PROGRAMME OVERVIEW of the SEMINAR/WORKSHOP
The Américas regional seminar and workshop will be conducted in English and
Spanish and will carry out its work in plenary and group sessions for three
working days, 9 - 11April 2003 at Quito.
Participants invited to the Américas regional seminar and workshop will be asked to
prepare a short paper discussing current policies, legislation and administrative guidance
related to the promotion and protection of rights of persons with disabilities and issues
and trends related to sustainable livelihoods, safety nets and participation of persons
with disabilities in social life and development in their countries.
The Américas regional seminar and workshop will be in three segments.
First Segment
The first segment of the intensive three-day seminar and workshop will begin with an
introduction to the purpose and expected outcome of the exchanges and group work. The
segment will include an intense overview of norms and standards related to persons with
disabilities and rights based approaches to development, including issues and trends in
sustainable livelihoods, safety nets and participation of persons with disabilities in the
mainstream.
Second Segment
The second segment will be carried out by means of three working groups:
(a) Context, organization and structure of a seventh international instrument on the
rights of persons with disabilities in the light of Américas regional experience in
policy options, norms, standards and legislation related to disability. The exchanges and
group work will build on the recommendations in the report on the third mandate the
Special Rapporteur on Disability of the United Nations Commission for Social Development
(E/CN.5.2002/4, para. 72) [1] on options for further action concerning
equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities, the findings and
recommendations of the international expert meeting on norms and standards related to
disability, hosted by the Government of Mexico from 11 to14 June 2002 [2],
as well as substantive contributions of the non-governmental community to the question. [3] The group work will direct special attention to the rationale and
development setting for a seventh international instrument on the rights of persons with
disabilities.
(b) Rights based approaches to development and advancement of persons with disabilities
in the mainstream. The exchanges and group work will build on the findings and
recommendations of the international expert meeting on sustainable livelihoods, hosted by
the Government of the Republic of Indonesia for 15 to 17 January 2002. [4]
Group work will consider policy options and programmes related to (1) social inclusion and
empowerment, social protection, and social rehabilitation; (2) facilitation of
accessibility and reasonable levels of accommodation in the environment; (3) social
integration and participation in development; and (4) institution building,
micro-enterprise development and promotion of sustainable livelihoods in mainstream
development.
(c) Popular participation, institutional development and organizations of persons with
disabilities. The exchanges and group work will direct special attention to strategies,
policies and programmes that contribute to strengthened and improved national capacities
and institutional capabilities to promote the rights of persons with disabilities and to
further rights based approaches in mainstream development. Strategies and policy options
should contribute to the development of institutions that will enhance access for all to
the social, political and economic mainstream, which is essential for realization of the
comprehensive and integrated empowerment strategies and policies considered in working
group 2.
Third Segment
On its third working day the seminar and workshop will be in plenary and consider the
results of group work and discuss options to further rights based approaches to
development and the advancement of persons with disabilities in the mainstream. The
exchange will result in identification of (a) priorities for action to build national
capacities and institutions for rights based approaches to development, (b)
recommendations on the context and suggestions for further development of the structure
and content of a new comprehensive and integrated international convention on the rights
of persons with disabilities, and (c) strategic framework for action to further the rights
of persons with disabilities and rights based approaches in mainstream development in the
Américas region.
The closing session of the Américas regional seminar and workshop will include the
presentation of the outcome document and summary remarks by the host organizations.
To promote greater awareness of the findings, results and recommendations of the
Américas regional seminar and workshop, the closing session may be convened as a
"public forum on rights based approaches to development in the Américas region"
with a parallel presentation on the Internet.
Notes:
1 < http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disecn520024e0.htm
>.
2 < http://www.sre.gob.mx/discapacidad/
>.
3 < http://www.worldenable.net/rights/adhocmeet.htm
>.
4 < http://www.worldenable.net/livelihoods/default.htm
>.
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