Among other things that are always fascinating, this is good to know. Thanks
Meir :)
~Harleen
On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 1:42 PM, Meir Weiss <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:
> [log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of UNNews
> Sent: September 27, 2011 13:10
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN FORMER SOVIET COUNTRIES FACE
> DISCRIMINATION - UN
>
> CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN FORMER SOVIET COUNTRIES FACE DISCRIMINATION -
> UN
> New York, Sep 27 2011  1:10PM
> Some 1.1 million children with disabilities in Central and Eastern Europe
> and the countries of the former Soviet Union are hidden away at home or in
> institutions, the United Nations reported today, calling on States that
> have
> not yet done so to sign a UN treaty guaranteeing their social inclusion.
>
> These children are likely to be out of school and among those most
> vulnerable to neglect, abuse and exploitation, the UN Children's Fund
> (UNICEF) said at the start in Moscow of a three-day
> <"http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/education_17933.html">conference on the
> issue
> which it has organized with support from the city government.
>
> Eighteen of the 22 countries and entities across the region have signed and
> 12 have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
> which guarantees children with disabilities access to inclusive, quality
> and
> free primary and secondary education on an equal basis with others in the
> communities in which they live.
>
> "For too many years, people with disability have been cast as bystanders or
> objects of pity and charity," said UNICEF's representative for Russia,
> Bertrand Bainvel, praising the country for signing the convention in 2008.
>
> Experts and government officials from 20 countries are participating in the
> conference, which is focusing on sharing of good practices such as the
> appropriate legal framework, suitable policies and financing.
>
> "A sustained effort should be made to reduce prejudice, stigma and
> discrimination against children with disabilities," UNICEF Senior Adviser
> on
> Children with Disabilities Rosangela Berman-Bieler said.
>
> "To address societal perceptions and change attitudes towards them
> advocacy,
> social mobilization and communication for behaviour and social change
> interventions are necessary."
>
> A WHO benchmark places the number of children who have disabilities at 2.5
> per cent of the population or 2.6 million children in the region, but
> national statistics record only 1.5 million, most of whom are likely to be
> out of school. This figure seriously underestimates the scope of the
> problem
> and suggests another 1.1 million children are unaccounted for, UNICEF said.
>
> They remain invisible; most likely hidden away at home or joining more than
> 600,000 people currently placed in institutions, which is a common policy
> approach in many of the countries.
>
> Research shows that long-term placement in institutions damages children's
> health and development.  When children with disabilities are not hidden
> away
> in institutions but live in their homes and are educated in mainstream
> schools, they are often placed in segregated classes. They are either
> taught
> a remedial curriculum or not taught at all. They are not offered the
> support
> that some may need to be able to thrive with their classmates.
>
> But UNICEF stressed, research also shows that inclusive education can lead
> to better learning outcomes for all children, not just children with
> disabilities. Inclusive education promotes tolerance and enables social
> cohesion as it fosters a cohesive social culture and promotes equal
> participation in society. Inclusive education is more cost effective than
> separated schooling. It also provides for inclusive labour markets which
> lead to a more efficient social economy.
>
> Leaders were urged to take government-wide measures to end the placement of
> all children in institutions, prioritizing those younger than three years
> of
> age. They were also urged to put in place education policies and strategies
> to promote the right to access and full participation in quality education,
> and the respect for rights within learning environments.
> Sep 27 2011  1:10PM
> ________________
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