United Nations presentation: Congratulations A/Prof Kathy Cologon and Tim Cologon

The Children's Voices Centre is so proud to have supported our associate director A/Prof Kathy Cologon to present at the United Nations in New York with her co-researcher Tim Cologon.

They were invited to present at World Down Syndrome Day. Their presentation was powerful - describing their research with children who experience disability - and their insights about belonging.

They have just returned to Australia and it has been wonderful to hear about their impact, experiences and all of the people they met. Congratulations.

 

SpeakOUT article about our presentations at the United Nations

Speech Pathology Australia's August edition of SpeakOut has an article about our presentations at the United Nations
https://speechpathologyaustralia.cld.bz/Speak-Out-August-2019-Digital-Edition

Meeting with Human Rights Officer for International Disability Alliance, NY

While in New York, I was pleased to meet Lucy Richardson, Human Rights Officer for International Disability Alliance. Lucy was interested in our special issue of the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology on communication rights.

Lucy is an alumni of Charles Sturt University, and has an important role supporting the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD and High Level Forums of the United Nations relating to disability.  She was welcoming and inspiring.

Sharynne and Lucy at the International Disability Alliance office in NY

Australian Government events while in New York

The Australian Government was extremely welcoming and helpful while we were in New York. They hosted two events that we attended, as well as supporting our attendance and presentations at the Conference of States Parties at the United Nations.

1. Australian Civil Society Reception with H.E. Ms Gillian Bird Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (Sunday 9th June)
2. Australian delegation debriefing after the Conference of States Parties at the Australian Mission to the UN (Friday 14th June)

Additionally, the Australian Government co-sponsored our Speech Pathology Australia/International Communication Project Side Event.

H.E. Ms Gillian Bird Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations with Speech Pathology Australia delegates at the Civil Society Reception

Australian delegation debriefing at the Australian Mission to the UN

Sharynne with Wagga the Wombassador

Some of the Australian delegation with Mika Kontiainen from DFAT

Images from the UN

It was very special to present at the United Nations in NY. Here are some photos I took while visiting this iconic location.

Arrival in New York and preparation to present at the United Nations

Yesterday I arrived in New York and now we are preparing to present at the United Nations (UN). I spent today with the delegates from Speech Pathology Australia scoping out the UN building, discussing our involvement, and getting over jet-lag on a carriage ride through Central Park.

Here is the International Communication Project webpage about our event: https://internationalcommunicationproject.com/2019/05/international-communication-project-event-united-nations/ 

Our main presentations will be live-streamed on United Nations TV http://webtv.un.org/ on Wednesday 12 June 8:15-9:30am (New York time); 10:15-11:30pm (Sydney time). The presentations will be saved online at the same URL - so will be available later as well.

Gail Mulcair and Sharynne at the United Nations

The UN playground has this sign!

Speech Pathology Australia delegation:Gaenor Dixon, Sharynne and Jess McLeod, Belinda Hill and Gail Mulcair in Central Park

NY skyline on our arrival

Planning for our presentation to the United Nations Conference of States Parties (CoSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons

This morning the International Communication Project met via teleconference (Australia, UK, US) to prepare our presentation to the United Nations 12th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons (CRPD) on 10-13 June 2019 at the UN Headquarters, New York. Our presentation is titled: "People with Communication Disability Speak Up for Inclusion and Participation: How the Implementation of the CRPD and the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) can Support this Right" and will be held on Wednesday 12th June 8:15 am - 9:30 am.
Details are here: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/conference-of-states-parties-to-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2/cosp12.html

Planning to attend the Conference of States Parties (CoSP) at the United Nations

In June I will be attending the Conference of States Parties (CoSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations in New York. Last Wednesday I attended the Pre-CoSP event at the Australian Human Rights Commission in Sydney to gain an understanding of the roles of government, civil society and National Human Rights Institutes at CoSP. We also began planning logistics and activities for CoSP. It was great to meet others from Australia who will be attending this important meeting in New York.

Attendees at the Pre-CoSP event

Robert Strike from CID created an Easy Read guide for attending CoSP