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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN">PDF Weekly Update – 24 September, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN">Inclusiveness is vital for all.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:justify;background:white">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN">Greetings from the PDF!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1C1C1C;background:white">Every child and family is valued equally and deserves the same opportunities and experiences.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1C1C1C;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1C1C1C;background:white">Whether the disability is mild or severe, hidden or obvious – participating in everyday activities, just like they
would if their disability were not present. It’s about building friendships, membership and having opportunities just like everyone else.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1C1C1C">PDF believes that inclusion is about providing the help children and adults need to learn and participate in meaningful ways. Sometimes, help from friends or teachers works best. Other
times, specially designed materials or technology can help. The key is to give only as much help as needed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">So as we move forward to change policies and laws in our respective countries, we must ensure that it is
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">including everyone and also taking everything into consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN">In the news this week; An inclusive church in Samoa;
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">A Sustainable Development Goals (2030 Agenda) and Voluntary National Review (VNR) Capacity Building Workshops in the Pacific for Pacific Small Islands Developing States (PSIDS) from 24 –
28 September 2018; Technology improves independence for people with disability and an Australian perspective on UN disability development.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1D2129;background:white;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN">******************************<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center;background:white">
<b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">An Inclusive Church in Samoa<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;background:white">
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Apia Protestant Church yesterday held a special service to commemorate international week of the deaf, 24th to the 30th of September with the theme, with sign language everyone is included. " style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:-32.75pt;margin-top:-55.75pt;width:264pt;height:185.25pt;z-index:251656192;visibility:visible;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="352" height="247" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D4542C.DA8C77C0" align="left" hspace="12" alt="Apia Protestant Church yesterday held a special service to commemorate international week of the deaf, 24th to the 30th of September with the theme, with sign language everyone is included. " v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4"><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">
</span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The love of God is inclusive, the
gospel is inclusive, even of persons who are deaf. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Apia Protestant Church yesterday held a special service to commemorate international week of the deaf, 24th to the 30th of September with the theme, with sign language everyone is included.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;background:white">
<span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Members of the Deaf Ministry played important parts in the service, like the prayer, the reading of the word, and a special performance to highlight the theme.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Special thanks to all who had attended worshiping together with members of the Deaf Ministry, and for the Apia Protestant Church for hosting us. Apia Protest Church is the only church with a deaf ministry that has
been in existence for over 20 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">******************<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">A Sustainable Development Goals (2030 Agenda) and Voluntary National Review (VNR) Capacity Building Workshops in the Pacific for Pacific Small
Islands Developing States (PSIDS) from 24 – 28 September 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Group Photo - of the workshop participants in Nadi." style='position:absolute;margin-left:.75pt;margin-top:2.3pt;width:477.75pt;height:345pt;z-index:251659264;visibility:visible;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), through its SIDS
Unit, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) - Pacific Office and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP-Pacific) are currently having a Sustainable Development Goals (2030 Agenda)
and Voluntary National Review (VNR) Capacity Building Workshops in the Pacific for Pacific Small Islands Developing States (PSIDS) from 24 – 28 September 2018, at the Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi, Fiji.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The Workshop provides an opportunity for PSIDS to identify key regional issues, challenges and opportunities impacting their capacity to promote and
ensure inclusivity and equality as they seek broad-based sustainable development while confronted by climate change and increased threats from natural disasters. Moreover, the Workshop will provide PSIDS with an opportunity to strengthen their capacity to
conduct national follow up and review of their implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs through identification of best tools and strategies with a special focus on countries presenting VNRs in 2019.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">This week will be divided into three different sessions as follows: (a) Pacific Preparatory Meeting for the 6th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable
Development (APFSD) on 24-25 September (led by UN-ESCAP); (b) Voluntary National Review Workshop for Pacific Small Island Developing States 26 - 27 September (led by UN-DESA); and (c) Workshop on Stakeholder engagement 28 September (UN-DESA led).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">**********************<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Technology improves independence for people with disability<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Posted 12 hours ago by Nicole Pope<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Vision Australia’s Access Technology Advisor David Woodbridge has been using Soundscape with his assistance dog [Source: Vision Australia]" style='position:absolute;margin-left:-32pt;margin-top:-568.25pt;width:264pt;height:230.25pt;z-index:251657216;visibility:visible;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="352" height="307" src="cid:image005.jpg@01D4542C.DA8C77C0" align="left" hspace="12" alt="Vision Australia’s Access Technology Advisor David Woodbridge has been using Soundscape with his assistance dog [Source: Vision Australia]" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3"><![endif]><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Vision
Australia’s Access Technology Advisor David Woodbridge has been using Soundscape with his assistance dog [Source: Vision Australia]<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Technology has yet again proved its value within the disability sector with the introduction of both a new navigation app to help the blind or vision
impaired and a virtual reality training program that is set to teach people with intellectual disabilities road safety and other life skills.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The new Soundscape app, recently launched by Microsoft Australia and Vision Australia, will empower people who are blind or have low vision to explore
their environment through 3D and audio awareness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The app works by providing users with information about their surroundings through the setup of a chosen destination or familiar landmark.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">By using Soundscape while wearing a stereo headset, people will be able to build an image of what’s around them, with the app able to call out roads,
intersections and landmarks as the person passes them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Vision Australia’s Access Technology Advisor David Woodbridge says the app allows him to feel confident and less stressed when he’s out and about.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“Soundscape gives me confidence in an outside environment by helping me understand what’s around me - whether it’s a restaurant, cafe, railway station,
walking/bike track, park, business or even a street name,” he explains.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“Rather than dictate what I should do, it allows me to make my own decisions based on the information it is providing, meaning I am always in control.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“The app is easy to use and I have my own personal markers set for different locations.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Mr Woodbridge says he frequents his local coffee shop with the help of the ‘coffee shop’ Soundscape marker.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Corporate Affairs Director and Accessibility Lead at Microsoft Australia, David Masters, says “sound is incredibly important” in helping people with
low or no vision participate in their communities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“They already use sound to help them build a mental map of the world around them and what Soundscape does is it adds to that. So it allows someone
to really create that richer perspective of what’s going around them.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Mr Masters says Microsoft is thrilled to partner with Vision Australia and hopes the relationship will deliver valuable tools to the vision impaired
community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“It’s a really exciting time for accessible products and accessibility in general and we see technologies like artificial intelligence as incredibly
powerful,” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“Technology is an incredibly empowering experience for people with disabilities and we want to push the boundaries of that further.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Mr Masters also says Microsoft Australia has announced a $25 million five year program called <i>AI for Accessibility </i>which will stimulate ideas
within the community of how to use artificial intelligence to empower people with disabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Managing Director of Microsoft, Steven Worrall hopes the organisation will gain a further understanding of the challenges people with vision impairments
experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“We know that Vision Australia’s clients have seen huge benefits from the use of other Microsoft technologies and have contributed to making our tools
more accessible.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“It’s our mission to continue to partner with organisations like Vision Australia to make technology more accessible to the four million Australians
who live with disabilities every day and specifically to the 384,000 Australians who are blind or have no [low] vision.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Virtual reality (VR) is also proving powerful for disability support, thanks to its multifaceted ability to improve the quality of life of the elderly
or people with disability.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The Endeavour Foundation recently launched 15 training programs, which will allow people with intellectual disabilities to learn a whole host of skills
including road safety, obtaining cash from an automated teller machine (ATM) or barista training.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The same technology will also help people with intellectual disabilities learn to drive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">A spokesperson from Endeavour Foundation says the program helps increase the independence of people with intellectual disabilities, something that
is often mentioned in their customer’s NDIS plans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The realistic program has mapped streets their customers would encounter every day, with the course allowing the ‘driver’ to pull out of the driveway
and travel along the main road near one of Endeavour’s offices before pulling into a McDonalds drive through.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“Independence without a car in Australia – especially in country towns – is all but impossible,” the spokesperson says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“This is something that a lot of people with intellectual disability – as well as their families and support workers – believe is impossible to achieve.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Dale Harvey, a customer of the Foundation’s Townsville Learning service says the program has helped him become more independent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“I’m learning how to be smart with money and I’m learning how to cook,” he says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">“I thought the train VR program was the most helpful because it showed you how to get a ticket and that you had to wait for the train.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Implementation Specialist at Endeavour Foundation, Stewart Koplick says the VR’s driving program is expected to be ready for release at the end of
this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">With the world of technology ever changing, its use within the disability sector sure presents exciting times for those requiring support.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">**********************<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">An Australian perspective on UN disability development<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">By <a href="https://www.devex.com/news/authors/1251566">Lisa Cornish</a> / 20 September 2018</span></b><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_10" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Rosemary Kayess, Australia’s first female representative to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:45.65pt;margin-top:2.3pt;width:255pt;height:337.5pt;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:page;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="f" />
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="340" height="450" src="cid:image011.jpg@01D4542C.DA8C77C0" align="left" hspace="12" alt="Rosemary Kayess, Australia’s first female representative to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_10"><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">Rosemary Kayess, Australia’s first female representative to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333"><br>
CANBERRA — In January, the <a href="https://www.devex.com/organizations/united-nations-un-41567"><span style="color:#666699">United Nations</span></a> Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will welcome Australia’s first female representative
to the committee — Rosemary Kayess.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">A human rights lawyer, Kayess brings impressive expertise to the committee. She was disability rights unite senior policy officer at the <a href="https://www.devex.com/organizations/australian-human-rights-commission-60958"><span style="color:#666699">Australian
Human Rights Commission</span></a>, a member of the disability reference group for the<a href="https://www.devex.com/organizations/australian-department-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade-dfat-21826"><span style="color:#666699"> </span></a><a href="https://www.devex.com/organizations/australian-department-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade-dfat-21826"><span style="color:#666699">Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade</span></a>, a member of the<a href="https://www.devex.com/organizations/world-bank-group-38382"><span style="color:#666699"> </span></a><a href="https://www.devex.com/organizations/world-bank-group-38382"><span style="color:#666699">World
Bank</span></a>’s expert focus group on nondiscrimination and disability, and a chairperson of the Australian Centre for Disability Law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;line-height:20.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">As an academic, Kayess is a senior research fellow at the University of New South Wales Social Policy Research
Centre. Kayess was also part of the Australian government delegation responsible for drafting the <a href="https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html"><span style="color:#666699">Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">“What I do is try to create a framework by which people work,” Kayess explained to Devex. “My contribution through the convention negotiation, especially around article 24 on education,
has contributed to disabled person organizations and people with disability having a framework through which they can advocate for their rights.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">Kayess also has first-hand experience of living with a disability, after a car accident at age 20 caused a spinal injury. The nomination of Kayess to the U.N. position by Australia
was<a href="https://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2018/jb_mr_180613.aspx"><span style="color:#666699"> </span></a><a href="https://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2018/jb_mr_180613.aspx"><span style="color:#666699">an important part of part of
DFAT’s disability focus within aid programming</span></a>, which aims to improve the participation of people living with disability in the Pacific.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">Among the nine new members are six women, including representatives from Indonesia and South Korea. The new members of the 18 member committee will help bring strong representation
from the Asia Pacific, as well as better gender parity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">Kayess explained to Devex that she hopes her work with the U.N. on the committee can bring greater clarity to state parties implementing <a href="https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html"><span style="color:#666699">CRPD</span></a>,
helping to ensure the convention is met across the board for people with disability — including in education, justice, health, and political participation as well as across countries and cultures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;line-height:25.5pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">Facilitating a Pacific voice<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:25.5pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">While Australia’s representation on the committee provides an opportunity to facilitate engagement of Pacific Island nations, the country needs to ensure Pacific Island nations are
able to have their own voice, and not speak for them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:25.5pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">“We have a good working relationship with the Pacific,” Kayess said. “I have worked very closely with the Pacific Disability Forum and the work that they do — our disabled persons
organization here in Australia work closely with their organizations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:25.5pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333"> “I think it’s also important to realize that you’re not just an Australian. We have neighbors that may not have a voice in that process and we need to be able to listen to them and
reflect their concerns as well,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:25.5pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">Kayess expects Indonesia’s representative to be an important source to reflect on people with disability that live in the archipelago, as well as the limitations and barriers they
may face.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:25.5pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">Australia aims to engage with other Pacific countries to gain feedback from disability organizations and disability forums on a range of topics that could influence the decisions of
the committee. And it is important, Kayess said, that the challenges of small island nations — who have a double disadvantage — are effectively addressed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:25.5pt">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">Focusing on the law<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">The committee meets twice a year in Geneva with representatives conducting legal research and comment on reviews, reports, and other issues that are presented. The convention is important
in providing an overarching framework to support people living with disability globally that can be interpreted and implemented across all signatory countries.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">“I come to this as a human rights lawyer,” Kayess explained to Devex. “Bringing the human rights framework to the development space. For me, this role and committee is about the CRPD
in its whole. It’s about ensuring that areas such as education and social inclusion include the rights articulated in the convention. There is no need to focus on individual areas of development but rather the human rights framework and how that relates to
those areas.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:white">.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">The committee has a very specific role, to provide a mechanism by which behavior is measured against the body of international law — law framed by CRPD.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">“It’s about providing consistent and coherent legal analysis,” Kayess explained. “It’s about communicating effectively with state parties in a way that can support and promote states
to be able to meet their obligations.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">“There has been lots of research about people meeting their obligations under international law and treaties in particular, but if people are not meeting their obligations it is not
about willful disobedience — it’s generally around things like clarity of the obligations and capacity for them to understand what is expected of them, and how they can fulfill their obligations.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:25.5pt">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">The importance of the UN committee<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">According to Kayess, the U.N. committee plays an important role in fostering transparent and open dialogue on CRPD, including how states can interpret their obligations under this
international law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">“The nature of treaties and the fact that they are negotiated and have to apply across different legal jurisdictions, across different culture, across different timescales creates
challenges,” she said. “The document is not highly prescriptive because of its very nature — you don’t want to time locked into things that are understood in one jurisdiction but are not clear in others.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">This “fluidity” of international law means that it constantly needs to be supported through interpretation to meet changing needs and circumstances — making the committee an important
source in both interpretation and implementation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">“We need to clearly demonstrate to states what the obligations are,” Kayess explained. “It’s a continual process of constructive processes with states, to look at what is required
and reflect upon their own situations. You’ve got to understand the challenges of each state to address them.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">This dialogue can also support the U.N. in understanding what help they need to provide states on an individual basis — including through human rights councils and the work of special
rapporteurs. At the end of the day, each country is responsible for their citizens living with disability have equal rights and access to services.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:25.5pt">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">Support from Australia’s disability sector<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">The election of Kayess, and Australia’s role on the committee, has been strongly endorsed by Australia’s disability sector. Her work is highly regarded as strengthening legal frameworks
and arguments that help others in their advocacy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">“Rosemary brings a wealth of expertise to this role, and Australian Disability and Development Consortium are excited to continue working with her in this new capacity to promote the
rights of people with disabilities in developing countries,” Lucy Hodson, executive officer at the Australian Disability and Development Consortium, told Devex.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">With Kayess one of six female representatives on the committee, Hodson said it was an important moment for the U.N. to reflect not only on the challenges in the Pacific, but the growing
recognition that the barriers faced by women with disabilities are unique and compounded.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">The challenge for Kayess and fellow members of the U.N. Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is to help interpret international law to facilitate this new understanding
of disability in development.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:20.25pt;text-align:justify;line-height:20.25pt">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#333333">“Part of ensuring leadership by people with disabilities includes ensuring representation of the diversity of lived experience of disability,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">***********************************<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Soloveni Vitoso<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Public Relations & Communication Officer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Pacific Disability Forum<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Ground Floor | Kadavu House<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Victoria Parade | Suva<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Fiji<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Phone: (+679) 3312008 | (+679) 3307530</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Mobile: (+679) 8912656</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Fax: (+679) 3310469</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Skype: Soloveni.vitoso</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Email: </span><u><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1155CC"><a href="mailto:infor@pacificdisability.org"><span style="color:blue">infor@pacificdisability.org</span></a></span></u><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Website: </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pacificdisability.org%2f&c=E,1,If0z8o95mb94uk4KDWU-Tr-TH_UiiV5O4Pz9J4TSREnERXcgdWH50W6mPnFuImIn8Qz_RAcGKmvccr0uiZ2ldgpjjWJ92jJPxU2DmShnGwI2-64RfMBtIfpnDFI,&typo=1" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">www.pacificdisability.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#002060">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PacificDisabilityForum/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#1155CC">Pacific
Disability Forum</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#002060">Twitter: @pdfsec</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><img border="0" width="205" height="69" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image012.jpg@01D4542C.DA8C77C0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white"><b><i><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Organisation in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Commission since 2012.</span></i></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><i><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">The information contained in this email message is intended only for the addressee(s). If you <b>are</b> not the intended
recipient, you must not use, disclose, copy or distribute this message or the information in it, including any attachments. If you receive this email in error please notify the sender immediately</span></i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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