Upcoming Events
2nd Annual International Forum for the Rights of PWD and the 25th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities
The Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawai'i cordially invites you to the 2nd Annual International Forum for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on May 2-3, 2009 and the 25th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities on May 4-5, 2009 in Honolulu, Hawaiยดi. In honor of the 60th Anniversary of Human Rights and moving towards a positive future, the International Forum will have a special focus on poverty. We have profound challenges; we as a community must organize on multiple levels - in small communities of two or three people - to large communities of cities and nations - to forge a just world. The forum has been an opportunity for advocates, activists and scholars to learn, network, and plan for action. We need your expertise and we need your passion.
Please consider registering, or submitting a proposal or idea for forum discussion. Please see our proceedings from the 2008 International Forum.
The Pacific Rim Conference will also be addressing Disability Rights and Poverty alongside of numerous other themes, which often intersect. In the tradition of PacRim, the 2009 conference will revisit familiar themes and explore new directions through scholarship, best practice, and international networking. Join us, and over a thousand other people, in continuing this extraordinary journey. We will have several pre and post conference sessions, an accessible sports Sunday at the beach; an international film festival and much more.
Special Focus on Disability Rights, International Disability Rights and Poverty
...poverty may be defined as a human condition characterized by sustained or chronic deprivation of the resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rightsโ (United Nations Committee on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights, 2001)
The World Bank estimates that 75% of persons with disabilities on earth live in poverty. Individuals with disabilities belong to the poorest of the poor of the worldโs population, thus being more likely than any other group to be excluded from resources, access, information and power. Shortages in housing, food and water impact people with disabilities more than many other groups. To make matters worse, in many countries health care is non-existent, and transportation, employment or income opportunities are minimal at best. This must change if we are to ensure human and social progress for all in the 21st century. Freedom from poverty is a moral and ethical imperative, a human right and should be our top priority.
We are seeking proposals in four areas of concern:
- Poverty reduction strategies, policies and best practices in international, national, regional and community settings. We are particularly interested in proposals that specifically address disability issues, and show how these practices eradicate poverty from a disability and rights perspective.
- Human rights perspectives on how poverty and disability reinforce each other to perpetuate systematic inequalities. How do we place disability in prosperity contexts which lead to equality and justice?
- Cutting edge practices to take the United Nations Convention on The Rights of Persons with Disabilities, from the ideal to real?
- Perspectives of those in developing countries working to address issues of disability and poverty.
Envisioning the Future
To achieve human and social progress we will address poverty.
- To maximize human potential we will highlight indigenous/native peoples; girls and women; and veterans with disabilities.
- To realize our dreams for inclusion and self-determination, we will ensure all people have access to services and opportunities: transition to adulthood, employment, family support, independent living.
- To create an accessible world, we will showcase Universal Design for Learning and Living and feature products and design elements for home, school, play and office.
- To ensure our future we will prepare our youth to take responsibility for the future by bringing them together to dialogue about experiences, visions, insights, and futures.
- To support your attendance PacRim 2009 will provide an early acceptance notice within 2-3 weeks of your submission. Conference rates are very reasonable and we have secured room blocks for under $160 per night. We will also help facilitate room-shares if you are trying to keep your costs low. We all need to be together!
If you are only able to attend one conference this year, choose PacRim 2009 in Waikiki, Hawaii at the beautiful Hawaii Convention Center. Traditionally this conference is one of the most exciting for attendees and presenters - providing a unique balance of cultures, and issues of local, national and international importance. This yearโs conference will seek to better these efforts and provide you with a most unique and exceptional experience - we hope to be seeing you in Honolulu in May.
For more information, please visit : http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/
