<!doctype HTML PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN"><html> <head> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 5.0"> <meta name="ProgId" content="FrontPage.Editor.Document"> <title>UN Enable - Promoting the rights of Persons with Disabilities - Ad Hoc Committee Second Meeting - Panel Discussions and Side-events</title> <link href="../enable1.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet"> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" topmargin="0"> <!--webbot bot="Include" U-Include="../enableheader.htm" TAG="BODY" startspan --> <center> <table width=100% border="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td valign="middle" align="right" colspan="3"><p align="right"><a href="#content" class="whitetabs">Skip navigation links</a> <a href="../sitemap.htm">Sitemap</a> | <a href="../disabout.htm">About us</a> | <a href="../faqs.htm">FAQs</a></P></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="middle" align="left" bgcolor="#000099" border="0"><a href="../index.html"><img src="../images/enablepage.jpg" width="193" height="50" border="0" alt="UN Programme on Disability"></a></td> <td bgcolor="#000099" width="100%">&nbsp;</td> <td valign="middle" align="right" bgcolor="#000099"><a href="../index.html"><img src="../images/fullpartpage.jpg" width="144" height="50" border="0" alt="Working for full participation and equality"></a></td> </tr> </table> </center> <h3 align="center">SECOND SESSION OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRAL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES <br> <br> New York, 16 to 27 June 2003 </h3> <h1 align="center">Panel Discussions and Side-events</h1> <p><b>Panel discussions on priority themes</b> </p> <ul type="disc"> <li><a href="#PanelI">Panel I: Typology of international conventions and options for a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities</a> [ <a href="ahc2panel1.htm">Summary</a> ]</li> <li><a href="#PanelII">Panel II: The Principle of Non-Discrimination and Equality from Disability Perspective: Critical issues concerning Special Measures and Disability</a> [ <a href="ahc2panel2.htm"> Summary</a> ]</li> <li><a href="#PanelIII">Panel III: New and Emerging Approaches to definitions of disability: conceptual frameworks, varying contexts of definition, and implications for promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities</a> [ <a href="ahc2panel3.htm">Summary</a> ]</li> </ul> <p>See <a href="statements.htm#panel">Statements made at the Panel Discussions</a>. </p> <p><b>Side-events</b> </p> <ul> <li><a href="#PublicForum">Public Forum on Issues Concerning the Rights of Persons with Disabilities</a></li> <li><a href="#ILO">Towards a United Nations Convention for Persons with Disabilities</a></li> <li><a href="#Women">Women with Disabilities: Opportunities and challenges for women s rights activists in the development of a Convention on the human rights of people with disabilities</a></li> <li><a href="#Children">Children with Disabilities and the Development of a Human Rights Convention for Persons with Disabilities</a> </li> </ul> <h2>&nbsp;</h2> <h2>&nbsp;</h2> <h2><u>Panel discussions on priority themes</u></h2> <p>The first session of the Ad Hoc Committee invited the Bureau to organize at the second session of the Ad Hoc Committee panel discussions on key thematic issues (A/57/357, para 14). The Bureau requested at its second intersessional meeting of 28 April 2003 that the Secretariat should provide proposals for the themes and contents of three panel discussions. </p> <p>Three panel discussions, to be chaired by the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, will be held on 16, 17 and 23 June 2003, as follows: <a name="PanelI"></a></p> <h3>Panel I</h3> <p>Monday, 16 June, 3 to 6 p.m.<br> <b>Typology of international conventions and options for a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities</b> <br> The Panel will discuss the nature, structure, elements and monitoring mechanism concerning the existing international human rights conventions, such as the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and which may provide models to explore options as to the substantive and procedural aspects of a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. The Panel will also discuss options for elements in elaborating a new convention, especially in relation to the emerging concept by which the norms incorporate both human rights and social development. <br> Participants:Mr. Andrew Byrnes (Australia), Ms. Theresia Degener (Germany), Mr. Muna Ndulo (Zambia); Ms. Velina Todorova (Bulgaria) and Ms. Deepika Udagama (Sri Lanka); <a name="PanelII"></a></p> <h3>Panel II</h3> <p>Tuesday, 17 June, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m<br> <b>The Principle of Non-Discrimination and Equality from Disability Perspective: Critical issues concerning Special Measures and Disability</b> <br> The Panel will discuss from a &quot;disability perspective&quot; how the rights of persons with disabilities are protected and promoted based on the principle of non-discrimination and equality within the existing human rights framework: the discussion would include an analysis of issues of critical importance to equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities and identify areas where general human rights protection has not been effective in ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities. The Panel will discuss implications of this analysis for elaborating a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. <br> The Panel will also discuss effective measures against disability-based discrimination  An emphasis will be accorded to the anti-discrimination measures, reasonable accommodation and other alternative responses. <br> Participants: H.E. Mr. Leandro Despouy (Argentina), Ms. Rangita De Silva De Alwis (Sri Lanka), Ms. Charlotte McClain (South Africa) and Ms. Cynthia Waddell (United States); <a name="PanelIII"></a></p> <h3>Panel III</h3> <p>Monday, 23 June, 3 to 6 p.m.<br> <b>New and Emerging Approaches to definitions of disability: conceptual frameworks, varying contexts of definition, and implications for promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities</b> <br> Definition of disability is a long-standing issue of law and policy, planning and academic concern. The Panel will examine varying contexts, in which definition of disability is used. The discussion would include the ways in which definition of disability has been addressed in national and international laws, conventions and substantive measurement tools. The Panel will explore critical issues and concepts concerning disability which would have an impact on issues concerning the rights of persons with disabilities in national and international policy and legislative contexts. <br> Participants: Mr. Scott Brown (United States); Ms. Catherine Barral (France) and Mr. Kofi Marfo (Ghana). <a name="PublicForum"></a></p> <p name="side"><a name="side"></a> </p> <h2><u>Side events</u></h2> <p>Tuesday, 17 June 2003, from 1.15 to 3 p.m. in Conference Room 4.<br> <b>Public Forum on Issues Concerning the Rights of Persons with Disabilities</b> <br> There will be a public forum on issues concerning the rights of persons with disabilities, organized by the Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in conjunction with the second session of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, on Tuesday, 17 June 2003, from 1.15 to 3 p.m. in Conference Room 4. The public forum will be opened by Ms. Hessa Al-Thani, the new Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for Social Development. Members of permanent missions, Secretariat staff, representatives of non-governmental organizations and the media are invited to attend. </p> <p name="ILO"><a name="ILO"></a> </p> <p>Wednesday, 18 June 2003, from 1.15 to 2.30 p.m. in Conference Room 9.<br> <b>Towards a United Nations Convention for Persons with Disabilities</b> <br> The presention will be sponsored by the International Labour Office (ILO) and the speaker will be Ms. Barbara Murray, Equity Issues Manager, In-focus Programme, Skills Development Department. </p> <p name="Women"><a name="Women"></a> </p> <p>Friday 20th June 2003, 1 to 3 pm. West Terrace Room, Delegates Dining Room, 4th floor, UN Secretariat<br> <b>Women with Disabilities: Opportunities and challenges for women s rights activists in the development of a Convention on the human rights of people with disabilities</b> <br> Welcoming remarks will be made by Roxanna Carrillo, Advisor to the Executive Director/ Human Rights, UNIFEM. The briefing will be moderated by Sebenzile Matsebula, Director of the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, The Presidency - South Africa. The speakers are Dr. Theresia Degener, Professor of Law - Germany, co-author, OHCHR report &quot;Disability and Human Rights&quot; and Anuradha Mohit, Special Rapporteur, National Human Rights Commission - India, Charlotte Bunch, Executive Director, Center for Women's Global Leadership - US. Closing Remarks will be made by Charlotte V. McClain, Commissioner Human Rights Commission - South Africa.<br> Background document: <a href="gendersense.htm" target="_blank">Towards a Gender Sensitive Disability Rights Convention</a>. </p> <p><a name="Children"></a>Tuesday 24th June 2003, 1 to 3 pm. UN Secretariat Building Room A, (NGO Caucus Room), 1 Basement Level<br> <b>Children with Disabilities and the Development of a Human Rights Convention for Persons with Disabilities</b> <br> The Luncheon Briefing is hosted by the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and is organized by the Landmine Survivors Network. Welcoming remarks will be made by Ambassador Sylvester Rowe, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations and Alexandra Yuster, Senior Adviser, UNICEF. The Briefing will be moderated by Ken Rutherford, Co-founder of Landmine Survivors Network. The Speakers Panel includes Cynthia Price Cohen, Executive Director, ChildRights International Research Institute, Elena Da Bó, National Federation of Association in Defense of People with Intellectual Disabilities, and Mark Obletz, High School Student, Half Hollows Hill High School New York. </p> <p><a href="#top">Return to top</a> </p> </div> <!--webbot bot="Include" i-checksum="21499" endspan --> <!--webbot bot="Include" U-Include="_headerrights.htm" TAG="BODY" startspan --><!--webbot bot="Include" i-checksum="0" endspan --> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div align="center"></div> <!--webbot bot="Include" U-Include="../enablefooter.htm" TAG="BODY" startspan --> <div align="center"> <center> <hr noshade size="1" align="center"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <p align="center"><a href="../index.html">Home</a> | <a href="../sitemap.htm"> Sitemap</a> | <a href="../disabout.htm">About us</a> | <a href="../disnew.htm"> News</a> | <a href="../faqs.htm">FAQs</a> | <a href="../contact.htm">Contact us</a></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td> <p align="center">© <a href="http://www.un.org">United Nations</a>, 2003-04<br> <a href="http://www.un.org/esa/desa.htm">Department of Economic and Social Affairs</a><br> <a href="http://www.un.org/esa/socdev">Division for Social Policy and Development</a></td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <!--webbot bot="Include" i-checksum="46966" endspan --> </body> </html>