DPI Europe

 DPI e-update - July 13, 2007

 DPI Europe,

Around the world this week are invitations to conferences and the release of several reports on issues regarding disability and human rights. While these documents are indeed essential to gathering statistical information about persons with disabilities, what is even more important is the need for action.  Governments and non-government organizations need to be made accountable for ongoing violations against persons with disabilities.     

Human Rights

In Kenya, a 2007 report reveals that the human rights of approximately three million persons with disabilities are being violated. The report exposes the “injustices against the disabled committed by their families and the State, noting that disability is often seen as a burden and shameful.”  Some of the violations against persons with disabilities, particularly people with visual impairment, include sexual harassment at work; stealing of money by family members from the bank accounts of persons who are blind; wage inequity, and unemployment.  

The passing of the country’s Persons with Disabilities Act (2003) has resulted in little if any improvement in the lives of persons with disabilities. More information:

 http://allafrica.com/stories/200707021722.html

In the UK, the Disability Discrimination Act makes it illegal to refuse to serve somebody on the grounds of disability.  This is, however, not the case according to Sir William Lawrence, Chairman of Tourism for All. He has not only initiated a campaign to raise awareness about physical access to venues for persons with disabilities in the UK. , but also emphasized the value of addressing such accommodations to the economy of the country. Please read: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d7c50634-26a6-11dc-8e18-000b5df10621.html

In Mumbai, a petition has been filed by the Indian Centre for Human Rights and Law against the Central and Western Railways for violating the Persons with Disabilities Act.  Railway cars and platforms are inaccessible to persons using wheelchairs, and auditory signals are also non existent for persons who are blind or visually impaired. Read:

 http://www.disabilityindia.com/html/news.html#notice

 Conferences, Courses, and Calls for Submissions

You are invited to attend a conference on Human Rights and Persons with Disabilities in Iceland, September 27-28, 2007. 

The conference addresses topics surrounding the Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities during Iceland’s European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.  Participants include persons with disabilities, academics, postgraduate students, as well as professionals from law, sociology, political science, and disability studies.  For further information and registration, please go to:  www.disabilityrights.is

You are invited to attend a course on Labor market Integration of Persons with Disabilities in Turin, Italy, 15-24 October, 2007. Participants include policy makers, researchers, disability orgnaizations, and representatives from governments and non-government agencies.  Some subsidies available. For more information, please contact  

You are invited to join a “One for All” Seminar on persons with disabilities’ initiatives in development in Bangladesh, 10-14 February 2008. Contact

Natalie Silcock

BPKS Complex, Dhakkhinkhan - Uttara, Dhaka -1230, Bangladesh. - Phone: +8802-8923915, +8802-8960077 - Fax : +8802-8960078. - e-mail: seminar@bpksbd.org

Contributions are requested as soon as possible for the Pan African Disability (PAFOD) Newsletter to be published in August 2007.  For more information and to request previous samples, please contact

Performers are needed by 27 July 2007 to participate in the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Turkey’s third “Smiling Child Festival” in Istanbul, the week of 23 April 2008.  The festival, which has attracted more than 750 performers from over 26 countries, showcases the artistic talent of children with and without disabilities ages 7-15 years.  This integrative event is empowering for young performers with disabilities, and it also informs society of the abilities of children with all types of disabilities. For further information please visit: www.smilingchild.com 

New Edition of a Book on Health

Hesperian's classic manual, Where There Is No Doctor, is perhaps the most widely-used health care manual for health workers, clinicians, and others involved in primary health care delivery and health promotion programs around the world. With millions of copies in print in more than 75 languages, the manual provides practical, easily understood information on how to diagnose, treat, and prevent common diseases. It is highly recommended.

Free download available at: http://www.hesperian.org/publications_download.php#wtnd

Examples to Follow

In the UK, a housing group has developed a system that is worthy of consideration in other countries around the world. The housing group’s “Two Tick [√]” approach mandates the interview of a person with a disability for a job opening provided that he or she meets the minimum requirements for that job. Any accommodation needs for that person to be able to perform the job to the best of his or her abilities are met at the onset of employment. Also mandatory are accommodation training for other staff, and regular job performance evaluations. Read more at: http://www.southern-housing.co.uk/snews/two-rivers-sign-up-to-disability-scheme-715-1.html

In the USA, the “Road to Success” bus tour is halfway through its year-long journey around the nation sharing information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The plan is to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities and call for accountability on the part of government and non-government organizations. Full story at: http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/NEWS/707060326/1001

Copyright Disabled Peoples' International - 2007 - All rights reserved