United Nations, 04 November 2008 – States parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities elected the first twelve members to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; formally setting up a mechanism for countries that have ratified the Convention to report on their implementation efforts.

Mumbai to host Europe's Biggest Technology Event to Promote Accessibility and Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities

First ever Assistive Technology Roadshow to be held in Mumbai Mumbai, October 29, 2008. In a joint statement, Royal National Institute of the Blind (UK) and BarrierBreak Technologies today announced to bring to Mumbai Techshare - Europe’s biggest technology event to promote accessibility and assistive technology for people with disabilities. Techshare India 2008, will be held in Mumbai on Tuesday, 4th November, 2008 on the premises of Ali Yavar Jung National Institute For The Hearing Handicapped, Bandra (West), Mumbai.

On July 24-25, 2008, the World Blind Union and KEI convened an expert group to consider a possible treaty for blind, visually impaired and other reading disabled persons. The meeting was held in Washington, DC. A report from that meeting is available in html, pdf, Microsoft Word .doc or Open Office odt format on the KEI website
(http://www.keionline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=206).

During its 2nd International Rendez-Vous, held in Geneva, Paris and Abu Dhabi from 8 to 15 October, the French film festival Cinema Verite called on its prestigious guests to support the Convention on Cluster Munitions by signing the People’s Treaty.

But the region faces challenges in child malnourishment, sanitation and CO2 emissions

Bangkok (UN/ESCAP Information Services) – The world is on track to halve the global poverty rate by 2015 and achieve the number one target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), thanks to progress made in East Asia, particularly China, says the United Nations’ latest MDG report. Without China’s contribution, the world would fail to meet the poverty reduction goal.

2008 Theme: "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us".

Dignity and justice for all of us is the theme of this year’s International Day for Persons with Disabilities, as well as for the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Promoting Human Rights, Development and the Ideals of Humanity

The Paralympic Games and the United Nations

Paralympic athletes embody the highest ideals of humanity - they challenge the boundaries set by society and aim to develop and maximize their potential as world-class athletes.

Distinguished Disability Advocate Venus Ilagan Appointed as New RI Secretary General

(New York, New York, US, July 14, 2008) Rehabilitation International (RI) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Secretary General, Venus Ilagan of the Philippines. As a woman with a disability from the South, Venus has worked tirelessly to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly during the negotiations for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Venus is expected to commence this important new role in September 2008, subject to resolution of visa and contractual arrangements, and Venus will be based at the RI headquarters in New York City, New York.

The Harvard Project on Disability has published the Handbook with an easy to read explanation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This publication is designed for anyone wanting a clear explanation of the CRPD, including people with intellectual disabilities, their organizations, and their advocates.

It is available at:

http://www.hpod.org/pdf/we-have-humna-rights.pdf

On June 26th 2008, the 11th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China- China’s top legislative body, has ratified a bill submitted the Central Government for China’s accession to the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).