PROGRAM

WORLD BLIND UNION
SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
6-10 DECEMBER 2004

THEME:
The WBU In an Era of New Opportunities of Human Rights

Monday 6 December

10:00-12:00 OPENING SESSION:

Chair: William Rowland Chair of the Assembly Organising Committee

• Welcome to South Africa and good wishes for the Assembly:
• Judge Zak Yacoob, Chairperson of South Africa National Council
for the Blind

• Opening Address:
• A prominent figure in South African public life

• Message to participants:
• President of the World Blind Union (WBU), Kicki Nordström

• Welcome message:
• The Host Region, the President of The African Union of the Blind, (AFUB)

• Greetings from the Women’s Forum:
• The Chair of the Women’s Committee Maryanne Diamond

12:00-13:30 Lunch

13:30-14:00 INTRODUCTORY PROCEDURES

Chair: Kicki Nordström

• Roll Call
• Approval of minutes of 5th General Assembly, Melbourne

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Notetaker for the Assembly
• Members of the Credential’s Committee
• Members of the Resolution’s Committee
• The Returning Officer for the elections
• Members of the Nominations Committee
• Obituaries

14:00-15:00 REPORTS

Chair: William Rowland

Kicki Nordström, President (10 minutes)
• Recommendations from the Executive
• Resolutions adopted at the 5th General Assembly in Melbourne
Questions and comments, (10 minutes)

Enrique Sanz, Secretary General (10 minutes)
• New member countries
• New special members
• New international members
• Approval of names of WBU regions, which have changed following the 5th General Assembly
Questions and comments, (10 minutes)

Geoff Gibbs, Treasurer (10 minutes)
• Auditor’s statement for the term
• Budget 2004-2007
• Membership fees for high, middle and low income countries
Questions and comments, (10 minutes)

15:00-15:30 Afternoon tea

15:30-16:30 REPORTS

Chair: Geoff Gibbs

Maryanne Diamond, Chair: Women’s Committee (10 minutes)
Questions and comments (5 minutes)

Otto Rene Pereda, Acting Chair: Youth Committees (10 minutes)
Questions and comments (5 minutes)

Maaka Tibble, Chair: Indigenous Persons Committee (20 minutes)
A cultural presentation
Questions and comments (10 minutes)

16:30-17:30 GREETINGS FROM INVITED GUESTS, 5 MINUTES
EACH

Chair: Euclid Herie

OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights)

UNICEF (United Nations Childrens’ Education Fund)

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation)

WHO (World Health Organisation): Federico Montero

World Bank: Mohammed Lotfi

IDA (International Disability Alliance)

• DPI (Disabled Peoples’ International)
• II (Inclusion International )
• IFHOH (International Federation of the Hard of Hearing)
• RI (Rehabilitation International )
• WFD (World Federation of the Deaf)
• WFDB (World Federation of the Deafblind)
• WNUSP (World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry)

Tuesday 7 December

10:00-11:15 REPORT AND DECISIONS ON AMENDMENTS TO THE
CONSTITUTION

Chair: Sir John Wall
Facilitator: Poul Luneborg, Chair of the Constitutions Committee

I. Procedural matters:

The day is devoted to discussion of amendments to the WBU constitution.

Report of the Constitutions Committee:

• The whole constitution will not be discussed, only items which represent changes of a substantial or political nature.
• Only yes or no votes will be allowed.
• All suggestions for changes were been sent out to the membership four months prior to the Assembly.
• Re-election of President and abolition of the position of Immediate Past President will be discussed between 10:00-12:00.

II. Plan for dealing with the report during the three sessions set out for this item:

1. Introduction and presentation of the report.

2. Decision on recommendation 1 regarding structure of the
Constitution (report section 3.2)

3. Specific issues regarding President and Immediate Past
President:
3.a. Re-election of President, Art. VI, Section 1, C (note 44)
3.b. Abolition of the position of Immediate Past President, Art. VI, Section 3, A (note 48)
3.c. Decision on recommendation 3 concerning the time for bringing possible changes of the specific articles mentioned above into force

11:15-11:45 REPORT OF THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

Chair: Marc Maurer

11:45-12:00 REPORT OF THE RETURNING OFFICER
JUDGE ISMAIL HUSSAIN

• Procedures for elections
• Nominations for President

12:00-13:30 Lunch

13:30 NOMINATIONS CLOSED

13:30-15:00 CONTINUATION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE
CONSTITUTION

Chair: Sir John Wall

Facilitator: Poul Luneborg

4. Other amendments to be considered by the General Assembly:

- Art. I, Section 3 (note 3): Principle regarding non-discrimination.
- Art. II, Section 1 (note 7): Objects, to bring them in accordance with UN terminology on human rights.
- Art. II, Section 2, H (note 10): Clarification of the role of parents to blind and partially sighted children.
- Art II, Section 2, I (note 11): Introduction of the principle of gender balance when appointing members to the bodies of the Union.
- Art II, Section 2, J (note 11 a): Introduction of the necessity to give priority to nominees from developing countries when appointing bodies of the Union.
- Art III, Section 1, A-C (note 12): Membership classes – revised text to clarify the status of national and special members.
- Art III, Section 1, F (note 17): Clarification of the procedure when electing Honorary Life Members and the proceedings to be followed when bringing comparable members whom have passed away in memorial.
- Art. IV, Section 1, C (note 24 and 24 a): Procedures to be followed by the President when inviting observers/experts to be present at the Assembly.
- Art. IV, Section 1 D (note 25): Procedures etc., to be followed when felt necessary by a delegate to be represented by proxy.
- Art. IV, Section 3, E (note 28): Clarification of the rationale behind the wording of the provision when electing table officers.
- Art. IV, Section 3, F (note 29): Procedures to be followed when presenting proposals/issues to be dealt with by the Assembly.
- Art. IV, Section 4, A (note 30 a): Clarification of the status at Assemblies of Honorary Life Members.
- Art. IV, Section 4, B (note 31): The principle of gender balance when appointing delegations of national members.
- Art. IV, Section 4, C (note 32): The principle of gender balance when appointing delegations of special members.
- Note 34: The removal of the provision in the existing Constitution, which allows the Executive to invoke postal ballots between Assemblies (existing constitution Article IV. Section 4, J).
- Art. IV, Section 5, E (note 35 a): Revision of criteria to be fulfilled when appointing delegates of national members.
- Art. IV, Section 6, A and B (note 36): Criteria and procedures to be adhered to when nominating table officers for election.
- Art. IV, Section 6, C (note 37): Procedure to be followed when nominating candidates to the election of Table Officers prior to and after the opening of the Assembly.
- Art. IV, Section 6, D (note 37 a): Criterion to consider a table officer duly elected when more than 2 candidates.
- Art. V, Section 1, A (note 39 a): Increase of number of members of the Executive representing members from 1 to 2.
- Art. V, Section 2, D (note 41 a): Introduction of the legal basis for the Executive t establish a special fundraising body.
- Art VI, Section 3 (note 47): The formal recognition of the Table Officers as an official part of the structure of the Union.
- Art. VI, Section 3, C (note 49): Procedures to be followed by the President/Table Officers to obtain the ratification by the Officers of decisions/actions taken.
- Art. VII, Section A (note 51): The provision aims to bring the constitution in line with the decision taken at the 5th General Assembly – deletion of list of Regional Unions.
- Art VII, Section B (note 52): Procedures to be followed when changing names of regions.
- Art. VII, Section C (note 53): Clarification of the legal foundation and status of a Regional Union.
- Art VIII, Section 3 (note 56): The composition and the appointment of a Nominations Committee.
- Art VIII, Section 3, C (note 57): The assignments of the Nominations Committee.
- Art. X, Section 1, C (note 64): Procedures to be followed when adopting amendments to the Constitution.

5. Other amendments:
5.a. Amendments presented by the Constitutions Committee referred by delegates to be considered by the Assembly.
5.b. Amendments presented by members in accordance with Art. X of the existing Constitution

6. ADOPTION OF THE REVISED CONSTITUTION:

15:00-15:30 Afternoon tea

15:30-17:00 Continuation of amendments

Chair: Sir John Wall

Facilitator: Poul Luneborg

7. BYLAWS: COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
EXECUTIVE ELECT.

- Bylaw I: Membership (Application procedures etc.)
- Bylaw II: Finance
- Bylaw III: Assembly (Organising and programming, reporting and follow-up)
- Bylaw IV: Officers
- Bylaw V: Regional Unions
- Bylaw VI: Meetings (the principle of open meetings)
- Bylaw VII: Member’s Financial Support Committee (it is suggested that the existing Bylaw be deleted)
- Bylaw VIII: Amendments of Bylaws

8. Job Descriptions:
8.a. Comments and recommendations to the Officers elect

9. Comments on Recommendation 6 in the Constitutions
Committee Report Section 3.2 :

9.a. That each regional Union in their constitution includes provisions to offer external membership on restrictive terms to certain countries.

17:00-17:30 INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS

Chair: Enrique Sanz

Facilitator: Returning Officer Judge Ismail Hussain
• Procedures for elections
• Candidates for the post of President will be presented
• Candidates will be given 3 minutes each to speak

Wednesday 8 December

8.30-10.00 ELECTION OF PRESIDENT

10:00-11:45 REPORTS

Chair: Euclid Herie

Enzo Tioli, Chair: Working Group on Media, Advocacy, Policy and Information, (MAPI)
Presentation and adoption of a Programme Declaration for WBU
(20 minutes)
Questions and comments (10 minutes)

John Heilbrunn, Chair: Working Group on Organisational Development, Capacity Building and Democracy (20 minutes)
Questions and comments (10 minutes)

Geoff Gibbs, Chair: Louis Braille Memorial (20 minutes)
A final solution for the Museum
Questions and comments (10 minutes)

William Rowland and Kicki Nordström: Members of the UN Panel of Experts: (10 minutes)
Questions and comments (5 minutes)

11:45-12:00 INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS

Chair: Euclid Herie

Facilitator: Returning Officer Judge Ismail Hussain
• Announcement of the result of the election for the post of President
• Procedures for the next set of elections

12:00–13:30 Lunch

13:00 Close of Nominations for the posts of First Vice
President, Secretary General and Treasurer

13:30-14:45 REPORTS

Chair: Geoff Gibbs

John Barrack, Chair: Committee on Elderly Blind Persons (10 minutes)
Questions and comments (5 minutes)

Gertrude Fefoame, June Waugh, Chair: and Co-Chair: of the Committee
on Blind Children (10 minutes)
Questions and comments (5 minutes)

Colin Low, Chair: Working Group on UN and its Agencies (20 minutes)
Questions and comments (10 minutes)

John Wall, Chair: The World Blind Union Braille Council (10 minutes)
Questions and comments 5 minutes

14:45-15:00 INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS

Chair: Maryanne Diamond

Facilitator: Returning Officer Judge Ismail Hussain

• Candidates will be announced for the posts of:
• First Vice President
• Secretary General
• Treasurer
• Candidates will be given 3 minutes each to speak

15:00-15:30 Afternoon tea

15:30-17:30 REGIONAL MEETINGS

Regional Presidents to convene their Regional
meetings (breakaway rooms available)

Thursday 9 December

08:30-10:00 ELECTION OF FIRST VICE PRESIDENT,
SECRETARY GENERAL AND TREASURER

10:00-11:45 REPORTS

Chair: Maryanne Diamond

Regional reports (10 minutes each)
• AFUB (African Union of the Blind)
• ABU (Asian Blind Union)
• WBU/PA (East Asia Pacific)
• EBU (European Blind Union )
• ULAC (Latin America)
• NAC (North America and Caribbean)
Questions (45 minutes, interventions limited to 2 minutes each)

11:45-12:00 INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS

Chair: Maryanne Diamond

Facilitator: Returning Officer Judge Ismail Hussain
• Announcement of the results of the election of:
• First Vice President
• Secretary General
• Treasurer
• Procedures for next election

12:00–13:30 Lunch

13:00 NOMINATIONS CLOSED FOR SECOND VICE
PRESIDENT

13:30-14:45 HUMAN RIGHTS AND DISABILITY

Chair: Kicki Nordström

Facilitator: Bengt Lindqvist

A Convention on Disability - our best opportunity
ever! (60 minutes)
Questions (15 minutes, interventions limited to 2 minutes each)

14:45-15:00 INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS

Chair: Kicki Nordström

Facilitator: Returning Officer Judge Ismail Hussain
• Candidates for the post of Second Vice President will be presented
• Candidates will be given 3 minutes each to speak

15:00-15:30 Afternoon tea

15:30-17:30 GREETINGS FROM INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS
AND REPORTS ON CO-OPERATION WITH WBU
(5 MINUTES EACH)

Chair: Enrique Sanz

• IFLA (International Federation of Libraries Associations, Section for the Blind)
• DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System)
• ICEVI (International Council for Education of Visually Impaired)
• IFGDSB (International Federation of Guide Dog Schools for the Blind)
• IAPB (International Agency for Prevention of Blindness)
• IBSA (International Blind Sports Association)
• CBM (Christopher Blinden Mission)
• SSI (Sight Savers International)
• IDP (International Development Program)
• FORCE Foundation
• Perkins School for the Blind
• Helen Keller Worldwide (HKW)
• Fédération Internationale des Associations
• Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt E.V. (BLISTA)
• Deutsches Katholisches Blindenwerk E.V. (DKBW)
• Others

Friday 10 December

08:30 ELECTION OF SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

10:00 ADDRESS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
THABO MBEKI, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
OF SOUTH AFRICA

PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS

Chair: Sir John Wall

11:45-12:00 INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS

Chair: Sir John Wall

Facilitator: Returning Officer Judge Ismail Hussain
• Announcement of the result of the election for Second Vice President
• Procedures for remaining elections of Officers

12:00–13:30 Lunch

13:00 NOMINATIONS CLOSE FOR REMAINING
ELECTION OF OFFICERS

13:30-14:45 CELEBRATION OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WBU

Chair: Incoming President

• The future development of the WBU
• A brief history of the WBU by Pedro Zurita
• Speech by the Incoming President
Questions from the floor (2 minutes each)

14:45-15:00 INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS

Chair: Incoming President

Facilitator: Returning Officer Judge Ismail Hussain
• Candidates for remaining posts of Officers will be presented
• Candidates will be given 3 minutes each to speak

15:00-15:30 Afternoon tea

15:30-16:45 FORMALITIES AND MISCELLANEOUS

Chair: Kicki Nordstrom

• Appointment of Honorary Life Members
• Presentation of Louis Braille Medal
• Announcement of WBU Executive Committee members
• Call for expression of interest for hosting the WBU 7th General Assembly in 2008
United Kingdom, Switzerland and Thailand have announced their interest to host the WBU 7th General Assembly in 2008

16:45-17:00 INFORMATION ON ELECTIONS

Chair: Kicki Nordström

Facilitator: Returning Officer Judge Ismail Hussain
• Announcement of the result of the elections

17.00-17.30 CLOSING CEREMONY

• Thanks by outgoing Officers (5 minutes each)