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April 30, 2008
KIVA - loans that changes lives
Dear Jicafriends
Are you or your organization looking for small financial sources?
KIVA is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website,
empowering individual to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.
Click the following link and find out more about KIVA.
http://www.kiva.org/
Secretariat of Jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 01:36 PM | Comments (0)
Latin American Regional Conference on the Disability Rights Convention
We would like to share the following message from RI secretariat.
Dear RI members,
We thank everyone who was able to attend the RI Regional Conference:
Implementing the UN Disability Rights Convention in Latin America:
Partnerships, Strategies, and Action, April 15-16, 2008, in Mexico City.
With more than 250 participants from 20 countries and informative
presentations from experts on a wide-range of issues related to ratification
and implementation of the CRPD, we are pleased to announce that the
conference was a great success! One of the key outcomes of this conference
was the attached Call to Action, adopted by the participants at the close of
the conference. The conference also generated a lot of interest in RI
membership in the region. For your information, attached (and copied below)
please find the press release sent to the media yesterday. Spanish versions
were also sent to media in Latin America. These documents as well as the
presentations can be found on the RI website at:
http://www.riglobal.org/events/meetingarchive.html
This Latin American Regional Conference was organized by Rehabilitation
International (RI), together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), the
National Council for Persons with Disabilities (CONADIS) and the National
System for the Integral Development of the Family (DIF). RI also thanks
Irish Aid, the Open Society Institute, and an anonymous donor for their
generous support of both this conference and the RI Global Advocacy
Campaign. RI also acknowledges the important partnership with the law firms
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in New York; Barrera, Siquieros y Torres Landa,
S.C. (BSTL) in Mexico; BLP Abogados in Costa Rica and Corral & Rosales in
Ecuador.
We look forward to continuing our good collaboration with RI members,
governments and UN agencies in promoting full implementation of the CRPD and
its Optional Protocol.
Kind regards,
RI Secretariat
Call_for_Action_16Apr08_English_FINAL.pdf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Spanish Version : RI_PressRelease_Post-Conference_24Apr08_SP_FINAL.pdf
RI Latin American Regional Conference Calls for Action on Implementation of
UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(Mexico City, Mexico, 24 April 2008) Over 250 participants from 20 countries
gathered in Mexico City, 15-16 April 2008, for the RI Regional Conference,
"Implementing the UN Disability Rights Convention in Latin America:
Partnerships, Strategies, and Action," organized by RI with the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (SRE), National Council for Persons with Disabilities
(CONADIS) and National System for Integral Development of the Family (DIF).
Speakers included distinguished individuals such as Minister of Health and
President of the National Council for People with Disabilities (CONADIS) in
Mexico José Ángel Córdoba Villalobos; and Vice President of Ecuador Lenin
Moreno.
The conference took place just two weeks after Ecuador became the 20th
country to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(CRPD), triggering the entry into force of the treaty and its Optional
Protocol on May 3, 2008. Mexico was also among the 9 countries in Latin
America to have ratified the Convention, together with 5 ratifications of
the Protocol, representing a significant number of Latin American States
Parties to date.
During the two-day conference, many speakers emphasized the importance of
ensuring the legal capacity of persons with disabilities guaranteed by the
Convention. Presenters also stressed the need to ensure participation of
persons with disabilities in all decision-making levels, underscoring the
disability movement call for "Nothing About Us, Without Us".
The conference also presented a unique opportunity for diverse participants
from across the region - representing governments, civil society,
parliaments, the private sector and service providers - to meet and exchange
good practices, in order to develop future partnerships.
As one of the chief outcomes of the conference, participants unanimously
adopted a "Call for Action," urging all governments to sign and ratify the
Convention and the Protocol without reservations as soon as possible, to
uphold the universal standard for human rights established by the
Convention, and to implement new action plans, laws, policies and programs
for ratification of the Convention at the regional, national and local
levels.
RI President Michael Fox said that, "The Call for Action actively promotes
and supports the need for close collaboration among organizations of persons
with disabilities, civil society organizations, governments, UN agencies,
the media, professionals, service providers and legal professionals, to
strengthen existing independent monitoring bodies and ensure implementation
of the Convention and Protocol. Critical measures include supported decision
making and legal capacity, together with adequate new or reallocated
financial and other resources for implementation of the Convention. Latin
American countries that have ratified the Convention have a great
opportunity to work closely together to assist each other and other
countries in the region to ratify and effectively implement the Convention
and Protocol."
The Call for Action also highlights the need for the public and private
sectors to ensure accessibility to new and existing virtual and physical
environments, while stressing the need to address the poverty and disability
link as well the multiple forms of discrimination faced by many indigenous
persons, women, children and older persons with disabilities.
As part of the RI Global Advocacy Campaign on the Convention,
recommendations for legal reform in Mexico and Costa Rica, to comply with
the standards of the Convention, were distributed at the meeting. These
recommendations were developed in partnership with the international law
firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; the Mexican law firm Barrera, Siquieros y
Torres Landa, S.C. (BSTL) and the law firm BLP Abogados in Costa Rica.
Further recommendations are being developed in Mexico in partnership with
BSTL and the Mexican law firm SAI Abogados, and in Ecuador with the the
Ecuadorian firm Corral & Rosales. The research is being carried out in
collaboration with disability community in these countries.
RI appreciates the generous support of Irish Aid, the Open Society
Institute, and an anonymous donor for both this conference and the RI Global
Advocacy Campaign. RI also acknowledges the important partnership among the
co-organizers of the Conference, exemplifying the benefits of collaboration
among organizations of persons with disabilities, government and civil
society.
For further information, including speaker presentations to be posted
shortly, please visit the RI website: www.riglobal.org, Or Contact:
Andrés Balcázar at: + 52 1 555 409 1094, abalcazar@abc-discapacidad.com,
Shantha Rau Barriga at + 1 212 420 1500 ext. 205, shantha@riglobal.org, or
Lauren Goldy at + 1 212 420 1500 ext. 208, lauren@riglobal.org .
About RI RI is a diverse organization connecting people with disabilities,
service providers and governments to advance the rights and inclusion of
people with disabilities worldwide.
Posted by jicafriends at 11:03 AM | Comments (0)
United Nations in Bangkok to Mark Entry into Force of Treaty on Disability
Bangkok (United Nations Information Services)
A ground-breaking new international treaty, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, will enter into force on 3 May 2008, one month after it was ratified by the twentieth country.
In Asia and the Pacific, which is home to about 400 million persons with disabilities, Bangladesh, India and the Philippines are the three countries which have already ratified the Convention. Thailand is expected to do so soon.
The Convention is the first ever international treaty on the human rights of persons with disabilities. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2006, and it aims to ensure that people with disabilities enjoy human rights on an equal basis with others.
To celebrate the Convention’s entry into force, three UN bodies in Bangkok will organize a special event on Wednesday, 30 April 2008, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 a.m., at the United Nations Conference Centre.
It is being jointly organized by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Noeleen Heyzer, UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP’s Executive Secretary, will address the event, which will feature a keynote speech by Senator Monthian Buntan of Thailand, who is blind ? on the impact of the entry into force of the Convention and the importance of its ratification for countries in the region. Ms. Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, a member of the Government of India’s Planning Commission, will also speak.
A related photo exhibition, entitled “Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities,” will be on display featuring various prize-winning photographs. The special event will also include a live musical performance by a group from Thailand, “The Network of Music and Arts of Persons with Disabilities.”
About ten per cent of the world’s total population, around 650 million people are estimated to be living with various forms of disabilities. The percentage is even higher among the world’s poorest people, around 20 per cent of them having some kind of disability. People with disabilities are mostly marginalized and among the poorest of the poor, with limited access to education, employment, housing, transportation and health services. They represent a significant, but generally overlooked, development challenge.
Ensuring equality of rights and access for all persons with disabilities would have a beneficial impact on the social and economic conditions of each country, by enhancing their participation in education, employment, cultural, social and political activities and increasing their consumer power.
The new Convention marks a significant step in this direction. It encourages States to stop viewing persons with disabilities as passive recipients of charity, medical treatment and social protection. Instead, it casts persons with disabilities as active members of society and “subjects” who have rights and are capable of claiming those rights, being also able to make key decisions based on their free and informed consent.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:39 AM | Comments (0)
April 25, 2008
Condolence from Piyaseeli Ariyaratne-Sri Lanka
healtful condolence from sri Lanaka. I rmember him very well
Piyaseeli Ariyaratne-Sri Lanka
Posted by jicafriends at 02:23 PM | Comments (0)
April 22, 2008
Report from Suphearac-Cambodia
Dear jicafriends,
WAC has started a woodcarving class for 10 trainees with phycally disabled and deaf person since Feb 2008. Please find the photos of the training class. And also will start a sewing training class in late April 2008. The WAC is operating very well with full of orders from our regular clients. That why we are recruiting new artisans with disabilities as our new members.
And also a custom made secondhand weel chair I brought back with me is very useful and is very like by one of our artisans. He uses it daily here in Phnom Penh.
I will report to you more details by end of Apil as the new training will be starting.
Rama san has visited our place in Phnom Penh last Mar 2008. Please find a photo below.
Suphearac (Vocational Rehab. Course 2007)
Posted by jicafriends at 11:34 AM | Comments (0)
April 21, 2008
Pacific Disability Forum in Samoa-Solomon
Friday, April 18, 2008 11:04 AM
Solomons to Attend Disability Forum
Solomon Times
Solomon Islands will be represented at the Pacific Disability Forum in Samoa next week.
President of People with Disability Solomon Islands, Savina Nongebatu says people with Disabilities Associations from all forum island country members will attend the conference.
Ms. Nongebatu says the conference is an important one as they will be looking at how far governments have lived up to the undertakings they had signed relating to disability issues.
She says the main issue they will be discussing at the conference is the convention of the rights of people with disabilities.
Ms. Nongebatu and her personal assistant Cyrene Aonima leave Honiara today for Samoa to attend the conference.
http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=1643
Posted by jicafriends at 10:35 AM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2008
HCMC plans job fund for handicapped-Vietnum
We informed about the new measure against employment promotion in Hanoi on April 14, 2008.
Today we would like to introduce you the following news from Ho Chi Minh City.
It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee plans to set up a job fund to assist the city’s 57,315 handicapped people.
Local authorities said documents to establish the city’s first-ever job fund for the handicapped would be completed by April 15.
The fund will help the city meet its aim of improving the life of handicapped people, who make up about 0.87 percent of HCMC’s population.
Under its handicapped care policies, HCMC has set itself a target of ensuring that within two years, 70 percent of the city’s handicapped have access to health care, all handicapped children attend school for free, all public facilities are handicapped-friendly and 25 percent of handicapped people have the chance to play sport.
Reported by Huu Phuoc - M.Duc
http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/?catid=3&newsid=37570
Posted by jicafriends at 11:29 AM | Comments (0)
April 14, 2008
New law improves public access for disabled-Korea
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
A civil rights law that protects disabled persons from discrimination took effect in Korea on Friday (April 11), removing barriers that blocked the disabled from access to restaurants, polling stations and public toilets.
Employers who have facilities that do not comply with the Disabled Discrimination Prevention Act can be fined or face criminal punishment, according to the law enacted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Korea already has the Disabled Convenience Promotion Law that seeks to ensure employment and assistance in some public facilities for the physically handicapped, but under that law individuals have no right to seek compensation from organizations that do not comply.
"The previous law defined disabled people as the weak of society and defended them with affirmative action, but the new law intends to let them live as normal a life as possible with assistance," said Shin Eun-gyeong, a ministry official who prepared the law.
Under the new law, disabled individuals can receive sign language service at all events hosted by public organizations.
Assistants should be available close to ballot boxes to help the disabled participate. Companies with more than 300 employees, public schools and private special schools should have ramps, elevators and height-adjustable desks for those in wheelchairs.
The ministry prepared the new law after consultations with organizations for the disabled. The Cabinet of the Lee Myung-bak administration approved it early this month.
The new law provides for a one-year preparation period, and will start levying punishment on April 11, 2009, the ministry said.
If they feel discriminated against, disabled individuals can appeal to the National Human Rights Commission that will investigate complaints so that the Ministry of Justice can order corrective measures if necessary. In addition, the disabled could file a civil or criminal complaint. In those cases, the employer could be sentenced to up to three years in prison or fined 30 million won ($30,000) maximum if malicious intentions are proven.
Disabled organizations welcomed the law in principle but said details are too vague and loose.
"The key issue here is convenience. Disabled people can’t go eat in restaurants and use public toilets if they don’t have the right facilities," Hong Hyeon-geun of the Korea Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities, said.
The new law, for example, requires buildings with more than six floors to be equipped with elevators, but lower buildings are not subject to that requirement, he said.
http://www.kois.go.kr/news/news/newsView.asp?serial_no=20080411005&part=109&SearchDay
Posted by jicafriends at 05:52 PM | Comments (0)
New awards recognise disabled worker employment-Vietnum
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam's first award ceremony for organisations and individuals making outstanding contributions to promoting employment of disabled workers will be held in Hanoi on May Day.
Prizes will be presented across six categories: major domestic corporations and groups, Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises, foreign invested businesses, State agencies and businesses, disabled workers, and other individuals.
A list of candidates for the “Dai bang xanh” (Blue Ribbon) Prize is currently being compiled and winners will be announced on April 20.
The awards are organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Viet Nam Confederation of Labour.
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/2008/03/773001/
Posted by jicafriends at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2008
Updating of the statistics on persons with disabilities in Japan
Results of “Survey on Actual Status of Children/Persons with
Physical Disabilities (2006) ” conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor
and Welfare of Japan, is now publicized. New statistics on persons with
intellectual disabilities and persons with mental disabilities have also been
available. Based on these data, we would like to update the statistics given in
Chapter 1 of “Welfare for Persons with Disabilities in Japan 2007” as follows.
Number of Persons with Physical Disabilities
Persons with physical disabilities living at home -------------- 3,576,000
Under 18 years of age ------------------------------------------- 93,100
18 years of age or older------------------------------------------ 3,483,000
(Source: Survey on Actual Status of Children/Persons with Physical Disabilities (2006)
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare)
Number of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
Persons with intellectual disabilities in total------------------- 547,000
Under 18 years of age-------------------------------------------- 125,000
18 years of age or older------------------------------------------ 410,000
Age unknown------------------------------------------------------- 12,000
Persons with intellectual disabilities living at home------------ 419,000
Under 18 years of age---------------------------------------------- 117,300
18 years of age or older------------------------------------------- 289,600
Age unknown-------------------------------------------------------- 12,100
Persons with intellectual disabilities living in institutions----- 128,000
Under 18 years of age---------------------------------------------- 8,000
18 years of age or older------------------------------------------- 120,000
Age unknown-------------------------------------------------------- 0
(Source: “Comprehensive Survey on Children/Persons with Intellectual Disabilities” (2005)
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare)
Number of Persons with Mental Disabilities
Persons with mental disabilities in total-------------------------- 3,028,000
Under the age of 20 years ----------------------------------------- 164,000
20 years of age or older-------------------------------------------- 2,858,000
Age unknown--------------------------------------------------------- 6,000
Persons with mental disabilities living at home------------------ 2,675,000
Under the age of 20 years------------------------------------------ 161,000
20 years of age or older-------------------------------------------- 2,508,000
Age unknown--------------------------------------------------------- 5,000
Persons with mental disabilities living in institutions----------- 353,000
Under the age of 20 years------------------------------------------ 3,000
20 years of age or older--------------------------------------------- 350,000
Age unknown---------------------------------------------------------- 1,000
(Source: “Patient Survey” (2005) Department of Health and Welfare for Persons with Disabilities,
Social Welfare and the War Victim Relief Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare)
We will keep you updating with the information on persons with disabilities in Japan.
We hope this information is useful and you compare it with the data of
persons with disabilities in your country.
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 01:16 PM | Comments (0)
April 07, 2008
Project is progressing in Bhutan
I visited Bhutan last week and met two former participants of Vocational Rehab. Course.
Ms. Jigme WANGMO, participant of Vocational Rehab. course 2005, is the founder of Drak-Tsho Vocational Training Center for Disabled (DVTCD), which is the first of its kind in Bhutan.
After returning to Bhutan, she had struggling to realize her action plan, "Supporting Disabled People for Open Employment" where she planned to start a bakery for persons with intellectual disabilities in Thimphu, the capital city.
Ms. Wangmo applied to JICA volunteer and a JICA senior volunteer was dispatched to DVTCD from January 2008.
Now her project of Bakery for persons with intellectual disabilities got started.
Ms. Tshering LHAMO is a textile trainer of DVTCD. She also participated in the Vocational Rehab. course in 2007. She is also working hard together with Ms. Wangmo.
We look forward to knowing more about the progress of their projects.
Kana Kumai
Posted by jicafriends at 05:20 PM | Comments (2)
Information on persons with disabilities-Tajikistan
Mr. Asadullo Zikrikhudoev, who sent us the following message to Blog page on April 3, 2008 informed us about the situation of persons with disabilities in Tajikistan.
"Situation of People with disability in Republic of Tajikistan"
The population of Republic Tajikistan is 7,000,000 persons. On official data the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the population by 153,000 are disables. The organic law which protects the rights of disabled it " the Law on social protection of disabled in Republic of Tajikistan ".
The average pension of disables is 50 somoni that is equivalent to 14,50 US dollars.
The average living wage is 146 somoni that 42,32 US dollars are equivalent. Among disables very low educational level. Tajikistan is ax republic of Soviet Union and disabled basically receive formations at boarding schools. In schools much barrier for disabled children. In general for activity of PWD there are no conditions. Continually there are barriers that does not enable actively to be
integrated to disables into a society. For disables there is no condition for work, and many disables do not work.
But despite of all problems, we hope that we are waited with the light future, but for this purpose we disables should work and prove that we equal citizens to the republic and can develop on the same level with all the country I think that if we shall develop potential of disables that in the
future we shall reach the purpose.
It is brief information on position of PWD in Republic of Tajikistan.
regards,
Asadullo
Posted by jicafriends at 04:07 PM | Comments (0)
April 03, 2008
Inquiry from Tajikistan
Hellodear friends.
My name is Asadullo. I from Tajikistan. I have physical inability. I work as chairman a Society of Disebled People of Dushanbe. Dushanbe city is capital of Tajikistan. I every day look your site and it is very interesting to me.
I would like to participate in Leadership Development Course in Japan.
What should I make for this purpose?
The best regards,
Asadullo Zikrikhudoev.
Posted by jicafriends at 03:48 PM | Comments (1)
Cellphone loading booths to help disabled earn a living-Philippines
Generating income for persons with disabilities is a big issue for everyone in the disability field.
We found the following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
By Allison Lopez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:15:00 04/02/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Manila will get the first crack at earning a decent income through cellphone electronic loading booths to be installed in each of the city’s 897 villages.
In a meeting with officers of the Ilaw ng May Kapansanan Foundation, Inc. at the Manila City Hall on Wednesday, Mayor Alfredo Lim approved the livelihood project to put up the e-load booths to be manned by PWDs who will earn at least P400 a day.
"This is a laudable project as it impacts on the disabled. We want to make them productive citizens and provide them with the income that will help them lead decent lives," Lim said of the "E-Load Mo, Buhay Ko" led by Smart Communications.
"E-Load Mo, Buhay Ko," which will begin in May, will be implemented in coordination with the Manila Barangay Bureau and the Manila Department of Social Welfare.
The mayor also thanked the project proponents for choosing Manila as the initial site for the project that will help reintegrate the PWDs into mainstream society.
Aside from selling cellphone load, the booths can also provide repair and the sale of accessories, depending on the skills of the PWDs who will man them.
If the PWD is a child, the immediate family becomes the direct beneficiary of the project, said Ilaw ng May Kapansanan Foundation president Pete Manio.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will go into effect on May 3, 2008
We are very happy to announce that 20 countries have ratified the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the
treaty will go into force after thirty days, May 3, 2008.
Although UN Enable Website still anounces 18 ratifications, we are
informed that Tunisia ratified the CRPD yesterday and Ecuador ratified
today.
20 countries that have ratified the Convention:
Bangladesh
Croatia
Cuba
Ecuador
El Salvador
Gabon
Guinea
Hungary
India
Jamaica
Jordan
Mexico
Namibia
Nicaragua
Panama
Peru
San Marino
South Africa
Spain
Tunisia
This information was found via the mailing list "Disability and Development"with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
The Secretariat of Jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 10:57 AM | Comments (0)
April 02, 2008
Condolence from Onjie san-Philippines
To the Family of Maruyama San and the JSRPD People,
I was shocked to know that Prof Ichiro Maruyama had passed away. I was one of his student in Vocational Rehab 2001. I can't explain my pain and emptiness i have in me now upon reading the messages from his friends, colleagues and students whom he gave inspiration to go on and support PWDs all over the world. It is my deepest regret that after 2001 we havn't seen each other again. I wish i could see him once more to thank him for the great inspiration he extended to us, especially with me. our batch knows how we dearly loved this man, he was a father, a brother, a mentor and a great friend. I remember singing with him in the bus during our long trip to sheltered workshop in different part of Japan. I remember his jokes during free time and eating galore. But ofcourse we always remember his thoughts about how to depend PWDs and let them move to claim their part in this world. His family is never got tired on his mission. He always talked about his wife, a great wife, and great!
server too, being in international work as diplomat. Madamme you're so blessed with Sir Maruyama. Anyway, his time is over, but his mission will ramain to flourish and expand all over the world. He will always be remembered.
Love & Prayers,
Onjie san
Philippines
Vocational Rehab Batch 2001
Posted by jicafriends at 11:43 AM | Comments (0)