Each year around the world, International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8.

Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.

Organisations, governments and women’s groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.

Some years have seen global IWD themes honoured around the world, while in other years groups have preferred to ‘localise’ their own themes to make them more specific and relevant.

THEME: So while many people may think there is one global theme each year, this is not always correct. It is completely up to each country and group as to what appropriate theme they select.

Below are some of the global United Nation themes used for International Women’s Day to date:

- 2010: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all
- 2009: Women and men united to end violence against women and girls
- 2008: Investing in Women and Girls
- 2007: Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls
- 2006: Women in decision-making
- 2005: Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future
- 2004: Women and HIV/AIDS
- 2003: Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals
- 2002: Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities
- 2001: Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts
- 2000: Women Uniting for Peace
- 1999: World Free of Violence against Women
- 1998: Women and Human Rights
- 1997: Women at the Peace Table
- 1996: Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future
- 1975: First IWD celebrated by the United Nations

This issue provides updates on the following:

1.       CEDAW : Concluding observations, 45th session

2.   80 ratifications of the CRPD

3.       Nigeria Must set Example for rest of Africa in Tackling HIV, says UNAIDS Chief

4.       NYTIMES Article about People with Disabilities in Haiti

5.       The New Inventors: Inventions for and by PWDs

10.   Person Centred Practice – International workshop

6.       Vulnerable youth discussion forum 15 March – 4 April

7.       Public Forum: How Women can Change the World (and how men can help)

8.       Arts Activated National Conference 2010

9.       2010 Women’s Human Rights Education Institutes (WHRI) Courses

11.   National Quality Framework Consultation for the homeless

12.   Job Opportunity: International Development and Disability Project Coordinator, MIUSA.

13.   Australian Federation of Disability Organisations Newsletter February 2010

ADDC Bulletin February 26th 2010

The papers and case studies in this journal begin to address this lack of information and understanding of the relationship between disability and development, and in particular the inter-relationship between disability and poverty. They also highlight recent, dramatic changes in development assistance policy in the Pacific and Asia and provide first-hand experience of community, national, regional and international initiatives that are now beginning to address the invisibility and lack of rights of those with disability.

Download Development Bulletin (doc)

Implementing disability-inclusive development in the Pacific and Asia: Reviewing progress, planning the future

An international conference and action planning roundtable

Date: 15-17 September 2010

Where: Darwin Convention Center, Australia

The two-day conference and one-day action-based roundtable seek practical ways for people with disabilities in the Asia Pacific region and Australian Aboriginal communities to best fulfill their human rights.

Download PDF Flyer >

Download Word Doc Flyer >

This issue provides updates on the following:

1.    Emergency Situation In Haiti
2.    AusAID in Haiti
3.    Reports from Foundation J’Aime Haiti
4.    Long Term Aftershocks of Care
5.    Asia Pacific Leadership Program
6.    Solomon Islands Earthquakes
7.    Asia Pacific Leadership Program
8.    Conclusion of the 19th Session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright & Related Rights
9.    Update on the Convention
10.    WHO Seeking Information on Sterilization of People with Disabilities
11.    DPI-AP “Promotion of the Access to Reproductive Rights of Disabled Women”—Photo Exhibition
12.    MIUSA’s WILD Program
13.    Disability Rights Fund
14.    New Resources

Download February Newsletter >

By Jeffrey Kluger  Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010

Article sourced from Time

The scale of the earthquake devastation in Haiti is all but impossible to measure accurately now. Eventually, it will be reduced to hard numbers: so many people killed, so many buildings destroyed, so much wealth and infrastructure lost. There will, however, be invisible injuries too — to the psyches of the survivors. Emotional wounds may be the slowest to develop, but they can also be among the toughest to heal.

This issue provides updates on the following:

Updates

1. Kazuo Itoga Memorial Prize
2. Victorian Government Inquiry into Disability and Mental Health Accommodation
3. Australian Shadow Report Project: Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – NGO Shadow Report

Conferences & Events

1. Asia Pacific Leadership Program
2. Supporting Deaf People
3. 13th ISPO World Congress and ORTHOPAEDIE + REHA-TECHNIK 2010
4. Global Ph.D/Post-Doctoral and Post Graduate Researchers  Colloquium on Disability Law and Policy
5. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):  e-discussion on Women and Poverty, 11 Jan to 12 Feb 2010 and Regional Meeting in Senegal
6. Gender Training Workshops
7. The Brisbane Institute
8. Legal Capacity Conference
9. Development Gateway Discussion Forum Ask the Climate Change Specialist – Professor Stephen Howes

Employment & Funding Opportunities

1. International Fellowships Program (IFP), West Africa.

Download ADDC January 2010 Newsletter >

Watch Moving Images of Haiti Earthquake >

As we all commenced the New Year refreshed and  with high expectations ready for the challenges that would face us in 2010, we were all shocked and caught off guard by the devastation that followed the earthquake in Haiti.

ADDC extends its heartfelt sympathy to those affected and requests your support to the many agencies that are collecting funds to provide essential humanitarian relief aid to Haiti.

It is during situations like this and the tsunamis that devastated the Pacific region, that we remind you of the dire circumstances that often face people with disabilities who live in these areas.

People with disabilities are significantly more vulnerable during a disaster. For example, inadequate social interaction and communication during impeding days means they often lack vital information on the situation and are particularly unprepared for the consequences.  They tend to be invisible during emergency evacuations and registration processes and the particular needs that they may have due to the disability are not identified or catered for during emergency situations.

The following are some factors which make people with disabilities vulnerable during emergency situations:

• PwD often are invisible during emergency registering and first contact aid situations
• PwD often lack awareness of the situation and find it more difficult to comprehend the expected consequence of the disaster
• The situation can often be misinterpreted due to communication difficulties
• PwD are often excluded from disaster response efforts and particularly are particularly affected by change in terrain from disaster.
• PwD are often unable to access rescue and evacuation services including adequate shelter, water and sanitation
• The emotional trauma and distress caused by a crisis situation often has longer term consequences for PwD.  (Source HI)

There are many methods that can be used to minimize the negative impact of disaster on Pwd. However, the most significant and effective method is to include PwD in the emergency response teams. Mainstreaming Pwd into the emergency response systems aims to address PwD are addressed at every stakeholder level.

______________________________________________

United Nations, January 2009

Behind closed doors of psychiatric institutions in many impoverished countries, too many children and adults with mental disabilities live their lives in suffering and isolation.

In Paraguay, autistic young men like Jorge and Julio have suffered at the hands of a system that has failed to understand and protect them.

Download Transcript >