Underrepresented Groups of Persons with Disabilities

Underrepresented groups of persons with disabilities

Co-organised by the African Disability Forum (ADF), Pacific Disability Forum (PDF), World Federation of the Deafblind, World Federation of the Deaf, International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephaly, International Federation of Hard of Hearing People, co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Austria and the OHCHR, with support from the International Disability Alliance

Side Event at the HRC SForum 2016

4th October 2016 – 1.15 to 2.45 pm, Room 25

Concept Note

Focus and objectives: All over the world, persons with disabilities face discrimination in law and in practice. As a result, persons with disabilities are significantly underrepresented in secondary and higher education, in the workplace, participating in public and politic life, accessing the justice and basic rights. However, persons with disabilities are not a homogenous group. Their diversity is recognised by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) that values their existing and potential contributions to their communities and recognises that persons with disabilities belong to the human family.

However, some persons with disabilities face multiple, intersecting and aggregated forms of discrimination across other possible grounds and additional barriers that hinder or prevent them from participating fully and effectively in society, including in decision making processes.

This side event aims to bring persons with disabilities from underrepresented groups to share particular perspectives from their groups, the different layers of discrimination faced in their daily lives, as well as to propose proactive measures to address discrimination in law and in practice, guaranteeing their participation in all aspects of life.

Moderator: Catalina Devandas, Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities

Opening remarks: Karl Prummer, Deputy Permanent Representative of Austria

Speakers:

·  Idriss Alzouma Maiga, Vice-Chair of the Africa Disability Forum

·  Geir Jensen, President of the World Federation of Deafblind

·  Pratima Gurung, Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Global Network, Asia Chapter

·  Robert Martin, person with intellectual disabilities

·  ElisaGarcia de Ceca, Youth - International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephaly

·  Mewe Fawi, Association of Deaf People from Kara, Togo

·  Ruth Warick, President of the International Federation of Hard of Hearing People

·  Peter Mittler, University of Manchester, Dementia Alliance International

·  Facundo Chávez Penillas, Human Rights and Disability Advisor, OHCHR

Format of the discussion

The discussion will follow the so-called ‘talk-show’ set up. It will be introduced by the Moderator, followed by opening remarks. The Moderator will ask questions to panellists followed by general debate with the audience. The talk-show will be closed by final remarks by the Moderator.

English, French, Spanish simultaneous interpretation will be provided

International Sign interpretation upon to request

Captioning can be followed at https://synchshare.de/ida-cassandra

Webcast live at www.treatybodywebcast.org/

We thank the support from the African Disability Forum, International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephaly, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UNFPA/IDA Youth Project