G3ict at the 16th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP16)
Start Date: June 13, 2023
End Date: June 15, 2023
Location: New York
Venue: United Nations Headquarters
Overview:
The 16th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is scheduled to take place at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, from June 13 to 15, 2023.
The over-arching theme of the 16th Session is "Harmonizing national policies and strategies with the CRPD: achievements and challenges."
Sub-themes include:
- Sub theme 1: Ensuring equal access to and accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services for persons with disabilities.
- Sub theme 2: Digital accessibility for persons with disabilities.
- Sub theme 3: Reaching the under-represented groups of persons with disabilities.
Visit the UNDESA website for more details.
As an ECOSOC and COSP-accredited organization, G3ict will organize, co-host or participate in the following events:
- Pre-event: On April 19, Mohammed A. Loutfy, Director Capacity Building and Advocacy, G3ict, participated in a Training Session on Accessibility and Disability Awareness at the United Nations (UN). The training was tailored for delegates of Member States, observers of the General Assembly and representatives of NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC, in an informal conversation on the human dimension of inclusion, with presentations of good practices, etiquette and communication and protocols.
COSP16 Civil Society Forum
Monday, 12 June, from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM ET (US & Canada):
COSP Civil Society Coordination Mechanism, Conference Room 4 (In person)
Under the auspices of the 16th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN CRPD, the 2023 Civil Society Forum will highlight current issues relevant to the disability movement and realization of the CRPD ahead of COSP16. It will provide additional space for civil society to make its own contributions and allow civil society to share and capture important issues.
COSP16 G3ict-Microsoft Breakfast Briefing and Open Discussion
Wednesday, 14 June, from 8:00 AM - 9:45 AM (New York Time)
In the occasion of the 16th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP16), Microsoft and G3ict hosted colleagues from the United Nations, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and the Technology Industry to a breakfast followed by a discussion of the evolving global agenda for the digital rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Welcome Remarks:
- H.E. Ambassador Luis Gallegos Chiriboga, Chair of the Board, G3ict and UNITAR
- Ms. Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft
Discussants
- Mr. Fayaz King, Special Adviser, Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology (UN OSET)
Themes:
- United Nations agenda: CRPD, SDGs, Committee on Older Persons, Global Digital Compact
- State of digital inclusion for Persons with Disabilities
- Anticipating the impact of latest technology trends
COSP16 Round Table
Wednesday, 14 June, from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET (US & Canada):
Matters related to the implementation of the Convention: (item 5 (b) (ii):
Roundtable 2. Digital Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities
Co-chairs:
- Mr. Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka and Vice President of the Conference and
- Dr. Mohammed Ali Loutfy, Director for Capacity Building and Advocacy, G3ict
Presentations by panelists:
- Mr. Chong Kwek Bin (Technology Analyst, SG Enable, Singapore)
- Mr. László G. Lovászy (Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of International Relations and Diplomacy, University of Public Service, Hungary)
- Mr. Constantinos Stephanidis (President, National Accessibility Authority, Greece)
- Ms. Roxana Widmer-Iliescu (Senior Coordinator for Digital Inclusion Development Bureau, ITU)
- Mr. Jean Marie Furaha (Advisor, Rwanda Organization of Persons with DeafBlindness (ROPDB), Rwanda)
Q & A and discussion
Summary of the Chair
COSP16 Side Events Organized or Co-hosted by G3ict
Tuesday, 13 June, from 8:15 AM - 9:30 AM ET (US & Canada), Conference Room 7 (In Person):
Digital Accessibility at the intersection of the CRPD and the Convention on the Rights of Older Persons
Organized by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Ecuador to the United Nations in New York, jointly with GIA (Global Initiative on Ageing Foundation) and G3ict. In collaboration with UNITAR, Harvard Law School Project on Disability, and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.
Since the 2002 Madrid Plan of Action for Ageing, the concept of developing a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons has gained momentum within the United Nations among Civil Society organizations. The session will examine its potential intersections and unique features compared with the dispositions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in matters of accessibility and enabling environments from a policy, technology, and advocacy perspective.
Moderator: H.E. Ambassador Luis Gallegos Chiriboga, President, GIA (Global Initiative on Ageing); G3ict and UNITAR Chair of the Board of Directors
Opening Remarks: H.E. Ambassador Hernán Pérez Loose, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Ecuador to the United Nations, New York
Video Recorded Intervention: Ms. María Soledad Cisternas Reyes, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Disability and Accessibility
Panelists:
- Mr. Axel Leblois, President and CEO, G3ict
- Prof. Michael Stein, Co-founder, and Executive Director of the Harvard Law School Project on Disability
- Ms. Susan Mazrui, Director, Global Public Policy, AT&T
- Ms. Bethany Brown, Associate Social Affairs Officer, Programme on Ageing, UNDESA
* Remote Captioning will be provided.
Tuesday, 13 June, from 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM ET (US & Canada), Conference Room D (In Person):
Mastering ICT/digital accessibility: Paving the way for a digitally inclusive world for ALL
Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), jointly with Zero Project, G3ict, European Commission, and Billion Strong.
Moderator: Ms. Debra Ruh, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Billion Strong / CEO of Ruh Global IMPACT
Opening Remarks: H.E. Ambassador Cornel Feruţă, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Romania to the United Nations, New York
Panelists:
- Ms. Roxana Widmer-Iliescu, Senior Coordinator Digital Inclusion, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Development Bureau- ITU-D
- Mr. Robin Tim Weis, Director of International Affairs, Zero Project
- Mr. Axel Leblois, President and CEO, G3ict
- Ms. Inmaculada Placencia Porrero, Senior Expert in Disability and Inclusion at Directorate-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
* Remote Captioning will be provided.
Thursday, 15 June, from 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM ET (US & Canada), Online Event:
Building the Accessibility Profession in Support of CRPD Implementation
Organized by G3ict and IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals)
Register on Zoom to this Online Side Event!
Article 9 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) requires States Parties and their constituents to ensure that information and communication technologies products and services are accessible to Persons with Disabilities. The complexity of tasks to achieve this objective has fostered the emergence of the accessibility profession led by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP).
This session will stage professionals from around the world who are IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC), Web Accessibility Specialists (WAS), and Accessible Document Specialists (ADS) reflecting their competence and commitment to the accessibility profession, international standards, and good practices. The session will also explore how IAAP Professional Certifications provide employers, the accessibility community, and the public with an objective measurement of the accessibility competence of current and/or prospective employees or consultants. Survey data for 2022 from IAAP’s over 5,000 certification holders will be highlighted during the presentation. Speakers will also share their motivations for participating in IAAP Professional Certifications and the impact it has had on their careers, their teams, and/or business opportunities.
Moderator: Ms. Samantha Evans, CAE, ICE-CCP, Certification Manager, IAAP/G3ict
Introduction: Dr. Mohammed A. Loutfy, CPACC, Director, Capacity Building and Advocacy, G3ict
Panelists:
- Mr. Eric Ngondi, CPACC, Director, United Disabled Persons of Kenya
- Ms. Beatriz González Mellídez, CPWA, ADS, Head of Accessibility & Digital Inclusion, Central Europe, Atos
- Ms. Sheri Byrne-Haber, CPACC, Senior Staff Architect, Accessibility, VMWare
* International Sign Language, Remote Captioning will be provided.
Learn more about IAAP Professional Development and Certification
Thursday, 15 June, from 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM ET (US & Canada), Online Event:
Accessible Smart Cities: Ensuring urban equality through technologies for all
Organized by UN-Habitat, jointly with the World Blind Union, G3ict and IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals)
Register on Zoom to this Online Side Event!
In a partnership between UN-Habitat, the World Blind Union, G3ict, the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs, and IAAP, this side event will discuss the implementation of Smart City technologies with and for persons with disabilities to ensure accessibility for all. Speakers will include civil society, representatives of local and national authorities and speakers from the UN system. Discussed will be impactful practices that can be scaled up and adapted to other regional contexts, as well as challenges that remain and recommendations to overcome these. The event will also address recommendations for national strategies or actions to accelerate implementation (vertically and horizontally) of the CRPD, particularly Article 9, in the context of deployment of technologies towards removing barriers and support independent living of persons with diverse disabilities.
Moderator: Dr. Mohammed A. Loutfy, Director for Capacity Building and Advocacy, G3ict
UN Habitat new resolution on Smart Cities: Mr. Douglas Ragan, UN-Habitat New York Office
Setting the scene: Mr. Marc Workman, CEO, World Blind Union
Panelists:
- Ms. Karen Tamley, City of Chicago/ Smart Cities MaMo; President and CEO, Access Living
- Dr. Monica Duhem, Director, Global Advisory Center, G3ict
- Ms. Katherine Chacón Martinez, M.Sc. Urban and Regional Planning, Quito, Ecuador
- Ms. Ece Tümer, City of Istanbul, Turkey
* International Sign Language, Remote Captioning will be provided.