Inclusive Development now!
Date and venue
Tuesday, 3 December 2019, 13.30-17.30
Kursaal Bern (Directions see below)
Invitation
On 15 April 2014, Switzerland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which entered into force a month later. The purpose of the CRPD is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. By ratifying the Convention, Switzerland committed itself to its full implementation. According to Article 11 and Article 32 CRPD, this also applies to humanitarian aid and international development cooperation.
Where do Swiss actors stand today in their implementation of these two articles? What are the challenges? How can and how must Switzerland contribute to disability-inclusive development (DID) in international cooperation?
The fifth anniversary of the CRPD ratification is a good time to take stock and discuss how to move towards the full implementation of these two articles.
We look forward to your participation in what will be an inspiring afternoon with representatives from organisations of persons with disabilities, the Swiss government, politics, civil society and the academic world.
Agenda
13.30
Welcome speech and introduction
- Council of States Damian Müller
13.40
Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities since 2014: where does the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC stand today?
- Ambassador Manuel Bessler, Head of Swiss Humanitarian Aid, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC
14.00
What are other actors doing?
Experiences in disability-inclusive development and relevant conclusions for Switzerland's international cooperation activities
- Laxmi Maharjan Devkota, Executive Board Member, Nepal Disabled Women Association
- Claire Clement, Humanitarian Adviser, Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Geneva
- Valeria Kunz, Head of Education, Save the Children
15.00
Break
15.15
Speed dating – Inclusion made tangible
Experts answer your questions
16.15
The way forward: what roles should and must Swiss actors play in disability-inclusive international cooperation?
Panel discussion
- Rahel Bösch, Head of the Institutional Partnerships Division, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC
- Eva Schmassmann, Coordinator, Platform Agenda 2030
- Jose M. Viera, CEO, World Blind Union
- Dr. Mark Carew, Researcher in Disability Data and Inclusive Policies, International Disability Research Centre, University College London
17.15
Concluding remarks
- Mirjam Gasser, Head Advocacy, CBM
- Vladimir Cuk, CEO, The International Disability Alliance
17.30
Aperitif
Moderator
- Ladina Spiess, former radio presenter / producer Radio SRF 1
Registration
Registration deadline: 22 November 2019
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Privacy policy of CBM Switzerland (in German).
Conference languages
We will provide simultaneous interpretation in German and English, International Sign and speech-to-text (German).
Directions
The Kursaal Bern can be reached from the central railway station with Tram No. 9 direction “Wankdorf Bahnhof„ (stop “Kursaal„). The tram runs every 10 minutes, the trip takes about 5 minutes.
Swiss Coalition for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in International Cooperation SDIC
The Swiss Coalition for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in International Cooperation (SDIC) – comprising of CBM, Handicap International, FAIRMED and The International Disability Alliance – promotes a disability-inclusive Swiss international cooperation. Our joint work aims at the full implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and is guided by the spirit of the Agenda 2030: Leave no one behind!
