The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) is pleased to announce a partnership with CBM Australia and Ms Elena Down from CBM Australia to fill the second part-time WFD Human Rights Officer starting officially on 1 January 2016 for a period of 10 months. Ms Down is sharing the position of WFD Human Rights Officer with Mr Kasper Bergmann, whose appointment was announced earlier in November (http://wfdeafnew.wpengine.com/news/staff-changes-at-the-wfd-office).  Mr Bergmann will focus on providing human rights trainings to WFD Ordinary Members and representing the WFD in Geneva, Switzerland, whereas Ms Down will bring to the WFD her valuable experience in advocacy work.

In this capacity, Ms Down will collaborate closely with the European Union of the Deaf, World Association of Sign Language Interpreters and other relevant stakeholders, as well as assist the WFD Human Rights Team in writing submissions, highlighting concerns and priorities of national deaf communities with focus on human rights, to the following agencies.

• Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Committee)
• United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Office of the United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Ms Down will be based in Melbourne, Australia, at the office of CBM Australia.