CCD Chairperson's Update: September

Committee of States Parties

Steve Estey, the Chairperson of CCD’s International Development Committee, attended the meeting of the Committee of States Parties at the United Nations in New York (7-9 September 2011) as CCD’s representative . Steve was invited to be a presenter at the Round-table 2 on Participation in Political and Civil Life. The Round-table addressed the following questions: What is the role of legislation and secondary legislation in promoting, protecting and ensuring political rights of persons with disabilities? How do States parties ensure participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes related to legislation and policy on CRPD implementation? What good examples exist in relation to participation of persons with disabilities in national monitoring processes? What good practices exist in relation to the participation of persons with disabilities in the activities and administration of political parties? In what ways can supported decision-making and assistance promote participation in political and public life, including in relation to voting? What effective and low-cost means exist among States Parties to promote accessibility of persons with disabilities to vote? What good practices exist regarding promotion of the formation and functioning of representative organizations of persons with disabilities? What are the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in participating in political and public life? What challenges are faced by States parties in promoting, protecting and ensuring this right? Have any States or other actors undertaken data collection or surveys regarding participation of persons with disabilities in political or public life or regarding barriers to participation? What good examples exist regarding the use of international cooperation to promote participation in political and public life?

CCD Access to Technology Committee

On Thursday, 8 September 2011, CCD participated in a conference call organized by Access 2020 for the purpose of discussing the Broadcast Accessibility Fund.

Partnering to Raise Awareness About Discrimination

CCD and MLPD

At the end of August, a number of stories hit the media about discrimination being faced by Manitobans with disabilities. There was national coverage of discrimination by landlords against a Manitoban woman who uses both a wheelchair and a service animal, of the killing of Harvey Sanderson, a wheelchair user, and of legislation which allows employers of people with disabilities to obtain exemptions to the minimum wage law. CCD partnered with member group, the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities (MLPD) to issue a press release calling upon candidates in the September provincial election in Manitoba to make a commitment to creating a more inclusive climate in Manitoba.

BC Assisted Suicide Case

Rhonda Wiebe, the Co-chairperson of the CCD Ending of Life Ethics Committee, was asked by the Government of Canada to prepare an affidavit, focusing on the devaluation of people with disabilities and how this effects end of life decision making. The Government of Canada is opposing efforts to legalize assisted suicide in Canada and it is important that the disability rights perspective is being included in its arguments against legalization.