At UN, Stevie Wonder Says Must Overcome Lobbyists for US To Ratify Disabilities Convention: Access

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 23 -- When Stevie Wonder spoke at the UN on disabilities and development on Monday, it was a feel good moment. Inner City Press asked Wonder about the United States not having ratified the Disabilities Convention: what are the stumbling blocks?

Wonder said he didn't know the ins and outs of the stumbling blocks, but they will be overcome. We can't let the lobbyists win, he said.

Inner City Press also asked about accessibility at the UN itself. In July, Kenya's Ambassador said the UN has "no inkling" how to be accessible to the disabled. When Inner City Press pursued it, word was that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is working on a Bulletin on Accessibility. But where is it?

In the front row at Monday's press conference was UN official Daniela Bas, who last week told Inner City Press she couldn't speak for Ban on the matter of the Bulletin on Accessibility. So who can?

On the panel with Stevie Wonder was Philippines Ambassador Libran Cabactulan. He previously tried to become Ban's High Representative on Disarmament, but was passed over for Angela Kane of Germany, who needed another high post after leaving the Department of Management.

If Cabactulan had gotten that post, it would be him negotiating with the Assad government of Syria for access to investigate chemical weapons. Be careful what you wish for? Watch this site.

Footnote: DPI's chief moderated the press conference, gracefully. While he gave the first question to UNCA, he gave the second to Inner City Press, which thanked all three including Maria Soledad Cisternas Reyes, Chair of the Committee of Rights of Person with Disabilities on behalf of the new Free UN Coalition for Access, @FUNCA_info.

  Given much history, limitations and rights of free speech and association, when UNCA gets or takes the first questions, FUNCA will too. And Monday it was appreciated.

   

In Arms Trade Treaty Deal, 2/3 Majority on Procedural Matters, Bedfellows

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 17 -- During the last day of Arms Trade Treaty negotiations on the second floor of the UN's North Lawn building, a coalition of strange bedfellows pushed to require consensus -- that is, in essence, a veto for each country. Syria, so much in the news, took this position, along with Cuba and Iran. And right along with them, according to southern neighbor of the United States, was the US of the Obama administration.

Some, particularly the Nordics, sought to make excuses, saying that the US has grown more flexible since 2009. But others note that with US based companies selling so many weapons, the confluence for example with Syria makes economic sense.

The US, sources said, wanted consensus to apply to the adoption of any treaty.

Late on Friday a compromise was reached on decision-making: it should be "on the basis on consensus," but on procedural matters, by a 2/3 majority.

In a bid to block non-governmental organizations and civil society from meetings, a line was stricken even in the final reading from Rule 57, Paragraph 2, providing now for private meetings, no longer "unless the Conference decides otherwise."

In these final hours, a so-called "big gun" entered the first floor Conference Room: UN Disarmament chief Duarte. He is a lame duck now, and those vying to succeed him include not only as Inner City Press first reported the Permanent Representative of Peru Enrique Roman-Morey, but also, it's said, his counterpart from the Philippines, Libran Cabactulan, who in a previous conference mediated until he lost his voice.

But Peru has yet to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Nor has the Philippines. Watch this site.