Disability Buzz
This issue features around 80 reports from 22 countries and numerous international and regional disability groups. Several articles take a closer look at the process and support for the proposed UN disability convention, including an analysis of next steps by Arthur O'Reilly of Ireland, and an interview with Luis Gallegos of Ecuador, Chair of the UN Ad Hoc Committee on the Convention, as well as reports on the African and Arab Disability Decades.
Regional Meetings on a UN disability convention
As we post issue #17, many participants are just getting home from the April 9-11 meeting of the Americas to prepare a regional point of view on the UN Convention. On April 15, we spoke to Disability World reporter, Rosangela Berman Bieler, who was a rapporteur for one of the three working groups and had the following comments about the Quito meeting:
"There was an excellent turnout for the discussions, with representatives of around 20 countries and many international and regional NGOs. It was really impressive to see how many governments had included disabled persons in their delegations, just from my memory: Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Chile...
"The discussions were quite intense, both on the governmental and NGO levels, but we managed to develop a representative report, with the distinct views of the region and adopt a Quito Declaration. The official report will be released shortly, but basically, support for a Convention was declared by the countries present, with the exception of Canada and the U.S., which are still developing their positions."
Another early regional meeting was held in Bahrain in March, with participation by 162 representatives of 12 Arab countries, according to Headlines, an informative newsletter by Tomas Lagerwall, Secretary General of RI (see www.rehab-international.org).
The African regional meeting to discuss the Convention and plans for the African disability decade is taking place May 1-6 in Johannesburg and a new website has just been developed by the host, the South Africa Office on the Status of Disabled Persons in the Presidency: www.osdp.gov.za
Disability & Development
This issue of Disability World also has a strong emphasis on developing country issues, featuring interviews with the new disability and development advisor for the World Bank, with the founder of a Costa Rican radio program aimed at disabled persons, and an analysis of how the disability movement in South Africa has been strongly based on rural empowerment. Other frontline reports cover disability politics in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Vietnam; a book review about self-help organizations in Asia; and a new disability & development newsletter from Holland. Finally, a Yale professor requests your assistance on a new research project on HIV/AIDS and disability, particularly in developing countries.
Good news from Afghanistan, Russia and Iran
As we post this issue, reports from Afghanistan are that a nationwide polio immunization campaign is proceeding on schedule, aimed at coverage of 6 million children under 5, and significant progress is being made in landmine removal, resulting recently in a 50% reduction of the monthly toll of deaths and disabilities (www.unwire.org). On April 3, Russia's President Putin decreed 2003 as the Year of Disabled People and agreed to meet on December 3 in the Kremlin with a group of disabled persons, allied experts and scientists to review progress (news from www.nod.org). The first Braille daily newspaper in the Arab countries is reportedly, White Iran (Iran-e-Sepid), being produced in Teheran by blind staff and reporters, with a government subsidy. The editor, Soheil Moeini, estimates the paper is reaching about 4000 readers out of an estimated 500,000 blind Iranians (www.accessibility.com.au/news/internat/Iran_paper.htm). It is worth noting that one of the most creative films about blind children, The Color of Paradise, also is a product of Iran.
And the Oscar goes to...
No, there weren't any major wins for disability-themed films this year but Frida, the life story of disabled Mexican artist Frida Kahlo did earn Academy awards in March for its evocative musical score and period presentation of make-up. Check out what feminists Harilyn Rousso and Simi Linton have to say about this film and Hollywood's interpretation of Frida's life in our Arts and Media section.
Sad News from Germany
Film aficionados from around the world were saddened to learn in April of the untimely death of Karl Heinz Gruber of Munich, organizer of three international disability film festivals on the theme of "The Way We Live." Held in the prestigious Munich Film Museum, these festivals were artistic achievements in and of themselves, due largely to the dedication and talents of Karl. He was both an excellent filmmaker and festival organizer. The festival's originator, Dr. Peter Radtke, has announced that the festival will be held this November in Karl's memory and details are available on the website: www.abm-medien.de and via email: festival@abm-medien.de
|
