The Rapporteur visited Finland for attending various meetings including the one-day-seminar entitled, "Disability Inclusive Development". The seminar was the initiative of Kalle Könkkölä and was co-organised by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and FIDIDA. 50 invited guests attended the seminar from "like-minded" countries on the theme such as Nordic countries, UK, Germany, and Ireland.
Mr. Facundo Chavez of OHCHR and the Rapporteur played significant roles in the seminar.
The agenda of the held meetings was on his initiative to establish an African Disability Forum, the new special envoy of the UN Secretary General, and obviously post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. Inequality reduction, inclusive education as well as human rights-based approach seem to be important priorities for many organisations and development agencies that attended the seminar and other meetings.
International arena around disability rights is difficult for many to understand due to lack of relevant and timely information coming from above. Hopefully, the disability community receive enough information and opportunities to negotiate with relevant actors on the importance of disability inclusive development.
