News

Volume 6 Issue 5 - August 15, 2009

C.D.P.F. registered in New Delhi

D.N.I.S. News Network, India: The office of the Secretariat of Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum (C.D.P.F.) has been registered in India. Javed Abidi, Secretary, C.D.P.F. said that the website will soon be put up and membership forms made available online. This is an important development in the backdrop of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (C.H.O.G.M.) to be held in Trinidad and Tobago in November this year.

C.D.P.F. was formed in London in March 2008 with a view to provide one voice for people from all Commonwealth countries to advocate for promotion and equalization of opportunities for all disabled people and to provide a link between disabled peoples’ organizations in Commonwealth countries and the political structures. C.D.P.F. is working actively to bring disability issues onto the C.H.O.G.M. platform.

It may be mentioned that C.D.P.F. had its Executive Committee workshop in Kampala, Uganda in June this year. In the 5 day long workshop, the members called upon all Commonwealth countries that are yet to ratify U.N.C.R.P.D. to implement it without delay. It also urged countries like India who have ratified the Convention but are yet to adopt the Optional Protocol to reconsider their position.