Ibero-American Disability Organizations Network Created
By Luis Fernando Astorga Gatjens, IID (lferag@racsa.co.cr)
On October 18, 2002 with the participation of about 100 representatives from 15 countries, the Ibero-American Network of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and their Families was constituted in Caracas, Venezuela.
Persons with diverse disabilities and parents of persons with disabilities (representing their sons and daughters with intellectual disabilities) who take part and work in the social movement in their respective counties, gathered at Hotel Avila to participate in the First Incorporation Conference of the Network, to be known as RIADIS.
The event was inaugurated, on October 14, by Venezuela's Vice-President José Vicente Rangel, accompanied by the Minister of Health and Human Development, María Urbaneja Durant. Also participating were Blanca García of theInstitute for Migration and Social Services of Spain (Instituto de Migraciones y Servicios Sociales de España, IMSERSO), co-sponsor of the initiative and Lenin Molina Peñaloza, president of the organizing commission of the network conference.
In October 2001, representatives of several Ibero-American countries were convened by IMSERSO to participate in a Disability and Associative Movement Workshop, which was held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
The idea to establish the Ibero-American Network emerged and a steering commission was appointed, with Lenín Molina Peñaloza, the representative of Venezuela as the Coordinator.
One of the first tasks was to make a review of the situation of persons with disabilities in the 15 participating countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.
The reports were marked by the limited advances in the fulfilment of human rights for persons with disabilities in Ibero-America, coupled with prevailing conditions of poverty, lack of accessibility and exclusion affecting this sector of the population.
The Conference decided to focus the actions of the emerging Network toward the inclusive development and strengthening of the quality of life conditions of people with disabilities and their families.
The representatives to the Conference examined the UN Standard Rules and the Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities. Agreement was reached to support the United Nations development of an International Convention on universal human rights of persons with disabilities.
Once the Articles of Incorporation were approved, the First Conference of the Network elected its Board of Directors:
- Lenín Molina from Venezuela, President,
- Gladis Correa from Argentina,
- María del Rosario Elizalde from México,
- Fernando Caldera from Nicaragua and
- A representative of the Disabilities Conferderation of Spain (Confederación Española de Representantes de Minusvalías, CERMI), as Vice-Presidents.
- Luis Fernando Astorga Gatjens from Costa Rica, who is also president of the Forum for the Human Rights of People with Disabilities ( Foro por los Derechos Humanos delas Personas con Discapacidad)
- Julio Barba from Ecuador
- Magino Corporán de República Dominicana, as members.
Additionally, Pilar Samaniego, from Ecuador, was appointed Secretary General of the Ibero-American Network. She was also part of the steering commission.
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