World Federation of the Deaf represented in the Panel of Experts meeting in Amman, Jordan

Mr. Markku Jokinen, President of the World Federation of the Deaf, represented WFD in the Panel of Experts (PoE) meeting in Amman, Jordan, 28-29 March 2008. The Panel of Experts, representing non-governmental organizations in the disability field, was established to help, cooperate and advice the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability in monitoring the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.

The PoE meeting was preceded by the launch of Phase II of the Global Survey Results on Government Action on the Implementation of the Standard Rules for the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and a Parliamentary Symposium on Information and Research. The following subjects were discussed in the two-day symposium: research, information and statistics on disability, monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Conventions as well as integration of disability issues into information systems, population census and scientific research.

Mr. Markku Jokinen (WFD) chaired the first session on the Disability issues on the
International Agenda.

The PoE meeting discussed among other things the short term and long term goals and priorities of the panel as well as heard an update from the Special Rapporteur, H. E. Hissa Al Thani, on her country visits, future plans and on War and Disability report.

The term of H.E. Hissa Al Thani will end this year and consequently different questions related to the selection process of a new Special Rapporteur and his/her work were discussed. Also the relationship between the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and the new Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was debated from various points of views.

Prince Raad bin Zaid, President Markku Jokinen	From left UN Special Rapporteur on Disability Sheikha Hissa Al Thani, His Royal Highness Prince Raad bin Zaid, officer-in-charge of the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Joop Theunissen and WFD President Markku Jokinen