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UN‑SIDE EVENT‑NGO COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH
JUNE 14, 2016
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[Captioner Standing By] we started this journey last year to take explicit action to include disability and development agenda at the sen di conference in March last year and we actually continued on in terms of our efforts together with our stakeholders and with our colleagues to move forward and we actually were successful [Indiscernible] of disability in humanitarian summit in Istanbul [Away from mic] so we are gathered here today to not just to take stock of what we have been doing, to actually to intervene and to make successful mainstreaming in the agenda but also how we can take the next step forward.  It will be our great pleasure to actually identify other stakeholders, I think there are new participants, people who are interested in the issue but who have not really been part of our network for this forum.  So I would just like to thank you once again for participating in this forum and we would like to start the program.  And my colleague, Eric, is going to take over. thank you very much
[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] 
>> Thank you very much.  I want to recognize and [Away from mic] Pineda is sitting there.  I apologize for technical difficulties [Away from mic] for representing the disability inclusive urban development award.  I want to start by thanking everybody and [Away from mic] and as you know, there is a lot of discussions on this issue in urban development.  Urbanization [Away from mic] agenda a lot of development around every corner of the world and currently has negotiations around these outcome Habitat III in October this year.  Today I think all of these outputs and outcomes of [Away from mic] and inform the process.  These conference of state [Away from mic] attended by more than 30 ministers and thousands of people including more than 100NGOs and people interested in disability inclusion.  How to make sure that inclusion will happen isn't a question.  I notice there's a lot of experts in here in this room that work very hard and you are the pioneers in terms of promoting and disability inclusion including promoting accessibility in accessible urban development.  In terms of physical environment like buildings and space and also the facility infrastructures like transportation and so on and so forth and public services, which all important to make sure the inclusion of person with disability can be a reality.  I would like to open up the first questions I requesting to opine list which is in order to successfully promote the accessible urban development, we looked at this as quite a lot of good practices in your country and your cities.  Can you share with us example and to illustrate how and why you noticed that this example is successful.  Why it is this?  Can you share a little using three minutes and then what is the role government, civil society, urban planning development professional organizations are doing.  What role they have been playing in that successful case?  So I would like startup with ambassador Yánez in Ecuador in your country and maybe you can enlighten us with a presentation.  Thank you very much.
>> Thank you very much.  I really appreciate this issue or this subject as a side event in the framework of the conference of the [Away from mic] people with disabilities because for Ecuador this matter is a decor of the constitution and deeply embed in the normalities and also in the conscious of people in Ecuador.  For the government, the situation of accessibility is a requirement, a fact we accomplish in all the [Away from mic] processes and services and products and it has to be comprehensible to use and feasible for all the people involved on condition of security, commodity and autonomy in the most possible natural way.  In the sense, the government of Ecuador has been coordinated in a inter‑secretariat way.  The implementation of all the plans, projects and [Away from mic] related to accessibility.  These products have the purpose of identifying and proposing techniques that would be considered [Away from mic] in order to eliminate all the barriers of accessibility would in fact affect all the population, especially people in situation of disability and the people, children under five years, pregnant women and mother.  [Away from mic] have initiated a process which is avant‑garde, in order to adopt and adapt international rules of accessibility for the purpose that it could be employed as a reference for a [Away from mic] related to the area of building.  We consider a compilation and different subjects related to accessibility were [Away from mic] for medicines is an example of all the rules and enormity that has to be implemented.  In addition in coordination with minister [Away from mic] and development we are working in the creation and development of the [Away from mic] of disability that could be include in the rules [Away from mic] for all the people related to building and all the rules that have to be implemented at the level of local authorities.  We have developed the document as a handbook for development of municipalities, regulations regarding [Away from mic] accessibility that could be technical import in order to give to the authorities a reference for formulation or adaptation [Away from mic].  Since 2014, the government of Ecuador has developed a practical methodology for elaboration of planning related to universal accessibility.  As I mentioned yesterday in another side event, these methodology receive an award for the design for our foundation as one of the five best better practice in the world.  This award also [Away from mic] in 2016 for initiative called tools for the validation [Away from mic] calculation of basic equipment of accessibility for [Away from mic].  In addition, no matter the status has been published at national level.  In order to measure the level of accessibility that in fact exist in the country.  Measure here [Away from mic] plan [Away from mic] Santa Lana, a [Away from mic] schools at national level.  Diagnosis in the outcoming [Away from mic] museum foundation [Away from mic].  The diagnosis of temporary shelters in [Away from mic].  In general [Away from mic] 214 diagnosis and plans of universal accessibility around the country.  In addition with having working in the socialization awareness and [Away from mic] of this matter at a level of government institutions and among academia.  At the same time with the work in numerous worships for academia at a university with a total of around 1050 people who have received training on this matter.  Also, we're able to measure ‑‑ is one of the [Away from mic] conductors for the intention of Ecuador and the idea of Ecuador when this project is started two years ago, of course in the conference of UN [Away from mic].  Because as I mentioned, all this matter being at the core of the constitution at a national level having working with technical secretary for disabilities in different ways and also in numerous contributions to the papers and [Away from mic] make a [Away from mic] extend to you in case you aren't aware that the new agenda is constructed.  In fact, Habitat III is maybe the most inclusive process at this time because having working at a level of government, also the local authorities and other stakeholders.  Other stakeholders have academia, society, many are correlated to housing and development have been working with regular meetings in order to capture and diagnose a common point in the world and working in dramatic meetings.  In the beginning we have 22 papers and now there are [Away from mic] units, all of them related to housing and development.  And also I seen the process of [Away from mic] is [Away from mic] six of May the [Away from mic] was circulated for the state.  Emphasize the agendas and the outcomes of Sendai, SSD, Paris agreement, and one is missing in my mind, but all the most important conference that has been organized at the United Nations, all the outcomes of this conference was in the cross cut issues related to housing and development and in fact are included in the [Away from mic] of Habitat III.  The important part of is this conceptual part is has to be developed and the second ‑‑ this is a [Away from mic] New Urban Agenda and access accessibility is one of the most important points and that is maybe for Ecuador is the government attaches to this point is one of the most important areas as I said, Ecuador propose itself in order to close the conference.  For the time being, the province developed by the government of Ecuador regarding accessibility according to the figures as stated by secretaries that the benefit around 350,000 pregnant women every year, 150,000 children under five, around 1300 [Away from mic] people and I would like to underline this around [Away from mic] people with disability.  That shows importance that the government of Ecuador has put on this matter.  I'm sorry I'm taking a lot of time from the others.  Sorry.
>> Thank you very much ambassador for your contribution.  Because of [Away from mic] where we don't have much time.  Please, do everybody, and share with us and email your full statements if you have a more like minutes and that's fine we will share with our global audience to benefit many people.  [Away from mic] would like to request everybody to think about the three key message that you would like to share with ‑‑ inform Habitat III process and also the New Urban Agenda.  What are the three key message that you want to inform this process?  I notice ambassador that you mention a couple of points, for example, legal policy framework, particularly the mandatory standard and legislation is important.  Also you talk about capacity building, training, the professionals, so people understand what we mean accessible development is about.  And also on the government commencement is very important, you do have the institution setting up and not only the government have a disability for the point but also you walking and public [Away from mic] cross ministry approach, engaging housing and other ministries and also you have a multi‑stakeholder publisher with the academia, with the disability organizations, who are the users of our city services to inform the policy implementers.  These are very good points and I would invite the others or panelists to think about these message that you want to share so we can come up with something together.  I would like to invite Jemma era Mushara from UAE and also have your perspective.  And bear in mind the two questions, first of all example to illustrate how and why [Away from mic] success for change.  For example, like a Dubai city, they are now working towards [Away from mic] Dubai, have this vision already and perhaps you can highlight some of this good practice also.  Thank you very much. 
>> Let me begin by expressing my thanks to the secretariat for the convention of the rights with persons for disabilities at UN‑DESA for bringing us here today to exchange these views.  I'll try to answer both those questions within the time limits.  Forgive me if I go over.  Just last September a chamber not so far from here, we all agreed to leave no one behind.  In the UAE, the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of societies is a core priority of our leadership.  In the UAE, [Away from mic] our cities are at the center of our development, serving tracting investment and enhancing diversification.  As a society with a high ‑‑ we acknowledge the potential of cities to become engines for inclusive development.  We acknowledge making them inclusive for all members of our societies, including persons with disabilities.  In the UAE is a core priority for our leadership.  This commitment is en shrined in a number of normative frameworks.  Our constitution ensures the protection of rights with persons with disabilities without fear of discrimination.  The UAE disability act in 2006 provides for equal care, rights and responsibilities in education, healthcare, training and rehabilitation and aims to ensure their full rights and access to services.  In 2010, the UAE ratified the UN conventions on the rights of persons with disabilities.  These frameworks underpin our responsibility as a country in promoting equal rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities.  As we implement these policies and laws we need to also make sure that we mainstream these principles in our policies relating to urban development and design.  Reflecting our commitment to sustainable urban development and including persons with disabilities, we have to aim to cross sectorial approaches.  We must bring together stakeholders and national partnerships to ensure mainstreaming of persons with disabilities in urban planning programs.  We work closely with organizations to find innovative solutions to urban design that promote community cohesion, inclusion and accessibility.  It is equally important that we enable the participation of people with disabilities and this is in making with regards to policies that affect them, including efforts of urban planning and design.  Key initiatives in the UAE are at a local level.  For example, the Dubai disability strategy 2020, which includes universal accessibility as one of its main Pillars.  One of the key deliverables of the strategy is the project, my community, a city for everyone.  This effort aims to turn Dubai into an inclusive barrier free area, access to transportation and communication systems.  On second question about the three key messages, let's look to Habitat III, which offers opportunities for signal acceleration and change.  At the UAE, we firmly believe that Habitat III is the opportunity to accelerate the change we want to see and to build a national aligns committed to delivering the results to impact the everyday lives of people living with disabilities in cities.  As we are entering the final stage of negotiations in preparation for the Habitat III conference, today discussion is an opportunity to make sure that the new urban agenda is accessible to all and inclusive of all urban inhabitants including persons with disabilities.  Our message on the zero drop.  Today we're looking at the intersection of urban design and inclusion of persons with disabilities.  I would like to take the opportunity to highlight two points.  Number one, concerns relating to disability should be mainstreamed to capacity building efforts.  No. 2, we have to strengthen data collection and reporting on issues surrounding access for persons with disabilities in urban contexts.  And finally our message on the importance of implementation.  Once we adopt a New Urban Agenda, transform them into concrete results.  While we are looking at the implementation of these ambitious goals, we must acknowledge that it can be challenging to change the culture around planning, building and service delivery and all our efforts must be rooted in consultation and collaboration between the different actors and entities at the national and local level, including government, civil society and the private sector.  Thank you. 
>> Thank you very much for your contribution.  Yeah, please just thinking [Away from mic] discussing on this issue and one is example to illustrate how and why effective.  Second is the key message you want to share and inform the Habitat III and the New Urban Agenda.  I would like to invite ambassador mun.
>> Good afternoon.  The comment where participation [Away from mic] organizers representatives of the UN, missions, various institutions and NGOs, which are the most important actor that so many representatives of the civil society participating in our event.  To a certain extent, my short report is very similar to previous one from my brother Jamal.  I'm coming from Kazakhstan, which since the early days of independence was hugely supported by [Away from mic] emrates and others, those who contributed also to the housing policy.  And that's why our new capital city of what is panna today to certain extent is example of multilateral efforts in order to build up a city which is very much sustainable and striving for the future.  And from that perspective, I want to inform you that this is quite example which very honorable moderator pulling for is going to host at export.  If you remember last year, it was expo in Milan, the next going to be in Dubai, which will be example.  So in between, it is expo in asset la.  Next year, we are doing our best in order to make these expo our capital [Away from mic] the most comfortable place for visitors.  And we are doing all our utmost in order to provide excellent [Away from mic] best opportunities and conducive environment for people with disabilities with various kinds of restrictions.  So we would be more than happy to invite and we are looking for almost five million participants in that expo and disabled people for sure will be the most welcome guests.  In my country, we also quite proud of excellent legislation.  There is provisions in our constitution, especially designed 21 laws that provide full access and barrier free environment for disabled people.  We are keeping all of them with the CRPD.  We have a special program called 201‑2208 years with [Away from mic] there are provisions [Away from mic] social infrastructure, there are special construction savings and also support from the office of the mayor for certain groups of citizens.  In many case, we provide free accommodation from state funds for disabled people.  Priority given to choices expressed by people for special location, types of housing, level of law depending on the kind of disabilities, probably this is nothing new for most of you.  But for us, with emerging democracy and again, mentioned newly independent states, it is very important priority in our development.  We ‑‑ what is unique also in my country, I believe, is that we established a consultative advisory bodies for the protection of rights with the persons with disabilities.  And such council is working under the leadership of the deputy prime Minister of My country.  We try to operate as high as possible the level of responsibility in this very important policy.  And this kind of council is working in very close collaboration and communication with local grassroots [Away from mic] and disabilities have a direct voice in expressing with those exercising their rights.  Two questions of distinguished moderator, one message is the following one that their consideration of access goes far beyond persons with disabilities.  Very much the spectrum of general population.  The second key message is to consider not just access to buildings but more also urban transport, for example, and basic services to be included.  We offer also the third message is about having accessible information to certain extent internet today is an unfriendly to many different kinds of disabilities.  We know how much internet vendors and others are dealing with this very promising businesses today trying to incorporate new technologies, but still a lot to be done.  So with this, let me to again thank organizers and also to commend tire less efforts of the nation of Ecuador here in New York and I believe in many other centers of diplomacy on paving the way to upcoming higher level event.  Thank you very much. 
>> Thank you very much.  Actually, it reminds me actually these message are very relevant and very important and also the practice for example fair housing provision of accommodation for persons with disabilities it is very progressive, actually, and you take it in the government as a priority in addressing these needs of housing and rights to housing for persons with disability or country.  This very high level of commitment of the deputy prime minister office in leading the work and consultation with people with disability.  This message you also talk about the inclusion accessible development and not only in the physical environment but also in virtual and information internet‑based service and success to information is very, very important.  And to cover more broadly when we talk about accessibility.  Thank you very much.  I would like to really the secretariat come to your continued leadership and your [Away from mic] and have been already leading these course and leading [Away from mic] Habitat III for example Ecuador play a very principle role in regional consultation and this very encouraging and reflected in the [Away from mic] New Urban Agenda already.  We continue leadership in this course and when the internet committee is negotiating this document.  And I would like to invite excellency ambassador Luis Gallegos and [Away from mic] ad hoc committee of United nation and now we celebrate 10‑year anniversary.  I would like to invite you.  Thank you very much.
>> Thank you very much, Derrick.  Let me start by exactly what you just mentioned and thank you very much because I see a lot of familiar faces here where we worked on the CRPD, we negotiated for what we have at the CRPD.  We're celebrating the tenth anniversary of the CRPD and in reality this brings me back to article 9.  In this phase and as the moderator has limited the scope, I think that I will like to report the following.  The majority of the population of the world will live in the urban dwellings in the future.  Therefore, it is extremely important that those urban dwellings be accessible, non‑discriminatory and integral to societies.  If we are to say something about what happened in these halls in room four 10 years ago, we would remember that disability was not on the agenda of the United Nations 10 years ago.  And so the work of the leadership of the disability community and the leadership of those who are disabled, that came to fruition.  So in reality, I believe that governments, municipalities, communities, have to go back to the disability movement and see where those urban dwellings are unaccessible.  Where are the barriers still that we do not understand?  Both in physical conditions but also in ITC and technologies, as the ambassador of Kazakhstan has mentioned.  This is an integral part of life these days with ITC technology.  Last Friday we launched in Ecuador an application called E maps, legal representative secretariat from Ecuador is here.Ney Pong developed this app and which fundamentally will guide the accessibility of disabled persons during the Habitat III meeting in October.  But it is an application that permits persons with disabilities all over the world to know where you have been to venues that are accessible and those that are not.  And I think that is a good illustration of the willingness of how to use technology but how to use also universal designing application for disability.  The example Eric was asking for is among states because as governments establish international negotiations and they establish policy guidelines, you also require budget and implementation and there you go to localities and municipalities.  So you have to really look at where these municipalities have the bottlenecks in public policy and in execution and implementation of those policies.  You may have integrated communities without those infrastructures.  I'll give you an example of this.  You may have a wheelchair in the United States that goes upstairs and costs $40,000.  In some of the South, you don't have sidewalks or stairs.  So the reality of the world is very different from what we look at when we talk about urbanization and different aspects.  It's not only planning, it's implementation and reality.  So therefore, it's an enormous challenge for all the world to see where we're going to deal with the problems of the world in these aspects and where we're going to find solutions for integrated communities which incorporate disability.  If you're born with a disability, or you acquire it during your life by accident, sickness, war, or whatever other circumstance, even climate change or malnutrition, as you age, you will be disabled.  Our fathers and our mothers and our aunts who are disabled, we will be disabled.  This is not a minority group.  It's universal.  And therefore, we have to look at these cities not as dwelling places for particular groups.  We have to look at them in an integrated way that these will be accessible for all humans.  And when we talk about your urban areas, the debate today is, well, we are over taking the rural areas through urbanization, therefore, the rural areas are an integral part of the urban area, how do we deal with this?  And going back to the example of wheelchairs, a farmer in the under developed world cannot use a wheelchair because he has nowhere to guide it.  I'm using the example of a wheelchair not because it is a simple one, but it is one of the simplest and most complex ones to deal with.  So my asking is we should consult the persons with disabilities in the different parts of the world to apply public policy and be able to have public policies that work.  Habitat III will be a very important meeting, it happens every 20 years, and I think the roles of governments are very important, but I do think that civil society has a role to play here and an extremely important one.  When we began the negotiations of the CRPD, the convention of persons with disabilities here, besides the opposition of many European countries and the United States, we found that none of the negotiators in the room knew about disability.  None were disabled.  Very few had relatives that were disabled.  They hadn't worked on disability.  They had worked on disarmament, human rights and whatever, so we had to apply ourselves to ask experts from different parts of the United Nations and agencies and the world to come and guide us.  And those who guided us were the civil society of disability of the world who taught the world what disability was really like.  So when you talk about inclusion, I think we should go back to that dilemma that was the banner of disability movement, nothing about us without us, and I think this is where we should be humbled enough to say let's apply policies in an efficient way to make everyone integrated into our society.  Thank you
[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] 
>> Thank you very much, ambassador, for your message to this meeting.  I understand this is a very important point where we commit to the inclusion of person with disability or inclusive development in urban development, our commitment should be written also in very [Away from mic] terms including the actions, including these particular location development to this effect.  This is very important.  And you saw [Away from mic] previous speakers also touched to the point very important relation to this implementation to this New Urban Agenda.  I think these are very important, that's why I think this discussion in this room were inform and help and enrich the discussions and ongoing discussion related to Habitat III.  Think about well advanced and talk about how to implement, where we can mobilize our resources and by working together.  One very strong point you mentioned is universal design approach, what exactly we are doing with [Away from mic] invite more experts and moment and also you mentioned consult people with the disabilities because they are [Away from mic] and urban users and they have a lot of experts in many areas and they can inform and help us in working together with governments and also important stakeholders.  So since you mentioned this civil society initiative, civil society's contribution and value in this process, I would like to open up and maybe starting with Dr. Pineda, I understand he represents inclusive [Away from mic] development network [Away from mic].
>> [Away from mic] transfer friends, the world is going through a massive transformation and each one of us plays a role in shaping the landscape that will be created.  The global landscape, the urban landscape will need to be doubled in the near future, the next 20 years, we will double the built environment.  That means that we will either recreate and reproduce patterns of exclusion in the built environment or we will be smart enough to utilize inclusive principles of design and planning and of policy to enable people to realize their goal, enable people to realize their rights, enable people with disabilities to live with dignity on an equal basis with others.  Today I do not speak to you as a public board member of the US access board, nor do I speak to you on behalf of my own organization or any of the other organizations in which I'm a board member.  I sit on the board of 8 global network professionals, technology, and work with the IDPP [Away from mic] and public policy and work with many other persons in this room, but I want to speak to you as a person with a disability.  Every time that I encounter a barrier in a built environment, I have to undergo a risk calculation.  I have to do a transaction cost.  What am I willing to risk in order to cross that street?  How much time am I willing to take to go around the block to find an accessible entrance while it's raining outside or snowing?  How much energy will I need to expend in order to figure out which are inaccessible and which are not.  Where the place I can go to the bathroom and where is the place I cannot go to the bathroom?  This is a world that makes me feel unwelcome.  This is a city or a place that makes me feel like I don't belong.  As I mentioned last week in my statement during the stakeholders meeting at the Habitat III stakeholders sharing, even though I love all cities, all the cities don't love me back.  So I've decided to work with our partners at IDPP with colleagues [Away from mic] single‑handedly organized a transformation of zoa cardia and Indonesia, colleagues from Ecuador and Mexico, colleagues at the Essl Foundation and the zero project identifying all the different ways that we have best practices and bring all of our efforts together to this disability inclusive and accessible urban development network.  This is an informal network of professionals, of advocates and of members committed to ensuring that the New Urban Agenda and specifically the outcome document explicitly states that there is no urban future if people with disabilities continue to be left out.  There is no [Away from mic] 2030 agenda if the New Urban Agenda is not specifically state accessibility for persons with disability, does not specifically state and support the concept of reasonable accommodation on the local level, does not specifically take into account fans [Away from mic] to offset the cost of barrier identification and barrier removal, not specifically consider a stand‑alone paragraph describing how the built environment can be a catalytic force, an enabling force, an element that, in a sense, allows people to live on an equal basis with others, so a stand‑alone paragraph such that exists for women or gender in urban development, we really want to encourage our partners to lobby [Away from mic] paragraph and the outcome document.  And you might ask yourself what would a stand‑alone paragraph look like?  Well, on my cell phone, I took the liberty of writing the language for what a stand‑alone paragraph would look like.  And it doesn't have to be very complicated.  Can I share this specific language, Eric?  Okay.  A city offering equality for persons with and without disabilities adopts all necessary measures to combat discrimination in all its form against [Away from mic] with disabilities.  A physical, social, institutional, cultural, and economic terms.  A city takes all appropriate measures to ensure the principles of reasonable accommodations are exercised and has the capacity to support the full development and participation of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.  By doing so, a city guarantees persons with disabilities equality in development and has the mechanism to enforce standards and regulations based on the principles of universal design.  Now, our colleagues at the UAE have been working very closely with us over the last few years to really look at the local implementation of the CRPD.  The question is, how do you take national commitment by ratifying the CRPD and have it work its way through the bureaucracy all the way down to the local level?  I can share more later, but there is a rapid assessment framework that we can share with you.  I also teach urban planning.  I'm an urban planner as well.  We need action and political will.  Thank you very much. 
[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] 
>> Thank you for sharing this not only experience, I understand, but also expertise and [Away from mic] discussions.  And please do send these text to be shared with us and [Away from mic] and recommendation and universal design and inclusive city development and it is important to be reflected somehow in this discussion and our website.  Benefiting more broadly our audience and participants who are interested and being part of our discussion later on.  So I talking about professional experts actually we are very lucky and we have [Away from mic] speakers from number of organizations.  First we have the president Mohkatar Al Shibari and I would like to invite your contribution.  Thank you. 
>> Thank you, Eric.  Distinguished guests and fellow partners, as the president of GAATES, it is my pleasure to participate in this panel discussion.  As an architect and a planner working the last 30 years, accessible examples of a citywide accessibility implementations are very rare.  I will mention an understanding example with GAATES' involvement and at creating a fully accessible city and the process we followed.  The UAE cities we work with before and now we are working with Dubai is currently developing a comprehensive universal accessibility strategy and the implementation plan aimed at having a fully accessible involving accessibility to the built environment and mobility, domains based on the concept and principles of the universal design.  So the roadmap to follow for any city will include first, there should be real political commitment from the highest levels of government I either national, regional or local.  Secondly, a specific time period to reach the goal must be set whether for a fully accessible country, city or neighborhood.  Third, an assessment of current accessibility sparks the process and achievements and most importantly the gaps to address because many cities has bad history and now they are in the modern time.  Fourth, once the gaps are identified, the city shall develop the strategy and the implementation plan with the clear goals and responsible persons appointed in key areas for department.  Fifth, the implementation plans shall include training focal points from the government and private sectors as well as a monitoring process using the set time aim.  Political will is not enough.  Professionals shall be aware of the current gaps information informed of the need of the final users and participation in the development of the technical guidelines.  The strategy and implementation plan person with disabilities shall be involved in all stages of the process as their input is vital to raise awareness and among all involved stakeholders.  Example is ongoing effort, unique and never seen before where there is real commitment from all stakeholders to make a difference and overcome current barriers in the built and social environment.  And by saying this, this is a roadmap that any city can follow, whether it is big city or intermediate cities as general.  And we are, at GAATES, are working with a number of expertise, working in more than 40 countries around the world trying to enhance accessibility in these countries and cities.  We next year are going to celebrate our tenth anniversary.  We have been created after the UN CRPD had been developed.  Thank you very much. 
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>> Thank you, Mohkatar, for the contribution.  It's really important that you have ‑‑ you highlight the importance of these professional network and capacity in terms of the capacity building strength in this endeavor.  Also six points from the highest possible commitment and also other strategies and relating to implementation, this is very important.  Appreciate it.  May I ask Mr. [Away from mic] founder of Essl Foundation from Austria. 
>> Good afternoon.  I'm very honored to be part of [Away from mic] thank you.  Without any more ado, the zero project, initiative of the Essl Foundation, innovative practices and policies who supports people with disabilities worldwide.  This year, we are very happy to be able to help to contribute to Habitat III and the New Urban Agenda.  Together with the group from our network of some 3,000 experts from around the world, both with and without disabilities, we have compiled a draft report that identifies innovative practices and policies in the field of inclusive and accessible urban development.  We are grateful to our creator and Eric Zang for this corporation, the results published in the coming months and presented at UN Habitat III in keto.  It is still unofficial and we cannot give you too much details for this time, however, I can give you today at least a quick look at four examples from the innovative practices and policies that we have been collected.  Several innovative practices and policies work in the level of city planning, the training of architects city and infrastructure planners and other important decision makers in the principles of universal design and accessibility.  First, the building and construction authority of Singapore which has incorporated an accessibility master plan to create a user friendly built environment initiative.  Then second, the province of Ontario in Canada requires five‑year accessibility plan and report annually on progress.  Third, in the German city of hamburg, cities center for all [Away from mic] putting civil society together with politicals and administrators for inclusive in urban development.  Finally, in Malaysian city authorities have set up an accessibility framework for the built environment monitoring every step from design to post construction.  Almost all reports that we know of always agree that inclusive and accessible city planning does not cost significantly more than simply ignore it.  Repairing, retro fitting and rebuilding, these are the cost multipliers.  Several of the projects we identified are centered on information systems and technology and support persons with disability as well as everyone else by addressing accessibility of the built environment, transport, infrastructure, and public space in general.  For example, an EXS map from Canada have established a platform for users to connect and inform each other about the accessibility of entire cities.  In German it is a similar approach called we map.  Another example is where the public bus transport system.  This makes all information about public transport fully accessible throughout website and smartphones including using both pictures and easy language for persons with learning difficulties whose challenges are so often ignored.  There is good reason why these information and communication tools are so important.  Many persons with disabilities will only leave their homes wherever they may be if they are sure that they will be able to make their own way.  They need fully accessible chain of entry doors, pathways, public transport, buildings like shops, restaurants and so on that are accessible.  They have to be informed before they leave, as we have learned recently from Dr. Victor Pineda.  They need life information and they need it tailored for their needs.  So smartphone apps platform on which users can share knowledge, accessible format for existing information such as traffic schedules, including delays, or ongoing construction are of key importance.  My three messages, when promoting accessible and disability inclusive urban development are the following.  My first message, inclusion accessibility and universal design principles have to be mandatory in city planning and everything that goes with it such as mandatory training of everyone engaged in city planning from architects to plumbers.  My second message, information and communication technologies around and about cities have to be fully accessible and supportive for all people with disabilities.  This will enable them to have full control of planning and organizing their lives outside their own apartment or homes.  Accessibility features for all people with disabilities includes those with intellectual and learning difficulties have to be mandatory.  And my third message, city planners have to look at the whole travel chain of a person with disabilities from the moment they start planning and informing themselves about their forthcoming journey before they even open their doors to leave their homes and taking care of the pathways, public transport systems and taxis, taking care of buildings and public spaces that have to be accessible, public services that are delivered like parks, entertainment, facilities and toilets and then opening their doors again next to their homes.  We have a dream that all regions in the world should love all of us.  Thank you
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>> Thank you for your contribution.  I think the evidence‑based research and mapping all of these things in good practice is all about providing promising solution and because we know our challenge and we know our problems and [Away from mic] over the decades and hundreds and years of our cities and now is the time we share these in good practice so can benefit many people and many cities in the world.  The three messages I noted is very to the point.  And also highlighted the importance of this network and basically sharing information good practices across the board and the world and the many people and the government and the practitioners and it's so important also we have [Away from mic] the president of global network and also have so many contribute to this.  We want to and we would like to continue what all of you and enhancing these network and partnership.  I would like to finally invite president of the rehabilitation international [Away from mic] you have the floor. 
>> Thank you very much.  I will start out by thanking the UN‑DESA and the other organizers for putting together this important side event here in New York and on behalf of rehabilitation international, I'm honored to be one of the speakers that can address this important audience here today.  Many people have mentioned civil society.  That's a very important force for making development on different issues around the world.  And I totally agree with all people pointing out civil society as maybe the most important part of the decision‑making process that can move the world forward.  And rehabilitation international we are multi‑stakeholder organization in that we have been living for 94 years and we have been working on disability rights for 94 years.  In this complex, I will like to mention one of the milestones that my organization has created, so to speak, in that we created the symbol access in 1970, which was, at that time, a huge asset to the disability movement because that was maybe the first time that accessibility was put on the agenda and combined with a simple symbol to show the importance of accessibility.  The second thing I will like to say is that to make urban cities and new cities accessible, to ensure [Away from mic] to make sure that we have inclusive societies because if we manage to make societies inclusive, they will also be accessible because accessibility is one part of inclusivity.  It's not possible to have an inclusive society if we do not have accessible societies because we need to have barrier free societies to have them inclusive.  I will also look forward, as I have been looking a little bit back, and rehabilitation international we have our next world conference in hamburg in October, October 25 to 27.  And the title this year is create a more inclusive world.  One of the things we are doing with the Habitat III, we are doing now up front [Away from mic] is a part of making a more inclusive world.  The next thing I will focus on is that when it comes to accessibility, it's two levels.  We have a political level and we have what you could call more operational level.  The political level is both on the global context.  It's on the regional complex.  The global complex is the Habitat III work that's being carried out now.  In Europe, for instance, we have the European Union that are making laws and rules and regulation on accessibility on the member states.  And of course, we have the national and we have the local authorities, which are also political entities in this complex time.  We need to ensure that outcomes from Habitat III will also be implemented into national law, national regulations and down to the local level, because if that is not the case, the Habitat III will only be nice papers and we already have many nice papers.  We need to have action.  And that's the phase No. 2 in all implementation.  I will finish out by giving a short information about what's happening in Norway, which is my home country.  In 2008, the Norwegian parliament adopted a law called discrimination and accessibility law.  And I think that's a good title because it brings discrimination and accessibility into one entity.  And of course, this has been followed up with specific regulations and this was [Away from mic] but they have also had two different actions planned to follow up on this law and this regulations.  And a part of the law is that this is going to be mainstreamed into all parts of the society.  And the action plan which is in force now from 2015 to 2019 have [Away from mic] communication technology which Eric mentioned earlier today that it's not only about the built environment, but information technology is also of great importance to ensure accessibility for everyone.  So I will wrap up by not giving three recommendations.  I will only have one.  We, all of us, we have to continue to work on making society inclusive.  Doing so, we will succeed also when it comes to accessibility.  Thank you. 
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>> Thank you for the recommendation, also sharing the expertise.  We should give the credit to the rehabilitation international 94 years and the world and the [Away from mic] integration to local accessibility.  We do have reach intensive discussion and conversation on these two questions, on the big topic on accessible and inclusive urban development.  Unfortunately, we don't have very much time for any discussion.  I would invite everybody to share few sentence to sum up the key message from you.  I would invite the first ambassador here from Kazakhstan.  One short message again to enhance our memory. 
>> Thank you very much.  In fact, we learned a lot from this discussion and I totally agree with an idea that we have the perfect legislation.  In my case in particular, but what how we implementing, whatever we reach global level, probably [Away from mic] in New York or Istanbul humanitarian, there are perfect laws, documents adopted on highest possible level, but how we are implementing this is most important thing and also this inclusive and participatory system is also very pertinent to the current [Away from mic] of our government.  Thank you very much.
>> Thank you.  May I have our ambassador?
>> Thank you.  I go back to when I started with earlier that just last September we were here and we all committed to leaving nobody behind.  And in that regard, we must keep working to include persons with disabilities who often face barriers which prevent them from benefiting from the social and economic development that we are all striving for as a United Nations.  Thank you. 
>> Thank you very much and I would like to invite ambassador [Away from mic]
>> Thank you.  I would like to summarize in the sense that we need, normative national and local level.  We need to raise awareness among the population and also on the profession related to building, housing.  And finally, we need the funding, the funding but also ‑‑ the capacity building and all the people involved and also of course that we need a New Urban Agenda combines all these sentiments in order to be properly implemented.
>> Thank you very much.  May I invite Ambassador Gallegos.
>> I take it the word is implementation.  In reality we can have beautiful documents that we negotiated for a long time but fundamentally when we get down to the ground and we have to apply them, just for data, when we began this negotiation, 650 million people were disabled.  Then a few years later, the organization World Bank came up with one billion people are disabled.  I have been to two meetings during the last two months, one that says that 650 million people have intellectual disability and depression that is making one of the biggest health problems in the world.  And yesterday, the data was 600 million people are aging.  So therefore, it's much more than a billion people we are talking about, and the urbanization is but one part of the whole package of inclusion. 
>> Thank you very much.  Mohkatar, can we have your word? 
>> One is the awareness is the first and key element for the success of any accessibility intervention.  Secondly, creating legal and technical framework without the knowledge on how and why to use, it is not enough.  Many countries or cities have excellent codes, regulations, but weak or no enforcement at all.  Awareness and enforcement must go hand in hand, facing local problems to overcome barriers.  Third, promote the participation of people with disabilities as key contribution to the process covering education at all levels or creating awareness in society from children's and educating professionals aware of need for fully inclusive urban environment.  Thank you. 
>> Thank you very much.  Mr. Essl? 
>>  Yes.  I'm so fascinating each year to find out and get in contact with so many very innovative practices and politics.  And now we are coming to action like you told us and this is very important to be operational, more operationally, and therefore, I think it's time to accelerate the innovative policies and practices both to come into action and to support and help as many people as possible. 
>> Thank you so much.  I think it's a very good ending or action and recognize so many good points and learned today.  Finally, I would request again please send us if you have any written statement or a case to share with us and we will be happily to share with the broadly the world audience and the UN and through our website.  Really extend ‑‑ sorry, I just want to give you the last speaker. 
>> I think we have very little time to coordinate effort and ensure that the Habitat III outcome document includes a strong reference.  I call upon our partners from Kazakhstan, the UAE, to bring together other member states with your leadership and ensure that this is a red flag, this is something that can't move forward without this clear explicit mention to these issues.  I also have a sign up sheet if you can raise your hand where the sign up sheet is.  It's moving back there.  So you can be kept up to date.  Our network is working with many of your largest GPOs and NGOs and professional networks so you can know how to be involved.  Thank you.
>> Thank you very much.  I think we really had what we want to highlight and organize.  We come to the continued leadership and the coordinate and the leadership in these efforts and Habitat III and including the negotiations, we are here like thousands of experts are here and working together in supporting you working together.  Thank you very much and have good afternoon. 
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