Welcome to E-news. Around the world this week governments and other policy makers are making decisions on the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities that, if left to continue, could have serious consequences on the lives of persons with disabilities.
Congratulations to Jorge Aguela, DPI Headquarters, and his family on the birth of their baby daughter.
Congratulations to Bahrain on signing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on June 25, 2007.
Human Rights
In the US, electoral officials in Rhode Island have decided to ban persons with mental health problems in State Institutions from voting.
“I just think if you are declared insane you should not be allowed to vote [at all],” said Joseph DeLorenzo, Chairman of the Cranston Board of Canvassers.
According to Jennifer Mathis, Deputy Legal Director for the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, an advocacy group in Washington, laws and regulations vary from one state to another across the US on how to define disability in relation to mental health. For example, in some states, if someone is declared “non compos mentis” (“not master of one’s own mind”) then he or she is afforded no rights and cannot vote.
In Alabama, South Carolina, controversy exists over absentee ballots cast by nursing home residents, also presumed unfit to vote. In their own defence, state officials suggest that persons with memory impairment due to Alzheimer’s or other disabilities are vulnerable and could be coerced into voting for one candidate over another during elections.
This summer, recommendations for national standards will be released by a group of psychiatrists, lawyers and others led by the American Bar Association, suggesting that people be prevented from voting only if they cannot indicate, with or without help, “a specific desire to participate in the voting process.”
Will someone with a disability be among this prestigious group?
Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/19/us/19vote.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Health and Disability
This week a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare highlights how the demand for services will grow as the disabled population grows and ages. It notes that much of the recent gains in life expectancy come at the cost of increasing years and degree of disability.
In Australia in 2005, 23,800 people went without needed accommodation and respite services, and 3700 people went without community access services. Yet, this week, the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement under which accommodation, respite, community access and employment services are provided to persons with disabilities will expire, but there is no fourth agreement to replace it, because the Commonwealth Minister, Mal Brough, cannot come to an agreement with his State and Territory counterparts. What little money that is promised fails to meet rising demand. As a result, the responsibility for the care of persons with severe disabilities will fall on family. Please read: http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.aspclass=your+say&subclass=general&story_id=598186&category=opinion
Code of Conduct
In June 2007, in Geneva, the Human Rights Council passed a Code of Conduct for the UN experts known as Special Rapporteurs. The document aims to define the standards of ethical behaviour and professional conduct observed by Special Rapporteurs while on the ground in a given country.
For the past six months, the group of African, Arab and Asian countries, supported by China, Cuba and Russia, tried to impose a highly restrictive Code of Conduct on the Special Rapporteurs. The minority members in the Council, EU countries, Switzerland, Canada and most of the Latin Americans, resisted, lobbying instead for the “least restrictive” code possible. Their fear, shared by most Non Government Organizations, was that the code originally proposed by the African group would seriously undermine the independence of the experts and their freedom to express themselves to the media.
It seems that the new code satisfies all countries. Article: http://www.humanrights-geneva.info/article.php3?id_article=1864
Upcoming Conference
You are invited to attend the 3rd General Assembly & Conference of the Asia Pacific Disability Forum to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh 27-29 February, 2008. The theme of the Conference, Disability and Development: Practical Strategies for the Future, is intended to attract a broad range of participants. The goal is to open up a meaningful dialogue to strengthen and compliment participants understanding of disability issues.
For more information, please contact
Dr Nafeesur Rahman Director, NFOWD - 8/9 Block - A Lalmatia - Dhaka – 1207 - Bangladesh
Tel: +(880-2) 9124487, 8120415 - Fax: +(880-2) 9124487 (Ext-107) - nfowd@bdmail.net
Research Opportunities in Scotland
Glasgow Caledonian University is inviting applications for three full-time research studentships in the Division of Social Sciences. The duration is three years, subject to satisfactory progress, and covers fees together with a stipend of £13,500 per annum. Closing date for applications is 10 July 2007.
For information, contact Prof EW McFarland: email e.mcfarland@gcal.ac.uk
Updates from last week
In India, JetLite has apologized to Mr Rajiv Rajan, who has cerebral palsy, for refusing to let him board a plane in Chennai because of his disability. http://www.disabilityindia.com/html/news.html#sorry
Following the controversial treatment of Ashley, a girl in the US with severe disabilities, Anne McDonald has written a very eloquent response about her own experiences.http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/319702_noangel17.html
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