Colin Allen, WFD President gives a video summary of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) board meeting. The first board meeting of IDA was held for three days from 13 July to 15 July, New York, USA.

WFD President, Colin Allen represented the WFD at the IDA board meeting. The board and all of its 12 member organisations, including the WFD attended the meeting. The meeting primarily discussed the new legally incorporated IDA and the new statutes, internal rules and IDA’s finances. IDA elected its first executive officers; Chair, three Vice Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer. The WFD President Colin Allen was elected as the Second Vice Chair of the IDA Board.

For the following two days the IDA board meeting focused on membership, IDA activities, current disability issues and IDA’s work with UN agencies. Also discussed at the meeting were the appointments of the IDA Delegation to the United Nations High Level Meeting on Disability and Development (HLMDD) on 23 September 2013. Only six members could be sent to represent the IDA at the HLMDD. Six members including WFD President Allen were selected to represent IDA at the HLMDD.

An emotional moment was a farewell to the Executive Director, Mr Stefan Trömel who had worked with the IDA for a long time. Stefan announced his resignation from the IDA, and will be moving to work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). At the very end of the IDA board meeting all 12 organisation members congratulated and thanked Stefan for his hard work since the inception of IDA.

Following the IDA board meeting is the Civil Society CRPD Forum (CSF) and the Conference of State Parties (COSP) at the United Nations Headquarters. The focus of the conference is ensuring an adequate standard of living, empowerment and participation of persons with disabilities within the framework of the CRPD.