Commonwealth Disabled People’s Conference (Uganda, November 2007)

Edited Nov 22 ‘07 to add this paragraph: This conference is now over. The conference participants issued a memorandum which has been posted at http://wecando.wordpress.com/2007/11/22/memorandum-commonwealth-disabled-peoples-conference-2007/.

This conference announcement was recently brought to my attention; for people interested in disability rights and the political, economic, and human development of disabled people in the commonwealth countries:

From: NKWANGU ROBERT
Date: August 14, 2007 9:09:52 AM EDT
Subject: COMMONWEALTH DISABLED PEOPLE’S CONFERENCE (NOVEMBER 2007)

Dear all,
Greetings from the deaf community in Uganda.
 
This is to bring to your attention the impending Commonwealth Disabled People’s Conference (DPC), 2007.
 
The conference will take place from 14th to 17th November in Kampala, Uganda – East Africa at Hotel Africana.
 
Disabled Persons Organizations (DPOs) in Uganda, in conjunction with Action on Disability and Development (ADD), an International non-government organization, have realized the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that is going to take place in Uganda from 23rd to 25th November, 2007, under the theme: “Transforming Commonwealth Societies to achieve political, economic and human development” is a great opportunity for the disability fraternity in common wealth countries as it comes in the wake of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. The CHOGM offers the opportunity to influence heads of governments and to initiate collective action for its ratification and implementation.
 
Uganda is currently one of the leading countries in legislations and policies that cater for the rights of PWDs. Its pertinent that Kampala CHOGM will initiate the inclusion of disability on the commonwealth agenda making it a part of the commonwealth member states programs.
 
The commonwealth has 52 member states. The commonwealth has two components – the official and unofficial components. The official component consists of a series of official inter-governmental meetings. The unofficial component is made up of programs by Civil Society Organizations.
 
The Disabled People’s Conference (DPC). The first ever of its kind in liaison with CHOGM will be held just before the Commonwealth People’s Forum and the CHOGM with a view of making disability a part of the commonwealth agenda.
 
The theme of the conference is: “Promoting Disability Rights: the inclusive way of transforming commonwealth countries to achieve political, economic and human development”.
 
The conference is aimed at bringing leaders of the disabled in the commonwealth with a view to:
1 Influence heads of states and commonwealth governments to incorporate disability issues in their national programs.
2 Raising CHOGM awareness about the Convention on the Rights of the Disabled persons and the need for its ratification and implementation.
3 Creating an understanding that poverty cannot be eradicated in the commonwealth countries unless disabled people are explicitly included in country development strategies.
4 Establishing a forum foe disabled people in the commonwealth as a continuing feature of the commonwealth family.
 
The purpose of this communication therefore is to request you to participate in this conference as a one sure way of uplifting the status of the disabled people in the commonwealth and the rest of the world.
 
Alternatively, your support to this event will be highly appreciated.
 
Waiting for your positive response.
 
Thank you.
 
Yours
ROBERT NKWANGU,
Conference Organizing Committee
Representative for the Deaf persons.
Uganda National Association of the Deaf (UNAD)
P.O.Box 7339,
Kampala, Uganda
East Africa.

Learn how to receive an email alert when new material is posted at We Can Do.