

Concerned that, despite these instruments and activities, persons with disabilities continue to face barriers to participating on an equal basis with others in society and continue to have their human rights violated in all parts of the world,

Action

The 8th General Assembly hereby resolves:

  • To work to promote election procedures, facilities and material which are suitable, accessible and easy to understand and be used by people who are blind or partially sighted in different countries;
  • To carry out advocacy work to protect the rights of people who are blind or partially sighted to vote in secret and without intimidation in public elections and referendums and to stand as candidates in elections effectively, hold offices and perform any public function at all levels of government; and to facilitate the use of new technologies and assistive technologies where appropriate;
  • To fight to ensure people who are blind or partially sighted may freely express their will as voters and, to this end, when necessary and asked by them to do so, to enable a person of their choice to provide assistance in the voting process;
  • To promote actively an environment in which people who are blind or partially sighted may fully and effectively participate in public affairs, without discrimination and on an equal basis with others; to encourage participation by those who are blind or partially sighted in public affairs and non-governmental associations and organisations involved in public and political life in countries, including political party activities and management; and to promote the setting up of organisations of persons with disabilities.

2012-6Establishment of a Fund to Provide Necessary Financial Subsidy to Table Officers Elected from Developing Countries

Background statement

The Constitution of the World Blind Union has steadily been amended with a view to ensuring that members from developing countries are ensured proper participation and influence in the affairs of the Union. To the effect that the finances of the Union allow it, financial subsidy may be given to delegates, Executive Members and Table Officers from the Union, enabling them to participate in meetings of the respective bodies.

Realizing that proper facilities such as administrative support, personal assistance and communication tools are needed between meetings of the Table Officers to ensure full participation and informed preparedness, additional funds are needed to enable those elected from developing countries where such facilities are not readily available. Moreover available support will ensure that representatives will to a larger degree be able to compete for the posts as Table Officers and subsequently, when elected, undertake their responsibilities in the best manner.

If necessary economic support is not made available, the principles of equal opportunities by engaged and capable candidates from developing countries cannot be adhered to.

Action

The 8th General Assembly resolves that:

  • The Officers at their first regular meeting set up a body consisting of entrusted persons who have the task to generate and administer funds for the above mentioned purposes;
  • The body set up should be populated with persons recruited from outside the board of Officers but the majority of the body should include donor country / organisation representatives who have provided support to the above purpose throughout the previous four years;
  • The Officers have the task of ensuring that proper reporting and accounting procedures are put in place and are adhered to at all times to ensure full transparency.

2012-7Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Background statement

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 13th 2006, as a result of the work done by Civil Society, governments and activists; it has today more than 140 signatories and shows a strong willingness to promote the rights of people with disability.

At the same time, the CRPD is a valuable tool for improving life quality for all of us. There are at the regional and global level, many other international treaties ratified by a large number of governments which could help serve us as complementary resources to reach a better living standard and social inclusion.

Considering that today we have more solid and modern treaty bodies, the challenge is to implement those treaties at the local level and with this being shared by all our organisations, thus improving ownership by local leaders. This new task will produce a better work environment with the other social actors involved in this issues, redefining our actions to a more sustainable and efficient work.

Action

In order to achieve the goals described above, the 8th General Assembly of the WBU proposes:

  • To develop actions to generate further capacity building for promoting international treaties;
  • To execute regional or national training adapting the international tools to local reality;
  • To spread out good practices developed by members of the World Blind Union related to this issue;
  • To promote through publications or any other resources available, related news or events;
  • To promote the ratification of the additional protocol;
  • To promote legal reform at the national level according to CRPD standards.

2012-8Action to Improve Technology

Background statement

The convergence of advanced telecommunications systems with information and communication technologies and social networking interfaces has greatly enhanced communication and connectivity throughout the world.

In the21st century information and communication technologies must provide open and affordable opportunities for blind and partially sighted persons throughout the world to access information and communications in ways that are equal with non-disabled persons.

The absence of clear and unambiguous commitments to full and comprehensive accessibility in the integration of these technologies into consumer electronics and services creates obstacles to education, independence and productivity for persons who are blind or partially sighted.

Article 9, Section 1 of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) states: To enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas.

Article 9 subsection 2(h) of the CRPD further calls for states/parties to take appropriate measures to promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost.

Despite various efforts underway in several countries and regions to foster access and use by individuals with disabilities of information and communication technologies and consumer electronics, such efforts would be strengthened by international harmonization and cooperation among governments, the technology industry and organisations representing the interests of people who are blind or partially sighted.

Action

The 8th General Assembly resolves:

  1. To promote accessible design on control and interfaces;
  2. To support through generic and assistive technology, access to communication by persons with visual impairment;
  3. To ensure access by persons who are deafblind and other populations through multimodal (i.e., oral, tactile and enhanced visual) accessibility either through built-in solutions or through compatibility with assistive technology;
  4. To ensure the privacy of users who are blind or partially sighted where user privacy protection is a feature of such technology;
  5. That WBU Officers be urged to approach government and industry leaders responsible for the design, development, and distribution of information communications technology (ICT), consumer electronics (CE) and information systems, to actively promote this position and to further these aims by encouraging:
  • Dialogue on compliance with the provisions of the UN CRPD;
  • International harmonization regarding accessibility among all stakeholders;
  • Development of universal standards and practices;
  • The promotion of the development of no-cost or low-cost assistive technology;
  • Special attention to the needs of persons who are blind or partially sighted in developing nations and under-served areas.

2012-9United Nations Global Compact

Background Statement

In 1999, during the Davos Forum, the Global Compact was established to bring together business, civil society and labour organisations together with the UN. Its work is based around ten principals including human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.

Our World Blind Union, as the international voice of blind and visually impaired people and as an international consultative organisation of the United Nations, should actively participate in this type of tangible and dynamic initiative where almost all UN agencies are involved together with big business. The UN Global Compact shares many of the ambitions and objectives of WBU.

Action

The 8th General Assembly therefore resolves:

  • To recognize the importance of the UN Global Compact;
  • That Officers develop ways to work with other representative groups in order to communicate with the UN Global Compact

2012-10Eye Donation Day

Background Statement

For many years India has celebrated Eye Donation Day on June 10th. The day draws attention to the importance of pledging to donate healthy eyes after death. The cornea in particular has the potential to be used for sight saving surgery where medically appropriate.

It is believed that due to a lack of awareness there is a shortage of donated eyes globally and this limits the number of people who can be assisted.

Action

The 8thGeneral Assembly resolves:

That the Executive works in partnership with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to highlight the significance of eye donation and to take such steps, which the partnership agree, to raise awareness of the issue, whilst being culturally sensitive.

2012-11Reporting on Adopted Resolutions

Background Statement

One of the most important tasks of World Blind Union General Assemblies is for the membership, through the adoption of resolutions, to clarify specific issues which need to be addressed by the Union leadership between assemblies.

With a number of tools prepared, such as an alphabetic index and a thorough analysis of resolutions adopted by the Union since its inception, it has become easier than before to sort resolutions into various categories and ensure that repetition of already adopted resolutions is avoided.

To establish that proper action has been taken by the board on adopted resolutions and to strengthen the sense among its membership that WBU is a proactive organisation, it is essential to report that adopted resolutions are acted upon and thereby taken onboard in the Officers' work plan. Furthermore, advantages could be gained by communicating clearly to the WBU membership about actions which each organisation could take with regard to adopted resolutions.

Action

The 8th General Assembly therefore resolves that:

  • From the 9th General Assembly and onwards, a paper is prepared by the Officers which gives the status on all resolutions adopted at the previous General Assembly as well as other recommendations on previous resolutions given to the incoming board and how they have been handled.
  • Appropriate time, in relation to the overall programme, is set aside at each General Assembly to debate this report to gauge the effect of adopted resolutions and to strengthen the involvement of the membership in the work of WBU so as to further enhance ownership and participation.

2012-12Access to E-Books

Background Statement

The Daisy Consortium understands that:

  • Less than 3% of publications are available in formats that blind people can read themselves;
  • Basic infrastructures for production, distribution and book reading equipment in local language is much below a desired level especially in developing countries;
  • Students with blindness do not get books in accessible formats in time, in most parts of the world;
  • This book famine for persons with print disabilities has huge adverse impact on education and employment opportunities for them;
  • Inaccessible information results in doubling the risk to loss of life for persons with disabilities in the events of disaster.

Action