On 3 December, persons with disabilities around the world, UN representatives, civil society
organisations and the general public will come together to celebrate International Day of Persons
with Disabilities (IDPD). The 2015 event marks 9 years since the landmark Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities was approved in New York and more than 20 years of IDPD celebrations.
This year, under the theme “A Day for All”, UN agencies and disability advocacy organizations in
Geneva are hosting a series of events to showcase progress made around the world in advancing the
rights of persons with disabilities and inclusion, and to recognize and celebrate persons with
disabilities as a manifestation of diversity in our societies.
Organisers
– Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Disability and Accessibility
– Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
– Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
– Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR)
– International Labour Organization (ILO)
– International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
– UNESCO International Bureau of Education (IBE)
– United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
– United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
– United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
– United Nations Office of Geneva (UNOG)
– World Health Organization (WHO)
– International Disability Alliance (IDA)
– Anti- Personnel Mine Ban Convention Implementation Support Unit
– International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
– ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled
Program of the Day
10:30-12:00 – International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and ICRC Special Fund for the
Disabled (SFD): Panel discussion Exchange on sports and disability
Live testimonies and experience on the deeper benefits of sports on individuals and society will be
heard. It is an occasion to discuss how sports can play a significant factor for inclusion and positive
role in society of persons with disabilities.
This activity is open to all UN agencies, diplomatic missions and NGOs. Contact Person: Marc
Zlot mzlot@icrc.org ICRC Humanitarium. Coffee will be served at 10.00.
Facilitator: Deputy Ambassador for Australia Ms. Tanya Bennett Speakers: – Coach of Afghanistan
men’s and women’s national wheelchair basketball teams: Jess Markt, – Head of Disability Cricket,
England and Walles Cricket Board: Ian Martin, – UEFA Football and social responsibility: Iris Hugo
Bouvier – ICRC head of Physical Rehabilitation Programmes and board member of the ICRC Special
Fund for the Disabled: Claude Tardif Participation from the floor: David Constantin, NGO Motivation,
who produces affordable basketball wheelchairs; Christian Gunkel, responsible for sports at Otto
Bock, main manufacturer of wheelchairs, rehabilitation and medical products; International Disability
Alliance and Handicap International.
10:30-12:00 – International Labor Organization (ILO): Open debate Challenging stereotypes in the
workplace
Discussion with Spanish actor Pablo Pineda on stereotypes faced by persons with disabilities in the
workplace. Mr. Pineda received the San Sebastian International Film Festival’s “Concha de Plata”
award as best actor of 2009 for his leading role in the movie “Yo También” (“Me too”). He is also the
first student with Down syndrome in Europe to obtain a university degree. Mr. Pineda is also
connected to Fundación Adecco in Spain. Adecco is one of the 11 multinational companies that
signed the ILO Global Business and Disability Network Charter on promoting the inclusion of
disabled persons in the world of work.
ILO Headquarters, Route des Morillons, 4, Salle II
Contact Person: Mr Stefan Tromel tromel@ilo.org It will be webcast live
at www.treatybodywebcast.org
11:30-12.30 – Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities and the Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights: Accessible yoga
52 rue des Pâquis, Palais Wilson, Geneva. This activity is open to staff and partners with valid UN
badges only. Contact Person: Ms Cristina Michels cmichels@ohchr.org
12:30-13:00 – UNITAR: Brown bag lunch – Disability and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development
An opportunity to discuss about the linkages between disability and the 2030 development agenda.
During this brown bag lunch, UNITAR will also present its e-learning course on the Human Rights-
Based Approach to Disability, developed with the support of IASG.
Room S4, Palais des Nations – Refreshments and snacks will be served. Contact Person: Ms Maria
Fernanda Betancourt, mariafernanda.betancourt@unitar.org
13:30-14:45 – World Health Organisation (WHO) – WHO global disability action plan 2014-2021
Roundtable on the Disability Action Plan special focus on Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) with
remarks from International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), Rehabilitation
International (RI), CBR Global Network and States Permanent Representatives to the UN in Geneva.
Salle A, World Health Organisation. Refreshments and snacks will be served. Contact person: Rachel
Mackenzie mackenzier@who.int
15:30 – 16:30 – Unveiling of an artistic intervention to the ‘broken chair’ monument
UN agencies, UN mandate holders, Civil Society Organisations, Ambassadors and representative of
State Missions and individuals will celebrate the International Day around the Broken Chair*
monument to recall that much has been done on the rights of persons with disabilities, but much
more remains to be done in the near future, which will demand joint commitment.
Remarks from:
His Excellency Mr John Quinn, Australian Ambassador
Her Excellency Mr María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Ecuador Ambassador
His Excellency Mr Thani Thongphakdi, Thailand Ambassador
His Excellency Mr Keith Harper, U.S. Ambassador
Mr Malcolm Johnson, Deputy Secretary General, ITU
Mr Craig Mokhiber, Chief, Development and Economic and Social Issues Branch, OHCHR
Ms Mmantsetsa Marope, Director of the International Bureau of Education, UNESCO
Mr Alexander A. Mejia, Decentralized Cooperation Programme Head, CIFAL Global Network, UNITAR
Dr Etienne Krug, Director, Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and
Injury Prevention, WHO
Ms Petra Schroeter, Director General, Handicap International
Mr Yves Dacord, Director General, International Committee of the Red Cross
Ms Patricia Almeida, International Disability Alliance
*«Broken Chair» erected on Place des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, is a work of Daniel Berset, and
property of Handicap International.
Place the Nations. This activity is open to all. Contact Person: Ms Cristina
Michels cmichels@ohchr.org, Ms Alarcos Cieza ciezaa@who.int, or Ms Tchaurea Fleury media@ida-
secretariat.org
17:00 – 18:00 – The Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, on behalf of all
Organizers – Roundtable with Spanish actor and writer Pablo Pineda
The discussion will address stereotypes faced by persons with disabilities and his personal
experiences. Mr Pineda received the San Sebastien International Film Festival’s “Concha de Plata”
award as best actor of 2009 for his leading role in the movie “Yo Tambiem” (Me Too).
The interview will be facilitated by the Special Rapporteur, Ms Catalina Devandas, with introductory
remarks Mr Michael Møller, Director General of the UN in Geneva. Videos from RJ Mitte and Aimee
Mullins will be project before the interview. Interactive discussion will be supported from the floor
by Their Excellencies Mr Peter SØRENSEN, Head of Delegation of the European Union, Mr Thomas
Hajnoczi, Ambassador of Austria, Mr Jorge Lomonaco, Ambassador of Mexico (tbc), Mr Juan Aguirre
Martinez, Ambassador of Paraguay and Mr Amr Ramadan, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of
Egypt (tbc).
Location: Room XX, UN Palais des Nations. This activity is open to staff and partners with valid UN
badges only. Contact: Ms Cristina Michels cmichels@ohchr.org
Sign Language interpretation, simultaneous English-Spanish interpretation and captioning in English
will be provided. The event will be webcast live
From 18:00: Reception and evening event, showcasing the talents of persons with disabilities at
the Serpentine area at Palais des Nations.
The reception will be opened by brief remarks from Their Excellencies Ms Rosemary McCarney,
Ambassador of Canada, Ms Paivi Kairamo, Ambassador of Finland, and Mr Alberto Bertoni, Minister
Counsellor of Italy; and followed by a dance performance by the Association DanseHabile, from
Geneva.
This activity is open to staff and partners with valid UN badges only. Contact Person: Ms Cristina
Michels cmichels@ohchr.org
Thanks message
We warmly thank the Permanent Missions to the UN in Geneva of Spain, New Zealand, Italy, Israel,
Thailand, Canada, Australia, United States of America, European Union and Finland for their strong
support to the afternoon events.
Communication and information
All events will have media coverage from the partners hosting and supporting the event.
For particular information in any specific event, kindly contact the person mentioned above.
Contact Person:
Ms Cristina Michels cmichels@ohchr.org,
Ms Alarcos Cieza ciezaa@who.int, or
Ms Tchaurea Fleury media@ida-secretariat.org
Relevant Hashtags:
#aDay4All !
#IDPWD, #disabilities, #inclusion, #handicap, #disabilityproud, #BeTheChange, #PWD
Links to Partners:
@SR_Disability, @IDA_CRPD_Forum, @WHO, @WHOdisability, @ilo, @HI_Advocacy, @UNESCO,
@IBE_UNESCO , @UNOG_DG,@IDPwD, @ITU, @RefugeesMedia,@ohchr, @WIPO
