Thread by @rssmcmlln, At #COSP13 on 30 Nov, countries will vote for 9 new CRPD [...]

At #COSP13 on 30 Nov, countries will vote for 9 new CRPD committee members.

@Sightsavers has been calling on countries to vote for diversity & gender equality.

We asked current members, candidates & other disability leaders why our #EqualUN campaign was so important.

[THREAD]

First: What is the #EqualUN campaign calling for?

1) Gender equality
2) Representation of people with different impairments
3) Representation of low & middle income countries

@Sightsavers_Pol's Diane Kingston- a former CRPD Committee member- explains:

We've heard from global disability leaders on their support for an #EqualUN
@yetnebersh_mola. 'The UN treaty body in charge of reviewing our rights should be reflective of who we are.'
@IDA_CRPD_Forum

. @Disability_SE & former member María Soledad: 'Female experts with disabilities & experts with disabilities who represent distinct geog. regions, civilisations & legal systems has enriched & intensified work of Committee...which benefit all of humanity.'

We've heard from current Committee members:
@maragabrilli: 'We need to recognise the contribution & resilience of girls & women & persons with disabilities to implement daring moves & transforming measures which UN member states have committed to achieve.'

Current CRPD Committee member @risnawati_utami from Indonesia: 'The importance of recognising gender equality in the CRPD Committee reflects effective & meaningful participation of women with disabilities is at the heart of the convention.' #EqualUN

Current CRPD member @gofefoame: Representation of women, people from diverse disability backgrounds & low income countries important b/c 'it will enable Committee to have a balanced input on issues & also to address the uniqueness of these categories.'

Current member & vice-chair @RosemaryKayess: 'A central premise to CRPD is that disability is just 1 aspect of human diversity. Inequality & discrimination experienced differently depending on how disability intersects with other personal characteristics.'

We've also heard from a number of candidates of their support for a more #EqualUN and why gender diversity, representation of people with different impairments and people from low and middle income countries is so important to creating an #EqualUN

Sir Robert Martin- a current member standing for re-election:
'I would like to see more people with different kinds of disabilities... I might be 1st person with an intellectual disability on this Committee but certainly don't want to be the last.' @NZUN

Candidate Eufémia Amela from Mozambique: 'The woman's presence makes their voice heard & defends the interest of women with disabilities, because women with disabilities have no voice'. #EqualUN

Candidate @SifHolst from Denmark: 'Our gender, our disability & our background has a huge impact on how we experience having a disability & how we are perceived by our surroundings. That is why we need fair representation on CRPD Committee.' @Denmark_UN

Candidate Yuliia Sachuk from Ukraine: 'I am convinced that only by representing the diversity of people with different types of disabilities, of different ages & gender, from countries with different incomes, the CRPD Committee can work effectively.'

Candidate @BenafshaYaqoobi: 'The importance of such a fair representation may come from 2reasons. 1st...to eliminate discrimination towards all persons with disability from all categories... 2nd, the value of intersectionality...' @AfghanMissionUN

All our videos from experts, candidates, committee members and other disability leaders as well as more information about the #EqualUN campaign and the election at #COSP13 next week can be found here: https://campaigning.sightsavers.org/equalun2020/

#EqualUN

for an #EqualWorld

- Sightsavers Campaigns

The Equal World campaign calls for the voices of women with disabilities to be heard, with representation at all levels of society. But this is a huge and ongoing challenge.

https://campaigning.sightsavers.org/equalun2020/

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