Networking on the EU review
Door: Jolijn
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Jolijn
01 April 2015 | Zwitserland, Genève
Today, Wednesday 1 April 2015, I have been meeting with 3 CRPD Committee members and preparing the side event with the European Disability Forum (EDF), which takes place tomorrow.
Last night I had only a couple of hours of sleep, because something stirred my mind and kept me awake. It isn’t the first time that I get restless from unresolved issues in my mind. It is clear that talking about gender-related violence is causing this, and the absence of recognition of forced body cavity searches as rape-like violence is really obstructing my healing (especially because this type of group sexual assault is considered “legal” in my personal case). It feels so unequal, and that can keep me awake for many hours. As a person, I want to heal, but I don’t know how to get rid of the feelings of inequality…. And time goes by… it hurts…
However, in the morning I felt surprisingly not-exhausted and rather as usual. I went on like always.
At 10 AM I arrived at Palais Wilson. I decided not to join the session on Czech republic, because I had a lot of work that needed to be finished. So I went to the cafeteria to prepare my presentation on behalf of ENUSP for tomorrow’s side event with the European Disability Forum (EDF).
Around noon Gabor Petri from Mental Health Europe arrived, and he joined me in the cafeteria. It was really nice to see him again.
Together we had an appointment during lunchtime with CRPD Committee member Mr. Jonas Ruskus (Lithuania) where we raised the issues of concern for the review of the European Union regarding the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities.
See the ENUSP submission on EU here: http://www.enusp.org/images/enusp-documents/External_communication/Shadow_report/List_of_Issuess_EU_submission_to_CRPD_Committee_ENUSP.pdf
Mr. Ruskus appeared genuinely shocked by the issues listed in the ENUSP submission on the European Union, which were new to him, and he gave us some very useful advise on who to consult to identify a strategy to bring up the Council of Europe standards in the EU review. (such as the Special Rapporteur on Health might be able to advise on that issue).
Then at 2.30 PM Gabor Petri and I had a meeting with CRPD Committee member Mrs. Theresia Degener (Germany). We also discussed the same issues.
Both Theresia Degener and Jonas Ruskus have indicated that they were withdrawing from the EU review to protect the independent review character of the CRPD Committee, since both of them are involved in work that has a relation to the EU.
Then from 3 PM to 6 PM I joined the preparatory meeting for the EDF side event tomorrow. All speakers presented their contributions, and we discussed together whether something needed to be added or balanced.
At the end of the day, Tina Minkowitz had arranged an appointment to meet with CRPD Committee member Mr. Coomaravel Pyaneandee (Mauritius). Steven Allen from MDAC also joined us, and we ended up having dinner all together, talking about human rights lawyering. It was very nice and interesting, but I was the only non-lawyer, so at some points I could only listen and learn. It was a very pleasant evening.
When I walked back to my hotel, I felt this happy glow again. It had been another very successful day. The atmosphere of respect and understanding at the UN CRPD Committee session is really like a nice warm bath. It really lifts me up.
Around 10 PM I was back at the hotel, where I did some more homework (emailing, preparing documents and blogging) and now I will go to sleep. Tomorrow will be another busy day, and I will travel home at the end of the day. I am definitely planning to take this good feeling home with me :)
Last night I had only a couple of hours of sleep, because something stirred my mind and kept me awake. It isn’t the first time that I get restless from unresolved issues in my mind. It is clear that talking about gender-related violence is causing this, and the absence of recognition of forced body cavity searches as rape-like violence is really obstructing my healing (especially because this type of group sexual assault is considered “legal” in my personal case). It feels so unequal, and that can keep me awake for many hours. As a person, I want to heal, but I don’t know how to get rid of the feelings of inequality…. And time goes by… it hurts…
However, in the morning I felt surprisingly not-exhausted and rather as usual. I went on like always.
At 10 AM I arrived at Palais Wilson. I decided not to join the session on Czech republic, because I had a lot of work that needed to be finished. So I went to the cafeteria to prepare my presentation on behalf of ENUSP for tomorrow’s side event with the European Disability Forum (EDF).
Around noon Gabor Petri from Mental Health Europe arrived, and he joined me in the cafeteria. It was really nice to see him again.
Together we had an appointment during lunchtime with CRPD Committee member Mr. Jonas Ruskus (Lithuania) where we raised the issues of concern for the review of the European Union regarding the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities.
See the ENUSP submission on EU here: http://www.enusp.org/images/enusp-documents/External_communication/Shadow_report/List_of_Issuess_EU_submission_to_CRPD_Committee_ENUSP.pdf
Mr. Ruskus appeared genuinely shocked by the issues listed in the ENUSP submission on the European Union, which were new to him, and he gave us some very useful advise on who to consult to identify a strategy to bring up the Council of Europe standards in the EU review. (such as the Special Rapporteur on Health might be able to advise on that issue).
Then at 2.30 PM Gabor Petri and I had a meeting with CRPD Committee member Mrs. Theresia Degener (Germany). We also discussed the same issues.
Both Theresia Degener and Jonas Ruskus have indicated that they were withdrawing from the EU review to protect the independent review character of the CRPD Committee, since both of them are involved in work that has a relation to the EU.
Then from 3 PM to 6 PM I joined the preparatory meeting for the EDF side event tomorrow. All speakers presented their contributions, and we discussed together whether something needed to be added or balanced.
At the end of the day, Tina Minkowitz had arranged an appointment to meet with CRPD Committee member Mr. Coomaravel Pyaneandee (Mauritius). Steven Allen from MDAC also joined us, and we ended up having dinner all together, talking about human rights lawyering. It was very nice and interesting, but I was the only non-lawyer, so at some points I could only listen and learn. It was a very pleasant evening.
When I walked back to my hotel, I felt this happy glow again. It had been another very successful day. The atmosphere of respect and understanding at the UN CRPD Committee session is really like a nice warm bath. It really lifts me up.
Around 10 PM I was back at the hotel, where I did some more homework (emailing, preparing documents and blogging) and now I will go to sleep. Tomorrow will be another busy day, and I will travel home at the end of the day. I am definitely planning to take this good feeling home with me :)
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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
