Human Rights and Disability Advocacy

11. At the United Nations . . . “The South Also Exists”

CHAPTER 11 At the United Nations . . . “The South Also Exists” Pamela Molina Toledo English translation by Felipe Ramos Barajas A central element in every democratic agenda in the twenty-first century is the sharing of power between the state and civil society. This mutual effort is, by the same token, a central element in the creation of sustainable development that incorporates a sense of respect for the citizens’ rights, points of view, and the principle of shared responsibility. The active participation of members of civil society with disabilities was thus particularly important for the first UN convention on human rights in this century. Not only were we, as persons with disabilities, efficient and professional at discussing issues of critical relevance, but we also offered a profound sense of positive change and creativity to the topics at hand. Unlike previous interventions in our own countries where participation is still a grand idea that only exists in the realms of political speech, the efficacy of this intervention was not only the result of sincere conviction, professionalism , and willingness to engage in the issues on the part of the disabled people ’s organizations (DPOs), but also the sincere enthusiasm from numerous state delegates and their eagerness to learn about our reality. A reality, that is, with which few were familiar at this point. As a member of a small, national DPO based in Chile, I witnessed and participated in this revolutionary moment of civil society involvement firsthand . This chapter is my attempt to tell the story of how this opening up of the international political process offers the opportunity to Southern voices to be “The South Also Exists” 171 salient in the making of international disability rights law. After an introduction to my involvement in the drafting process, I portray the situation of persons with disabilities in Latin American countries and the subsequent work with the International Disability Caucus to address the Southern concerns in an array of provisions. Particular focus is given to the role of Proyecto Sur (the South Project) and its power to utilize international processes so as to ensure that Southern voices of persons with disabilities are being heard. Thrust into an International Forum . . . “How did you get here?” Liisa’s hands asked me, all the while, her usual sweet and affable countenance transformed into a genuine expression of surprise also shared by Markku, who stood beside her. I smiled. Here I was, in front of the president and former president of the World Federation of the Deaf, standing inside the UN General Assembly Hall in New York, having traveled from Chile, the southernmost country in the world. I was without a Sign-language interpreter. Alone. And yet, filled with joy and willing to learn as much as possible. Even if it meant having to read what other people scribbled down for me, I was ready to affect change in the public policies coming into being at the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and willing to ensure that the policies truly guaranteed the rights of persons with disabilities, and especially those of the deaf living in developing countries. I was ready to fight for those whose voice was inaudible, for those who never had the opportunity or means to learn to speak in the dominating language, and for those who had fallen into omission and oblivion. How did I get there without a cent, without interpreters, without a law degree, without the help of the Chilean government? I had two advantages. First, having become deaf at the age of thirteen, having already learned oral communication, allowed me to acquire verbal skills as any other hearing person would, both written and oral. This in turn permitted me to learn the basics of the grammar and certainly eased the process of learning the basics of the English language as well as my native Spanish. Second, having had lost my sense of hearing at an age when I could both observe and become conscious of the changes swirling around me, I was able to comprehend that, despite such changes, I still held the same value as a person. The deaf girl was worth as much as the hearing girl I used to be. It was a great challenge to retain the same dignity while my interpersonal relations, opportunities, 172 Pamela Molina Toledo and access to resources shrunk as I stopped hearing. I am hugely indebted to the Deaf community in Chile for helping me embrace my deafhood, the process...