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Statements

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
New York, 16 to 27 June 2003

(Note: In an effort to make information accessible, the Division for Social Policy and Development is posting statements sent in by speakers. Statements are posted as received, and are in a fully accessible format.)

1. Opening of the session.
   • H.E. Mr. Jan Kavan, President of the 57th Session of the General Assembly
   • H.E. Mr. Luis Gallegos, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee.
   • Johan Scholvinck, Director, Division for Social Policy and Development
2. Election of a new member of the Bureau.
3. Adoption of the agenda.
4. Organization of work.
5. Review of progress in the elaboration of a comprehensive and integral international convention on the protection and promotion of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities:
   1. Views of Governments and relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system on the proposed convention;
   2. Global policy review of issues and trends related to the advancement of persons with disabilities;
   3. Outcomes of technical meetings and seminars;
   4. Elements to be considered in the proposals for a convention submitted by the regional commissions of the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations.
   • Ralph F. Boyd, United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights
   • European Union
   • Mr. Kazuhiro Kuno, Deputy Director, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Division, Multilateral Cooperation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
   • Señora Patricia Olamendi, Subsecretaria para Temas Globales de la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, Mexico
   • Australian Delegation
   • Dr. Jan Scown, New Zealand
   • Mr. Pravit Chaimongkol, Deputy Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations
   • Chile
   • Mr. Abdulla Eid Salman Al-Sulaiti, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations
   • Canada
   • H.E. Mr. Isikia R. Savua, Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations
   • Ms. Sebenzile Matsebula, Director, Office on the Status of Disabled Persons in the Presidency, South Africa
   • Hon. James Mwandha, Delegate of Uganda
   • Aiko Akiyama, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
   • Barbara Murray, International Labour Organization
6. Panel discussions on priority themes.
   • Panel I: Typology of international conventions and options for a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities [ Summary ]
     • European Union Background Paper
     • Velina Todorova (Bulgaria)
     • Professor Andrew Byrnes, Australian National University
   • Panel II: The Principle of Non-Discrimination and Equality from a Disability Perspective: Critical issues concerning Special Measures and Disability [ Summary ]
     • European Union Background Paper
     • Critical issues from a disability perspective: Accessibility by Cynthia D. Waddell, ICDRI
     • Women and Disability by Rangita de Silva de Alwis, The Spangenberg Group
   • 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 [ Summary ]
   • Barbara Murray, International Labour Organization
   • Dr. Scott Campbell Brown, Department of Education, United States of America.
7. Debate on the contributions to proposals for a convention, including:
   1. Nature and structure;
   2. Elements to be considered;
   3. Follow-up and monitoring;
   4. Complementarity between a new instrument and existing instruments.
   • Robyn Hunt, Commissioner, New Zealand Human Rights Commission
   • Dr. Jan Scown, New Zealand
   • Ambassador Fumiko Saiga, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
   • Canada
   • H. E. Ambassador Luiz Tupy Caldas de Moura, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations
   • Ms Charlotte McClain of the South African Human Rights Commission on behalf of National Human Rights Institutions attending the Ad Hoc Committee Meeting
   • Mr. Martin Barber, Director of UN Mine Action Service, Department of Peacekeeping Operations
   • Mr. Dzidek Kedzia, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
   • Mr. Abdulla Eid Salman Al-Sulaiti, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations
   • H.E. Mr. Isikia R. Savua, Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations
   • Mr. Stefano Sensi, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
   • European Union
     
     • General comments
     • Nature and structure of the Convention
     • Elements to be considered
     • Follow-up and monitoring
     • Complementarity between a new instrument and existing instruments
   • China
   • Mr William Binchy, Irish Human Rights Commission, Joint Statement of National Human Rights Institutions
   • Commissioner Kevin McLaughlin, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
   • Barbara Murray, International Labour Organization
8. Next steps in the consideration of a convention.
9. Adoption of the report of the Committee on its second session.

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