RI Global: Office of Communications
Contact: Adrian Brune, +1 347-759-9501
Since the UN adoption of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2007 — a major milestone in the fight for disability rights — each year stakeholders from around the world convene on the Secretariat for a Conference of the States Parties (CoSP) to compare notes, confer on changes and put their minds together to move the treaty forward.
Both the CoSP isn’t just a conference. It’s a celebration, a symposium during with persons with disabilities (PwDs), or as one attendee said, ‘persons of different abilities’, have the chance to showcase their talents. This year, the Permanent Mission of Korea headed by H.E. Ambassador Oh Joon, the outgoing president of the Conference, put together the ‘Beautiful Concert: Celebration of the CRPD’, which featured an array of musical talents coming from people whom, just 90 years ago — when RI Global started its work — might have been confined to an institution for the rest of their lives. Before the beginning of the Concert, RI Global presented Ambassador Oh with the Presidential Award for his efforts in advancing the cause of people with all abilities.
H.E. Ambassador of Korea to the United Nations Oh Joon, the outgoing president of the CoSP, after receiving RI Global’s Presidential Award, flanked by RI Global President Jan Monsbakken and RI Global Secretary-General, Venus Ilagan.
RI Global Secretary-General Venus Ilagan introduces Ambassador Oh Joon before calling him to the stage to receive the award.
The cover of the program for the concert of the CRPD.
The Samulnori team, a troupe of children with developmental disorders, play a set of traditional Korean music. They are led by Heasun Jung, the principal of the Korean Traditional Art Academy, in Ridgefield, New Jersey.
Cha In-Hong, known as the ‘Maestro in a Wheelchair’ — a violinist and conductor of the Symphony Orchestra at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio — plays Jules Massenet’s ‘Meditation from Thais’.
South Korean pianist Kim Kyeong-Min, who learned how to play the piano with his fists and is now the world’s only concert pianist with cerebral palsy, played Beethoven’s ‘Mondschien’ Piano Sonata No. 14, as well as his own score, ‘Hope’.
Hip-hop artists 4 Wheel City — Namel “Tapwaterz”Norris and Ricardo “Rickfire” Velasquez, who became disabled due to gun violence — perform their song “Welcome to Reality”.
The members of the RI Executive Committee (from left to right): SG Venus Ilagan, President Jan Monsbakken, Treasurer Susan Parker, RI Lebanon National Secretary Khaled El Mohtar, and Employment Commission Chair Mandan Kundu.
The banner outside UN Conference Room Four, where many of the CoSP side events were held, including the Civil Society Forum.
RI Global President Jan Monsbakken speaks in front of the CoSP Civil Society Panel.
RI Global Treasurer Susan Parker addresses the CoSP Civil Society panel.
RI Global: Founded in 1922, Rehabilitation International (RI Global) is a worldwide network promoting the rights and inclusions of persons with disabilities (PwDs) through advocacy, habilitation and rehabilitation to achieve an inclusive world in which all people can enjoy full human rights.
Join us at the 2016 RI Global World Congress: riworldcongress.com