Disability Buzz
As this issue is hoisted webward, there are few people around, most on their annual vacations. If you haven't started yours yet, maybe you will find some useful information in this issue's feature article reviewing the accessibility of European theme or attraction parks. (They didn't fare too well, the Mouse still rules!)
UN Meeting
On the other hand, some intrepid souls were working really hard this globally warmed summer at the UN's first Ad Hoc Meeting on the proposed Convention on Disability Rights, held late July and early August in New York. In this issue of Disability World, we present the position paper issued by the International Disability Alliance (IDA), outlining the points considered essential by this umbrella group of 7 international disability organizations. Many other points of view were heard at the meeting and the daily reports issued can be read at www.worldenable.net
Right before the meeting started there was a discernible buzz as the disability leaders learned that the Chairman of Disabled Peoples International, Joshua Malinga of Zimbabwe, would not be present because the British Government had invoked a new policy denying entry to the top members of President Mugabe's government. So, the wheelchair-using member of Mugabe's administration was returned to Zimbabwe instead of being permitted transit to the meeting. The IDA and British disability rights groups sent letters of complaint since Malinga would have been representing an international NGO, not his government in this instance.
The Ad Hoc meeting was comprised primarily of governmental delegations, some of which are supportive of the idea of a disability convention, others which haven't yet decided and others which seemed to be taking an obstructive position. The meeting did take an unusual decision early on, allowing a significant number of non-governmental organizations to participate actively in the deliberations. There are some philosophical differences on the content of a convention, ranging from a basic-needs orientation preferred by some countries in the "South," to the "rights based" approach of some countries with highly-developed human rights protections, to those who want a combination. In addition, it seems that a few countries are, at least for now, maneuvering to block progress on the basis that a new convention would require substantial new funds. In general, the international disability leadership concluded that the NGOs have a lot of work in front of them to build their case with governments before the next Ad Hoc meeting in the spring of 2003.
Europe
Some important European initiatives are reported in this issue, including a grassroots effort to change how the mainstream media has been covering suicides by disabled individuals, killings of disabled relatives and associated developments supporting a pro-euthanasia stance. On both sides of the Atlantic, there has been a spate of recent incidences in the media glare and disability groups have been working to interject another point of view, as reported by Mike Ervin. In most of the suicide cases, the media focus has centered upon the autonomy of the disabled individual, without noting that in many countries this crisis has arisen due to the lack of services and resources to support seriously disabled people remaining in the community. Another community-based initiative reported in this issue is a nine country effort in Eastern Europe to explore alternatives to large institutions for mentally disabled children and adults.
Other regional activity
There are several articles in this issue attesting to a growth in disability activism and creation of joint actions, research and networks on a regional level in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
There are also a couple fascinating reports of CBR projects, one in Mozambique and another n the West Bank in Palestine, harbingers of new approaches.
Tributes
And lastly, this issue features tributes to three international disability leaders whose deaths will have resonance all over the world: Henry Enns of Canada, Maria Rantho of South Africa and Justin Dart, Jr. of the USA. As we post this issue, we also learned of the recent untimely death of another dedicated internationalist, Elisa Pelkonan of Finland, who was working on a project in Germany when she became ill.
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