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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Apologies for cross posting<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">25 August 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk46490342"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">WBU Webinar:
</span></b></a><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">COVID-19,
</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">AMPLIFYING VOICES: OUR LIVES, OUR SAY<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Dear members and colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Please join us on <b>Friday 4 September at 9.00AM-10.15 AM EST (1.00 PM to 2.15 PM GMT)</b> for a webinar on "</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">COVID-19,
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">AMPLIFYING VOICES: OUR LIVES, OUR SAY".<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">The aim of the webinar is to share the findings of a study conducted by the World Blind Union (WBU)
<a name="_Hlk46490379">examining the extent to which </a>COVID-19 pandemic has exposed some deep structural inequalities in society. Data gathered from the study is evidencing that persons with disabilities, older persons, and persons from lower socioeconomic
status backgrounds are among those hardest hit by the pandemic. While this report puts a spotlight on the voices of blind and partially sighted persons, many of the experiences shared strongly resonate with numerous other studies that are also highlighting
how marginalised groups have been affected by this crisis. Through this report, WBU hopes to raise awareness on the specifics of what those challenges have meant in reality for its constituents, as well as shed light on what have been effective resilience
strategies for them. The study was made possible with the support of CBM Global.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Panellists will include: Ms. Maria Soledad Cisternas Reyes, the UN Special Envoy on Disability and Accessibility; Mr. David Bainbridge, the Executive Director
of CBM Global; Mr. Danlami Umaru Basharu, Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); Ms. Rosario Galarza, member of the Executive Committee of Latin American Union of the Blind and WBU President, Dr. Fred Schroeder. The
webinar will be moderated by the WBU CEO, Mr. Jose Viera.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">To register for the webinar please click here:
<a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeneva-academy-ch.zoom.us%2Fwebinar%2Fregister%2FWN_CSD5yzvFTxSBwSuFCINSKg&data=02%7C01%7C%7C7b0733cc08d3471cb6a708d848d6032e%7Cfbd8a8d99ca948378d3ba5982af51080%7C0%7C0%7C637339431325165833&sdata=j8HdBQyQo7jZijHI%2F%2Fogg58R1b0c%2BTxsbAvckc7gUHI%3D&reserved=0">
https://geneva-academy-ch.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CSD5yzvFTxSBwSuFCINSKg</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">* Accessibility: Realtime captioning and International Sign Language will be provided. The webinar will be available in English, French and Spanish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">The webinar will be broadcast live on WBU Facebook:
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlindUnion">https://www.facebook.com/BlindUnion</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">The Programme for the webinar is attached.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">The study report is available in various accessible formats and languages at
</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.worldblindunion.org%2fEnglish%2fresources%2fPages%2fGeneral-Documents.aspx&c=E,1,4KCD6UdhG3l9yr7risq1yM_XwL4Sjd0JRTXK5npTy7PHLw-zWF9h0endydtx8Zr1jOa6yerao_L3Pqtz9OC8RYuqJQX6Wp6eC3XShncXbEPYK5DeIaFEf8CFtdMf&typo=1">http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/resources/Pages/General-Documents.aspx</a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Please help us in spreading the word. Forward this invite to your networks and share on your social media.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">We hope to see you there!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Best wishes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="103" height="93" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image005.png@01D67D52.0B557AF0"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Jose Viera<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Chief Executive Officer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">World Blind Union<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Email:
<a href="mailto:jose.viera@wbu.ngo">jose.viera@wbu.ngo</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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