unitednationsenablenewsletter.docVIP

UNITED NATIONS ENABLE NEWSLETTER April-May 2015 The United Nations Enable Newsletter is prepared by the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (DSPD/DESA) with input from UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes, as well as from civil society organizations, including organizations of persons with disabilities. It is also available online at: /disabilities. In this issue: - Status of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) - News from UN Headquarters - News from UN agencies - DiDRR – Disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction - Calendar of events - Other news STATUS OF THE CRPD 154 ratifications/accessions and 159 signatories to the CRPD 86 ratifications/accessions and 92 signatories to its Optional Protocol (OP) Kazakhstan ratified the Convention on 21 April 2015 The upcoming 8th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD The 8th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (COSP8) will be held from 9 to 11 June 2015 at UN Headquarters in New York under the overarching theme of “mainstreaming the rights of persons with disabilities in thepost-2015 development agenda”. The Provisional Agenda (CRPD/CSP/2015/1) and background papers are now available online in all six official languages. Over 52 side-events are currently slotted to be held in conjunction with the Conference. A day prior to COSP8, the Civil Society Global Forum will be organized by the International Disability Alliance and Disabled People’s International, with the support of DESA. States Parties and observers, including DPOs, are called upon to support and encourage the participation of young leaders in the Conference of States Parties. Online pre-registration for NGO participants is currently underway with a deadline of 31 May. The Accessibility Centre at UN Headquarters is open to provide delegates and NGO representatives with equipment and assistive devices to enable their participation and inclusi