Bruce Benton’s book, Riverblindness in Africa: Taming the Lion’s Stare (2020), documents the origins, stories, successes, and challenges of controlling, and eventually eliminating, onchocerciasis, a widespread and debilitating disease in Africa. This event probes dimensions of the human side of the onchocerciasis-control story, including the role of compassion and the importance of trust. It examines how compassion, commitment, and innovation, which have been central to the long-term success of onchocerciasis control, can lead to completion of that effort in Africa.
CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, please visit ngocommitteerarediseases.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org.
Every year on January 4, the United Nations commemorates World Braille Day. To learn more and stay apprised of this year’s events, visit https://www.un.org/en/observances/braille-day. To learn more about the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the importance of eradicating ableism, click here.
CoNGO Notes:For more information on the NGO Committee on Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN. For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bknotts@uua.org and/or bobbinassar@gmail.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Rights of the Child, please email the co-chair at marjones@nyc.rr.com.
The NGO Committee on Ageing calls your attention to a webinar on “COVID-19, Amplifying Voices: Our lives, our say” being organized by the World Blind Union (WBU) on Friday, 4 September 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. EST
The aim of the webinar is to share the findings of a study conducted by the World Blind Union (WBU)examining the extent to which COVID-19 pandemic has exposed some deep structural inequalities in society. Data gathered from the study is evidencing that persons with disabilities, older persons, and persons from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds are among those hardest hit by the pandemic. While this report puts a spotlight on the voices of blind and partially sighted persons, many of the experiences shared strongly resonate with numerous other studies that are also highlighting how marginalised groups have been affected by this crisis. Through this report, WBU hopes to raise awareness on the specifics of what those challenges have meant in reality for its constituents, as well as shed light on what have been effective resilience strategies for them. The study was made possible with the support of CBM Global.
Panellists will include:
Ms. Maria Soledad Cisternas Reyes, the UN Special Envoy on Disability and Accessibility;
Mr. David Bainbridge, the Executive Director of CBM Global;
Mr. Danlami Umaru Basharu, Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD);
Ms. Rosario Galarza, member of the Executive Committee of Latin American Union of the Blind; and
Dr. Fred Schroeder,WBU President.
The webinar will be moderated by Mr. Jose Viera, Chief Executive Office, WBU.
CoNGO Notes: CoNGO and its substantive committees are actively working on issues related to ageing, older persons and intergenerational solidarity. For more information: NGO Committee on Ageing – Geneva, please visit ageingcommitteegeneva.org. NGO Committee on Ageing – New York, please visit www.ngocoa-ny.org. NGO Committee on Ageing – Vienna, please visit ngoageingvie.org. NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity, email the Chair, Rosa Perla Resnick at rositaresnick@yahoo.com or the Vice Chair, Susanne Seperson at susanneseperson@gmail.com.
