Keynote and Panel Presentations

Tuesday 20 May

Welcome Addresses - Chair: Tanya Barron, International Director Leonard Cheshire Disability
Tanya Barron - Chair's Welcome
H.E. Mohammed Mealin Ali, State Minister, Social Affairs, Ethiopia
Thokozille Ruzvidzo, Officer in Charge, African Centre for Gender & Social Development, UNECA, Ethiopia
Bryan Dutton, Director General, Leonard Cheshire Disability, UK

Keynote Speeches - Chair: Tanya Barron
Tanya Barron - Chair's Introduction to Keynote Speakers
Maria Veronica Reina, Executive Director, Global Partnership on Disability and Development, USA:
'Using the UNCRPD to reduce poverty and achieve economic empowerment'
Rahim Sadequa, Representative of the Commissioner of Social Affairs, African Union Commission:
'Disability & Inclusive Development in Africa'
Yousif Hassan, UNECA, Ethiopia:
'Implementation of the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities'
Barbara Murray, Senior Disability Adviser, ILO, Switzerland:
'Using the UNCRPD to Promote Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities'
Rachel Kachaje, Deputy Chair, Disabled Peoples’ International, Malawi:
'Access to Relationships and Family Life'
Augustin Agu, Chief of Education, UNICEF, Ethiopia:
'Inclusive Education and the Millennium Development Goals'
Marinke van Riet, Director, International Forum for Rural Transport and Development, UK:
'Innovative Solutions to Provision of Accessible Transport to Rural and Hard-to-Reach Areas'
Tanya Barron - Questions to the panel and chair summing up

Government Panel - Chair: Paul Ackroyd, Country Director, DFID Ethiopia
Paul Ackroyd - Chair's Introduction to Panel Speakers
Vittoria Beria, Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations, USA:
'The UNCPRD: its implementation and the support of the UN'
Patrice Vahard, Regional Adviser, Human Rights Office for East Africa, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ethiopia:
'Persons with disabilities, the international human rights system and the role of OHCHR'
Assefa Affefe Ashengo, Department for Labour and Social Affairs, Ethiopia:
'Overview of policy framework and program for promotion of services for People with disabilities in Ethiopia'
Eve Mahlangu, President’s Office, South Africa
'Report on progress towards ratification of UNCRPD and remaining challenges in South Africa'
Josephine Sinyo, Law Reform Commission, Kenya
'Report on progress towards ratification of UNCRPD and remaining challenges in Kenya'
Manual Agya, Congressman, Philippines
'Report on progress towards ratification of UNCRPD and remaining challenges in Philippines'
Ya’an Chen, Director, International Department, China Disabled Peoples’ Federation, China
'Report on progress towards ratification of UNCRPD and remaining challenges in China'
Hon. Julius Balyejjusa, Member of Parliament, Uganda
'Report on progress towards ratification of UNCRPD and remaining challenges in Uganda'
Paul Ackroyd - Questions to the panel and chair summing up

Wednesday 21 May

Eliminating Poverty of Persons with Disabilities - Chair: Bob Ransom, Ethiopian Center for Disability & Development
Bob Ransom - Chair's Introduction to Panel Speakers
Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Disability Advisor, World Bank & Former South Africa Human Rights Commissioner:
'Inclusion of People with Disabilities in National Poverty Reduction Strategies'
Sophie Mitra, Assistant Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, Fordham University, USA:
'Social Protection and the Role of Social Safety Nets in Low Income Countries'
Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe, Head of Diversity Adviser, Barclays, UK:
'Employers Strategies for Overcoming Barriers to Employment of People with Disabilities: Innovation at Barclays'
A.K. Dube, Head of Secretariat, African Decade, South Africa:
'Strategies for Reaching the Poorest of the Poor: the Role of the African Decade'
Bob Ransom - Questions to the Panel & Chair's Summary

Workshop sessions will follow (click here for workshop agenda). Key issues and action points will be picked up by Conference rapporteurs and will feed into the Conference call for action.

Combating Discrimination - Chair: Patrice Vahard, Regional Adviser, Human Rights Office for East Africa, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ethiopia
Patrice Vahard - Introduction to Panel Speakers
Alexia Prudence Turimei Manombe-Ncube, Member of Parliament, Namibia:
'Filling in the Gaps Between Policy and Practice in Human Rights'
Ashish Kumar, Joint Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, India:
'Policy and Practice in Human Rights in India'
Sorious Samura, Sierra Leonean Journalist and Director, Insight News, UK:
'Role of Media in Perpetuating or Removing Discrimination'
John Nkinyangi, Regional Adviser, Social & Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO, Kenya:
'Countering Discrimination in the Social Sector'
Patrice Vahard - Questions to the Panel & Chair's Summary

Workshop sessions will follow (click here for workshop agenda). Key issues and action points will be picked up by Conference rapporteurs and will feed into the Conference Call for Action.

Thursday 22 May

Enabling Access - Chair: Maria Veronica Reina, Executive Director, Global Partnership on Disability and Development, USA
Maria Veronica Reina - Chair's Introduction to Panel Speakers
Facundo Chávez Penillas, Network for the Rights of People with Disabilities, Argentina:
'Access to Justice'
Joseph Ngu, UNESCO Institute for Capacity Building, Ethiopia:
'Access to ICT in Education in Africa'
Daniel Mont, Senior Economist, World Bank, USA
'Access to Employment'
Elly Macha, Executive Director, African Union of the Blind, Kenya:
'Access to Education: From Primary to Tertiary'
Maria Veronica Reina - Questions to Panel & Chair's Summary

Workshop sessions will follow (click here for workshop agenda). Key issues and action points will be picked up by Conference rapporteurs and will feed into the Conference Call for Action.

Practical Workshops: Ratification & Disability Mainstreaming Tools
Workshop sessions will follow (click here for workshop agenda).

Reports from the Rapporteurs
Rapporteurs will give their reports on the three conference themes, as well as on the pre-conference workshop.
Rapporteur for the Call to Action on Statistics and data: Megussie Gorfe, Africa Centre for Statistics, UNECA, Ethiopia
Rapporteur for the Call to Action on Poverty: Major Gopal Mitra (Retired), Inclusive Education Manager, Leonard Cheshire Disability, South Asia Regional Office, India
Rapporteur for the Call to Action on Discrimination: Boneta Phillips, Regional Programme Manager for the Americas, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Barbados
Rapporteur for the Call to Action on Access: Professor Osman Bah, Regional Programme Manager, Leonard Cheshire Disability, West Africa Region, Sierra Leone

Panel Discussion on Key Points for Succesful Implementation of the Convention - Chair: Thoko Ruzvidzo, Officer in Charge, African Centre for Gender & Social Development, UNECA
Thoko Ruzvidzo - Chair's Introduction to Panel Speakers
Ephraim Segone, Leonard Cheshire Disability Young Voices Representative, South Africa:
'On the Participation of Young People with Disabilities in the Implementation of the UNCRPD'
Amar Latif, Founder and Director of Traveleyes, UK:
'On Enabling Access'
Alexander Phiri, Director, SAFOD, South Africa:
'On Combating Discrimination'

Chair's Address, Call for Action & Summary
The Chair will draw together the main points from the rapporteurs' presentations for the Addis Ababa Call for Action and draw the Conference to a close.

UNECA & Leonard Cheshire Disability: Closing Remarks

Please note that all Conference sessions will be conducted in English.