Policy and Submissions

  • WWDA is writing a submission on behalf of DPO Australia to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) detailing the recommended the List of Issues [Australia] to be adopted during the 18th session (14-31 August 2017) of the CRPD.Our submission will help inform what questions the CRPD will ask the Australian Government when Australia’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disability is reviewed in 2018.
  • WWDA provided a second round of feedback on the draft survey questions to inform the National Disability Strategy (NDS) Second Progress Report.
  • WWDA followed up with all members of the Disability Reform Council in regard to encouraging them to take strong action to end all forms of violence against people with disability.

Collaboration

  • WWDA Management Committee member, Jess White, is representing WWDA at the Office for Women and National Women’s Alliance forum this week in Canberra.Delegates at the annual forum this year will explore the broad topic of how to achieve and advance gender equality for all women in Australia.WWDA is attending the forum at the invitation of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Office for Women.
  • WWDA is represented at the June 2017 Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by DPO Australia, in New York. The annual conference invites delegates from signatories to the UN CRPD and representatives from civil society organisations and Governments around the world to discuss implementation of the CRPD and related international development issues.

Have Your Say

Human Rights Consultation

The Australian Human Rights Commission is consulting with Civil Society and individuals on the domestic implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).

On 9 February 2017, the Australian Government announced it intends to ratify the OPCAT by December 2017.

While the Government has outlined some of the key features of how it intends the OPCAT to operate in Australia, there remain many details still to be determined. Accordingly, the Commission is now conducting a consultation process with civil society to ascertain their views on the design and implementation of the OPCAT.

The Commission is seeking input from individuals and organisations through written submissions and a series of roundtables.

Find out more at the Commission’s website.

From Our Members

Do you write, blog or create media?

WWDA and WWDA Youth Network are happy to promote creative and engaging work by our members on our Facebook pages, websites and in this newsletter. Let us know if you have something you would like to share or if you have found a resource or website you think others might be interested in.

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