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Interregional Seminar and Symposium on Annex IXProject implementation and management planUnited Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability – project INT/99/D27A. Expected resultsThe report of the Seminar and Symposium will provide an overview and analysis of issues and trends in international norms and standards relating to disability and lessons learned from their application in policies, programmes and national legislation in countries. The Seminar and Symposium will contribute to establishment and development of networks to promote sharing of knowledge and experience on equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities. The exchanges also are expected to contribute to establishment of virtual communities for outreach and advocacy, for distance learning and collaboration, and for disability action within a broad human rights framework. The results of experimental training and skill development for equalization of opportunities will be reflected in strategic frameworks drafted by concerned participants for capacity building and institutional development to promote effective and appropriate application of international norms and standards relating to disability in policies, programmes and national legislation in countries. B. Project activities1. Date and venueThe Seminar and Symposium will be held at Hong Kong, SAR, from 13-17 December 1999. The Seminar will open on 13 December and will last five days; the Symposium is planned for 16 December, in the evening, to facilitate participation by representatives of communities interested in issues concerning persons with disabilities. 2. Organization of the Seminar.The Seminar will be conducted in plenary and in three special interest working groups. Activities envisaged for the three working group clusters are discussed below: Cluster I: International Norms and Standards relating to Disability: issues in policy design and evaluation, legislation, and monitoring implementation. Seminar participants who join this cluster would: (a) review and assess substantive work to date on international norms and standards with emphasis on the rights of persons with disabilities and (b) examine progress and obstacles to their application in terms of policies, programmes and legislative practice of countries. It is envisaged that participants will formulate recommendations on options for improved practice, on priorities for policy research and evaluation, and on practical measures to apply international norms and standards in the design, planning and evaluation of disability action, including recommendations on "models" to facilitate drafting national disability legislation. Cluster II: Issues and strategies for building national capacities to promote and monitor implementation of norms and standards related to persons with disabilities. Seminar participants who join this cluster would (a) review and discuss issues and trends in capacity building for disability action and (b) examine critically the design, conduct and evaluation of catalytic and innovative approaches to training and in organizing technical exchanges on international norms and standards. Interested participants would have an opportunity to join a pilot workshop on training of trainers to promote and monitor implementation of the United Nations "Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities" with special attention directed to women with disabilities. Group work will focus on formulation of a strategic framework for building national capacities for equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities. Cluster III: New and emerging approaches to definitions of disability: social, cultural and environmental perspectives on disability and development. Seminar participants who join this cluster would take as the point of departure the working formulations on disability as presented in the ICI1DH BETA-2 (International Classification of Impairments, Activities, and Participation, document WHO/MSA/MNH/EAC/97.2) and will review and discuss alternatives to its medically and welfare-based formulations. The group will submit a report of findings and recommendations on definitions of disability that reflect its social, cultural and environmental aspects. Work of the group will represent a contribution to the global dialogue on disability action with the aim of enriching its social, cultural and environmental parameters. 3. Provisional agenda for the Seminar1. Seminar opening and election of officers 2. International norms and standards and persons with disabilities: overview of issues and trends 3. Substantive review and discussion of priority topics concerning norms, standards, and persons with disabilities:
4. International norms and standards and promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities in the third millennium 5. Adoption of Seminar report of findings and recommendations for action 4. Seminar documentation.A background document paper will be drafted by the discussion leader(s)-designate for consideration of the respective working group and will also be made available to Seminar participants and on the Internet to promote open approaches to norms and standards concerning persons with disabilities. Seminar participants can contribute participation papers on a theme or topic relevant to the provisional Seminar agenda. 5. Preparatory activities.The following activities will be carried out by Seminar organizers, with substantive assistance of the United Nations and specialized consultant inputs as appropriate, to prepare for plenary discussions and the work of the three substantive issue clusters so that planned outputs can be produced and objectives achieved:
6. Participant profile.An estimated 12-15 international participants will be invited, in their individual capacity, to attend the Seminar on the Seminar budget established for that purpose with resources of the Voluntary Fund grant. Resource persons to the Seminar and Symposium will be supported from the Seminar budget for that purpose as well. In connection with the use of Internet-based communications by working group Cluster II, it is envisaged that Seminar participation may increase by an additional 15-25 participants online. Invited Seminar participants - whether online or physically present at Hong Kong - will include specialists with policy-level or programme management responsibilities, scholars and analysts in the field of disability law and policy, and representatives of non-governmental organizations. Observers may be invited to attend the Seminar on their own account - or follow proceedings online. The Symposium will be open to participation by representatives of concerned governmental bodies and non- governmental organizations, academic centres and institutions, the private sector and civil society. C. Institutional settingThe project will be executed by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), a statutory body of Hong Kong, SAR of China, which will serve as project agent, in co-operation with Hong Kong University, Faculty of Law, Centre for Comparative and Public Law. The project executing and co-operating agents will be assisted substantively on request by the Division for Social Policy and Development of the United Nations Secretariat. The Division will also provide a select list of international specialists from recognized centres, public institutions and the private sector who can advise and assist, in their individual capacity, preparation, organization and conduct of the Seminar and Symposium. D. Project monitoring and evaluation1. Project monitoring.The project will be subject to periodic monitoring at designated project implementation milestones in terms of attainment of designated project objectives for purposes of adjusting project inputs and activities to actual conditions. 2. Project evaluation.
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