Recent movements related to the UN Adhoc Committee Working Group draft of the Convention on Persons with Disabilities

Posted on April 1, 2004 in Convention on Persons with Disabilities, Online Resources

Dr. Yutaka Osugi, Executive Director of JFD Headquarters, at the recently
held strategic conference of disability NGOs, explaining the standpoint of
the World Federation of the Deaf

The United Nations has started working on the consideration of a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. The Ad Hoc Committee to consider the convention established a Working Group for the drafting of the convention text. The Working Group produced a draft for the convention on January, 2004. On March 26, the World Federation of the Deaf announced its official comments on the draft convention and its proposals for changes (below).

In Japan, disability related NGOs held a strategic conference to consider the draft convention text (organized by the Japan Disability Forum Preparation Committee) on March 27-28. At this conference, the Japanese Federation of the Deaf introduced the official WFD comments and proposals for changes.

Concerning the definition of “language”, it was suggested that WFD make use of Article 27 of the “UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights” (below). Concerning the right to education, it was pointed out that there should be further research on the appropriateness of classifying languages into sign language, spoken language, and written language. Prior to discussions with the Japanese government, scheduled to be held on April 28, the Japanese Federation of the Deaf will cooperate with other disability related NGOs to hold further discussions on the convention draft, especially in relation to the “definition of language”, “information/communication”, and “education”.

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The 35th National Winter Games for the Deaf

Posted on April 1, 2004 in sports and Deaflympics, Japanese Deaf News

from April 2004 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

Heated Competition and Warm Friendship on Mt. Tateyama

Women’s Snowboard Slalom Medalists (from left): 3rd place Ms. Imanishi
(Osaka), 1st place Ms. Kato (Tokyo), 2nd place Ms. Motoki (Nagano)

The 35th National Winter Games for the Deaf (organized by the Japanese Federation of the Deaf and hosted by Toyama Deaf Welfare Association) was held for 4 days (February 26-29) in Gokurakuzaka Skiing Area in Oyama-cho, Toyama Prefecture.

Competitions were held in three categories: Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding and Technique. 87 athletes from all over Japan (except for the 2 blocks of Chugoku and Kyushu) participated.

The courses of the 2000 National Athletic Meet were made available for the games and athletes gallantly challenged the courses that require high techniques.

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Lectures by International Sign Interpreter Bill Moody – “Is International Sign a Language?”

Posted on March 1, 2004 in other, Japanese Deaf News

from March 2004 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

Current Situation and Outlook

Bill Moody giving an impressive presentation on International Sign

International Sign interpreter Bill Moody gave lectures at a meeting organized by the International Committee of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf on February 7th and also at the 4th Sigh Language Research Seminar held by the Japan Institute for Sign Language Studies (JSLS) on the 8th.

Both lectures took place in Creo Osaka East in Osaka City and each was attended by roughly 90 people including the members of JSLS.

Moody talked about the activities in the late 1970’s France to promote awareness on Sign Language and about the contents of ASL interpreter training courses in the US.

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Standpoint of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf Concerning the “Petition for Redress of Human Rights”

Posted on November 1, 2003 in statements, Japanese Deaf News

from November 2003 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

Statement by the Japanese Federation of the Deaf – October 17, 2003

A “Petition for Redress of Human Rights” was submitted to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in May 2003. The pleaders were 107 Deaf children and parents. Their claim is that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (hereafter called MEXT) should recognize and approve the use of “Japanese Sign Language” for teaching in Deaf schools, to give training in “Japanese Sign Language” to teachers in Deaf schools, and to include “Japanese Sign Language” as one of the subject for training teachers of Deaf schools.

This Petition was taken up extensively by the media. At the 2003 General Assembly of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf (hereafter called JFD), many members expressed concern about the consistency of the contents of the Petition and the Deaf movement led by JFD. The following explains the standpoint of JFD concerning this issue:

Sign Language is indispensable for the linguistic development of Deaf children. Sign Language is needed for Deaf children to be empowered to live with a proper understanding and awareness of their disability. Based on this concept, JFD established its Education Section at an early stage in its history, and has been advocating strongly with MEXT for the use of Sign Language in Deaf schools. In order to develop mutual understanding with people involved in the education field, JFD has been holding the “Future of Deaf Education Study Conference” once every year since 1989. With the basic theme of “Use of Sign Language in Deaf Schools”, JFD has held numerous discussions and exchanges of opinions with teachers of Deaf schools.

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Report by Eiichi Takada on the Regional Workshop towards a Comprehensive and Integral International Conventionon Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities

Posted on November 1, 2003 in Convention on Persons with Disabilities, Online Resources

Regional Workshop towards a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities Bangkok, Thailand, 14-17 October 2003

Report by WFD Honorary Board Member and JFD Board Member Eiichi Takada

workshop discussions in progress (Mr. Eiichi Takada on bottom left)

The above Workshop on the “Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities” was held for 4 days from Oct. 14 (Tues) to Oct. 17 (Fri), 2003 in the UN Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand. As the outcome of this Workshop, the participants adopted a Convention Draft to be submitted from UN ESCAP to the UN Ad Hoc Committee on a “Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities” (to be called the “Bangkok Draft”). This Workshop was sponsored by the Japanese government.

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Peace Message Delivered in Sign Language…

Posted on September 1, 2003 in other, Japanese Deaf News

from September 2003 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

…by A Deaf Survivor at the A-Bomb Memorial Peace Ceremony in Nagasaki

Ms. Eiko Yamazaki delivering her
“Peace Message” in Sign Language
(Photo provided by the Nagasaki News)

“My responsibility as a survivor of the atomic-bombing, is to continue to speak on behalf of the many Deaf hibakusha who died… to continue to speak about all the things that I saw and felt.”

On August 9, at the 58th Peace Ceremony in Nagasaki in Memory of the Victims of the Atomic Bomb, a Deaf lady, Ms. Eiko Yamazaki, 76, represented the surviving A-bomb victims and delivered her “Peace Message” in sign language. Ms. Yamazaki used her hands and body eloquently and succeeded in conveying the full impact of her experiences and importance of her message. Her Peace Message in sign language touched the hearts of the participants and many looked on with tears in their eyes.

The appointment of a Deaf person to deliver the Peace Message on behalf of the surviving A-bomb victims was the result of persevering peace activities conducted by the Nagasaki Association of the Deaf and the Nagasaki Division of the National Study Association for Sign Language Interpretation. Such endeavors were recognized by other hibakusha groups and led to the realization of Ms. Yamazaki’s Peace Message.

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ESCAP’s role in poor countries – Eiichi Takada

Posted on August 1, 2003 in international activities, Online Resources

Thematic Working Group on Disability-related Concerns (TWGDC) Sixth Session

Answer for post-meeting questionnaire regarding ESCAP’s role in poor countries during the Asian Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons

Eiichi Takada – Board Member, World Federation of the Deaf

What can ESCAP do for the poor countries in this region?

The goal of the United Nations in relation to disability issues is “full participation and equality”. Here in the ESCAP region, we also have the goals set forth in the “Biwako Millennium Framework”. I believe that endeavors undertaken in accordance with the BMF should consequently result in the alleviation of poverty. We should also ensure that our endeavors would ultimately cover poverty issues. In order to realize the goals of the BMF, we need to follow the following procedures:

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What’s Going to Happen to Deaf Education?

Posted on August 1, 2003 in education, Japanese Deaf News

from August 2003 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

Report on Recent Movements

More and more people are beginning to express concern about the current situation and future of Deaf education. Delegates from different parts of Japan to the General Assembly of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf (JFD), held in June in Yamanashi Prefecture, actively exchanged opinions on this issue. The General Assembly reached a consensus on the following points: (1) grave concern about the “Special Support Education” policy by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), (2) clarification of JFD’s standpoint concerning the “Human Rights Relief Statement” submitted by the Japan Deaf Children and Parents Association to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, (3) serious apprehensions about the newborn baby auditory screening test and cochlear implants, (4) need to guarantee substantial education to children with combined disabilities, (5) concern about the future of children who received education in a mainstream environment, and others.

The standpoint and views of JFD concerning these issues are explained in the Resolution of the National Congress of the Deaf entitled “Toward the Improvement and Development of Deaf Education”:

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Symposium on Hearing Screening for Newborn Infants

Posted on July 1, 2003 in education, Japanese Deaf News

from July 2003 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

Protestors Demand Immediate Discontinuation of the Screening Test

The “Symposium on Hearing Screening for Newborn Infants” was held on May 18 at the Tokyo Olympic Youth Center, attended by about 200 people, including teachers of Deaf schools, otolaryngologists, social workers, parents of children with hearing impairments, and members of organizations of the Deaf.

The morning session consisted of presentations by 3 speakers. Mr. Jun Mishina of Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Maternity and Childcare Center showed a video introducing the screening test, and explained that the test enabled early detection. Ms. Keiko Kawasaki of Bukkyo University, Clinical Psychology Research Center explained that a stable relationship between the mother and infant has positive influences on character formation. Ms. Yoko Matubara of Ritsumeikan University Graduate Division, Department of Comprehensive Advanced Academic Research stressed that “those involved would have to present both the risks and benefits of such screening, and work together with the administrative, medical, and other professionals to reevaluate the structure of newborn infant screening.”

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UNESCAP Moving Forward Toward the Realization of An International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Posted on July 1, 2003 in Convention on Persons with Disabilities, Japanese Deaf News

from July 2003 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

“Bangkok Recommendations” Adopted

Expert Group Meeting and Seminar
(WFD Board Member Eiichi Takada on left)

Executive Committee Members of the
National Association of the Deaf in Thailand
attending the Expert Group Meeting and Seminar

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) hosted the “Expert Group Meeting and Seminar on an International Convention to Protect and Promote the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities” from June 2-4, 2003 at the UNESCAP Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand. Eiichi Takada of Japan attended the meeting in his position as Board Member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).

The meeting opened with an address by Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP and the presentation of a message sent by Ambassador Luis Gallegos of Ecuador, who is the Chairman of the UN Ad Hoc Committee on the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The conference was attended by about 130 people, including representatives of SHO of persons with disabilities, governments, UN agencies, related bodies, and resource persons. Among the attendees were Mr. Abdullah Wardak, Minister of Martyrs and Disabled of Afghanistan, Mr. Andrew Byrnes, Professor of the Faculty of Law of the Australian National University, Mr. Clinton Edward Rapley, and others. Discussions and presentations centered on the contents of the proposed International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. On the last day, the conference adopted the “Bangkok Recommendations on the Elaboration of a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”. The conference itself and the Bangkok Recommendations reveal that UNESCAP is strongly committed to the realization of the convention.

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