COSP14: One Pandemic, Different Realities
We are excited to announce that the recording of our COSP14 side event, One pandemic, Different realities: Evidence on the Experience of the Diversity of Persons with Disabilities, their Representative organisations and Civil Society Organisations in dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic and preparing to Build Back Inclusively, is now available on Youtube with Captioning and International Sign included. You may view the recording below.
Reports presented during the side-event:
IDA report (to be published in July 2021)
Inclusive Futures report (to be published in July 2021)
The International Disability and Development Consortium, the International Disability Alliance, Inclusive Futures, Social Development Direct, UK AID and the UNPRPD are delighted to invite you to attend their side-event “One pandemic, Different realities: Evidence on the Experience of the Diversity of Persons with Disabilities, their Representative organisations and Civil Society Organisations in dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic and preparing to Build Back Inclusively” to be held on Wednesday 16 June from 8:30 to 9:45 am EDT/ 14:30 to 15:45 CEST, as part of the 14th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP14).
Background
While countries still navigate between lockdown and reopening stages, the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the human rights of persons with disabilities remains unclear. A very glaring evidence gap currently is an understanding of how the pandemic affected the working of OPDs and how that stands to impact disability inclusion moving forward. The event aims at providing guidelines to local, national and international stakeholders to support their recovery and build sustainable resilience to future shocks, based on the findings from three complementary research projects. With the UNPRPD support, IDA and IDDC gathered data respectively on the experience of persons with disabilities since the first wave and on the COVID-19 consequences on projects and programmes run by CSOs in the Global South. The Disability Inclusion Helpdesk, a FCDO funded facility, IDA and Sightsavers investigated the pandemic impact on OPDs. The event will also reflect on persons with disabilities’ access to vaccination.
Objectives
The side-event aims at providing guidelines based on the lessons learned from COVID-19 to local, national and international stakeholders to support their recovery and build sustainable resilience to any future shocks. Building on the reports’ recommendations and guidelines, the side-event will also provide the opportunity to reflect on how persons with disabilities will access the vaccinations and how to ensure participation of OPDs as essential actors to ‘rebuild’ more inclusively.
Speakers
Opening remarks by Darren Welch, Director of the Global Health & C-19 Directorate, FCDO
Panelists
- Martine Abel-Williamson, World Blind Union
- Lorraine Wapling, Senior Technical Expert, SDDirect
- Rejaul Karim Siddiquee, OPD Engagement Officer for Bangladesh, IDA
- Dr. Amita Bhakta, Consultant, IDDC
- Mette Müller Kristensen , Vice-Chair, IDDC
Moderation by Dr. Antony Duttine, Regional Adviser Disability and Rehabilitation, PAHO/WHO
Closing remarks by Priscille Geiser, Programme Director, IDA