Table of contents

Welcome message by William Rowland

I take pleasure in welcoming all delegates, exhibitors, and other participants to the WBU Seventh General Assembly in Geneva. The gathering of our worldwide membership every four years is an opportunity to engage directly in the work of the WBU, meet blind and partially sighted people from every part of the globe, and build bridges of friendship. For me, this Assembly celebrates the renewal of the WBU over the past four years, as well as the coming into force of the UN Convention to which we contributed so very significantly. May your week in Geneva be a time of learning and good companionship.

William Rowland

WBU President

Welcome message by Christian Hugentobler

Willkommen in Genf, Bienvenue à Genève, Welcome to Geneva, Bienvenido en Ginebra

The Swiss Federation of the blind and visually impaired and its partners are happy and proud to welcome you to Switzerland. It is a great honour for us that the WBU's most important event is held in Geneva. The inspiring programme of the 7th general assembly not only includes meetings and workshops, but also provides room for enjoying the city and the landscape.

The conference theme "World Blind Union: Changing What It Means to Be Blind - Taking Our Place in the World” is both a request and a commitment that we must not cease struggling for the rights of blind and visually impaired people but that we must also continue to strive to improve our situation. The theme underlines the importance of worldwide international collaboration. The solutions to many problems are better, more complete, and more effective when achieved on an international level. The general assembly in Geneva gives us the opportunity to meet and to make contact with the international organizations which are present.

I wish you a great time in Geneva full of fruitful discussions.

Christian Hugentobler

SFB President

Welcome message by Pascal Couchepin

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to our country, all the more as this is the first time that Switzerland is hosting the Congress of the World Blind Union (WBU).

Ladies and Gentlemen, you come from many countries and backgrounds and all work in an admirable manner on the realisation of the objectives of your national organisations and those of the World Union. You are aware that only a global commitment allows mentalities to evolve. You quite rightly desire that the blind and visually impaired should enjoy the same consideration by their fellow citizens that their competence and capabilities should be recognised that access to employment and equality of rights should be guaranteed to them.

Your presence at the General Assembly of the WBU demonstrates that solidarity does exist among the persons concerned and that it is active. This Congress is also going to draw attention in Switzerland and the World to the numerous challenges which our societies must still take up, while emphasising the progress already made. The promotion of the independence and integration of blind and visually impaired persons are priority objectives which must become a reality.

I wish all participants exciting and productive debates so that this Congress may be crowned with success.

Pascal Couchepin

President of the Swiss Confederation

Seventh General Assembly Program

Theme

World Blind Union: Changing What It Means to Be Blind - Taking our Place in the World

Sunday, August 17th

9:30 am - 1:30 am WBU Executive Meeting (room 5&6)

2:00 pm - 6:30 pm Registration WBU General Assembly (ICCG)

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Nominations committee meeting (room 11)

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Credentials committee meeting (room 12)

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Reception with appetizers, first floor ICCG for registered people only

Monday, August 18th

8:30 am - 9:30 am Registration (ICCG)

9:30 am - 10:30 am General Assembly Opening Ceremony (plenary room)

Session chair: Christian Hugentobler, President Swiss Federation of the Blind and Visually Impaired

Session speakers:

Welcome - Christian Hugentobler (SFB), EBU President-Colin Low

WBU President - William Rowland

President of the Swiss Confederation - Mr. Pascal Couchepin

Musical Entertainment

10:30 am - 11:00 am Introduction and announcements (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Receipt of the proceedings of the 6th General Assembly

Announcement of assembly committees (credentials, resolutions, returning officers, scrutineers)

Nomination process - Nomination committee chair: Philip Bam

Credentials committee report - Credentials committee chair: James Sanders

Process for conducting elections - Returning officer: Geoffrey Gibbs

Process for submitting resolutions - Resolutions committee chair: Tina Nummi-Södergren

11:00 am - 11:30 am Obituaries: Remembering members who have left us (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Session speaker: Enrique Perez

11:30 am - 12:00 am President's report (plenary room)

Questions and comments from the floor

Session chair: Maryanne Diamond

Session speaker: William Rowland

12:00 am - 2:00 pm Lunch

2:00 pm - 2:15 pm Report of secretary general (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Session speaker: Enrique Perez

2:15 pm - 2:30 pm Report of treasurer (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Session speaker: Susan Spungin

2:30 pm - 2:45 pm Questions from the floor (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

2:45 pm - 3:00 pm Report on strategic plan (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Session speaker: Maryanne Diamond

3:00 pm - 3:15 pm Report of chief executive officer (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Session speaker: Penny Hartin

3:15 pm - 3:30 pm Questions from the floor (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Tea break

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm “Vision” for the World Blind Union (plenary room)

Session facilitator: Lesley Anne Alexander

5:00 pm - 5:15 pm Best-practice presentations (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Program for incorporating the blind population into the workforce

Presenter: Mariano Godachevich - Argentina Federation of the Blind and Visually Impaired

Reaching all blind children with education

Presenter: Vietnam Blind Association

5:15 pm - 6:00 pm Keynote speech (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Session speaker: Ms Kyung-what KANG

Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights OHCHR

6:15 pm Nominations for WBU President closed

Tuesday, August 19th

9:30 am - 10:10 am Keynote Presentation: Federationism in the World (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Session speaker: Marc Maurer

10:10 am - 10:30 am Presentation of the candidates for WBU President (plenary room)

Session chair: Susan Spungin

Nomination committee chair: Philip Bam

10:30 am - 12:00am Presentation of regional reports (plenary room)

Session chair: Susan Spungin

10:30 am - 10:40 am Regional report - Africa

Session speaker: Paul Tezanou

10:40 am - 10:50 am Regional report - Asia

Session speaker: Amer Makarem

10:50 am - 11:00 am Regional report - Asia Pacific

Session speaker: KUA Cheng Hock

11:00 am - 11:10 am Regional report - Europe

Session speaker: Lord Colin Low

11:10 am - 11:20 am Regional report - Latin America

Session speaker: President of ULAC

11:20 am - 11:30 am Regional report - North America/Caribbean

Session speaker: James Gibbons

11:30 am - 11:45 am Report of the World Blind Women's Forum

Session speaker: Kicki Nordstrom

11:45 am - 12:00 am Questions and comments from the floor (all reports) (plenary room)

12:00 am - 2:00 pm Election of the President (separate room)

12:00 am - 2:00 pm Lunch

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Copyright and right to read (plenary room)

Session chair: Gloria Peniza

Session coordinator: Christopher Friend

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Tea break

4:00 pm - 4:05 pm Announce result of the President's election (plenary room)

Session chair: Gloria Peniza

Returning officer: Geoff Gibbs

4:05 pm - 5:15 pm Capacity building (plenary room)

Session chair: Gloria Peniza

Session coordinator: Arnt Holte

5:15 pm - 5:30 pm Best-practice presentations (plenary room)

Session chair: Gloria Peniza

Reconstruction of National Organization of the Blind in Iraq

Presenter: Dr. Sadeq H. Knaij, National Association of the Blind in Iraq

Test panel - Obtaining input from blind and partially sighted persons in technology design

Presenter: Visiris (Netherlands)

5:30 pm Nominations closed for First Vice-Presidency, Secretary General and Treasurer

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Regional meetings

European region (plenary room)

African region (rooms 5 and 6)

Latin American region (room 18)

Asian region (room 15)

Asia/Pacific region (room 14)

N. America/Caribbean region (room 16)

International members (room 17)

Wednesday, August 20th

8:30 am - 10:00 am Regional meetings (if required)

Locations the same as prior evening

10:00 am - 10:30 am Presentation of the candidates for First Vice-President, Secretary General, and Treasurer (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Nomination committee chair: Philip Bam

10:30 am - 12:00 am WBU and the United Nations System (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

10:30 am - 11:00 am UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (plenary room)

Session Speaker: Ambassador Don Mackay

11:00 am - 11:15 am UN standard rules (plenary room)

Session speaker: Sheika Hissa Al-Thani (Special rapporteur)

11:15 am - 11:30 am The WBU and the UN (plenary room)

Session speaker: Kicki Nordstrom

11:30 am - 12:00 am Presentations by UN agencies

World Health Organization - Alana Officer

International Labour Organization - Barbara Murray

12:00 am - 2:00 am Elections of First Vice-President, Secretary General, and Treasurer

12:00 am - 2:00 am Lunch

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Concurrent workshops

Workshop # 1 (room 14)

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

An Overview of the CRPD, its importance to WBU members and strategies for implementation at the National level

Presenter: Kicki Nordstrom, UN working group

Workshop # 2 (plenary room)

Technology - Influencing international standards

Overview and discussion of how and why WBU can and should influence the development of technology - both specialized and mainstream

Presenter: Stephen King, Technology working group

Workshop # 3 (room 18)

Resource generation/fundraising

building a culture of giving within the organization and focusing on resource mobilization as an integral part of the organization

Presenters: Aubrey Webson, Lorraine Zamora

Workshop # 4 (room 15)

WBU branding and communications

The workshop will review and discuss WBU core messaging, the importance of WBU branding and communications at the international and national levels

Presenter: Enrique Perez, Communications committee

Workshop # 5 (rooms 5 and 6)

Employment

The workshop will review the work done by the WBU employment committee during the past quadrennium, review of the Employment policy and strategy and discuss future strategies to be undertaken by WBU

Presenters: James Gibbons, WBU employment committee

Workshop # 6 (room 13)

Listening to the Children

Results of the “Listening to the Children” Congress will be shared and discussed

Presenter: Ana Pelaez

4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Tea break

4:30 pm - 4:35 pm Announce election results for First Vice-President, Secretary General and Treasurer (plenary room)

Session chair: Paul Tezanou

Returning officer: Geoff Gibbs

4:35 pm - 4:50 pm Best-practice Presentations (plenary room)

Session chair: Paul Tezanou

Advocating for the rights of the blind in Chile

Presenter: Maria Soledad Cisternas, National Union of the Blind in Chile

WBU AP region technology recycling program

Presenters: Kevin Murfitt, Andrew Daley - WBU Asia Pacific Region

4:50 pm - 5:30 pm Blind and partially sighted people in sports and competitions (plenary room)

Session Chair: Paul Tezanou

Session Speaker: Michael Barredo, President of International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA)

5:30 pm - 5:50 pm Presentation by the president of World Federation of Deafblind Persons (plenary room)

Session chair: Paul Tezanou

Session speaker: Lex Grandia, President WFDB

6:00 pm Nominations closed for Second Vice-President or for second election for First Vice-President, Secretary General or Treasurer

8:00 pm - 9:30 pm Swiss Night - concert Chorale du Brassus

(temple de Saint-Gervais)

Thursday, August 21st

10:00 am - 10:15 am Presentation of the candidates for Second Vice-President or for second election for First Vice-President, Secretary General or Treasurer (plenary room)

Session chair: KUA Cheng Hock

Nomination committee chair: Philip Bam

10:15 am - 10:45 am Education for all visually impaired children (EFA-VI) campaign (plenary room)

Session chair: KUA Cheng Hock

Session speaker: Larry Campbell, President International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI)

10:45 am - 11:00 am Listening to the Children (plenary room)

Session chair: KUA Cheng Hock

Session speaker: Ana Pelaez

11:00 am - 12:00 am Low Vision (plenary room)

Session chair: KUA Cheng Hock

Session coordinator: Jill Wagner

12:00 am - 2:00 pm Election of Second Vice-President or second election of First Vice-President, Secretary General or Treasurer (separate room)

12:00 am - 2:00 pm Lunch

12:00 am - 1:00 pm Official opening of technology exhibition

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Constitutional amendments (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Session speaker: John Heilbrunn

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm Recognition of and remarks by WBU past leaders (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Session speakers: Dorina Nowill

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ghanim

Sir Duncan Watson

David Blyth

Euclid Herie

Kicki Nordstrom

Pedro Zurita

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Tea break

4:00 pm - 4:05 pm Announce election results for Second Vice-President or second election for First Vice-President, Secretary General or Treasurer (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Returning officer: Geoff Gibbs

4:05 pm - 5:05 pm “Being Blind in the World” (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Session speakers: David Blunkett (United Kingdom)

Hendrietta Bogopane Zulu (South Africa)

Ted Henter (United States)

5:05 pm - 5:50 pm Technology session: Progress towards a more accessible world, guidelines and new ideas (plenary room)

Session chair: Amer Makarem

Session coordinator: Stephen King

5:50 pm - 6:10 pm Best-practice presentations (plenary room)

Session chair: Amer Makarem

Community based development in South Africa

Presenter: Heidi Volkwijn - The League of Friends of the Blind

EBU Project to enhance accessibility of health related information

Presenter: John Heilbrunn - Chair European Blind Union Pharmaceutical Labelling Working Group

6:10 pm Nominations close for xxxx candidate (if needed)

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Presidents Reception for key sponsors (by invitation) (ICCG)

Friday, August 22nd

8:30 am - 9:30 am Election of xxxx Candidate (if needed)

9:30 am - 10:30 am Membership - future direction (plenary room)

Session chair: Maryanne Diamond

Session speaker: Susan Spungin

10:30 am - 11:00 am Provisional budget 2009 - 2012 (plenary room)

Session chair: Susan Spungin

Session speaker: Penny Hartin

11:00 am - 12:00 am Resolutions committee report (plenary room)

Session chair: Enrique Perez

Session speaker: Tina Nummi-Södergren

12:00 am - 2:00 pm Lunch

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Presentation of Commemorative Publications (plenary room)

Session chair: Lord Colin Low

Presentation of: World Blind Union - changing what it means to be blind: Reflections on our first 25 years

Session speaker: Sir John Wall

Presentation of: "A universal voice"

A WBU external publication for promoting our Union and the L. Braille 200th Anniversary

Session speaker: Enrique Perez

2:30 pm - 2:55 pm Presentation of WBU Awards (plenary room)

Session chair: Lord Colin Low

Presenter: William Rowland

2:55 pm - 3:00 pm Election results for xxxx Candidate (if needed) (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

Returning officer: Geoff Gibbs

3:00 pm - 3:20 pm Louis Braille - A Eulogy (plenary room)

Session chair: Aubrey Webson

Session speaker: Euclid Herie

3:20 pm - 3:40 pm Louis Braille Bicentenary (plenary room)

Session chair: Aubrey Webson

Session speaker: Representative from CINAL - André Vincent

3:40 pm - 4:15 pm Farewell to retiring officers and

introducing the new team(plenary room)

Address by incoming President

Approval of Executive for 2008 - 2012

Session chair: William Rowland

4:15 pm - 5:00 pm Acknowledgements and conclusion of business session (plenary room)

Session chair: William Rowland

5:00 pm - 5:30 pm Closing Ceremony (plenary room)

Thanks

Pianist

Session chair: William Rowland

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Transfer to hotels - break - Transfer to social event

7:00 pm - 11:00 pm Gala Dinner (Crowne Plaza Hotel)

11:00 pm - 11:45 pm Transfer to hotels

Saturday, August 23rd

9:00 am - 12:00am Executive Meeting (room 5&6)

9:00 am - 5:00 pm Last day of exhibition: open for all GA attendees and Swiss visitors

List of sponsor and donors of WBU

Platinum

Diamond

Gold

Other WBU supporters

Sponsors of the seventh General Assembly

Many other donors offered great support for the realization of the seventh General Assembly of the World Blind Union but don't want to be mentioned

Seventh General Assembly Committees

International organizing committee

Chair and link person: Maryanne Diamond

Members: Enrique Perez

Geoff Gibbs

Penny Hartin

Christian Hugentobler

Program committee

Chair: William Rowland

Members: Colin Low

Elly Macha

Penny Hartin

André Assimacopoulos

Sponsorships committee

Chair: Philip Bam

Members: Susan Spungin

Penny Hartin

Arnt Holte

Christina Fasser

Nominations

Chair: Philip Bam

Members: AFUB: Donatilla Kanimba

ABU: Ahmed Allouzi

ASIA PACIFIC: William Jolley

EBU: Poul Lüneborg

LATIN AMERICA: José Monteagudo

Credentials committee

Chair: James Sanders

Members: Jill Wagner

John Heilbrunn

Resolutions committee

Chair: Tina Nummi-Södergren

Members: Birgitta Blokland

Dr. Elly Macha

Mr. A. K. Mittal

Returning officer

Geoff Gibbs

Scrutineers

Barbara Marjeram

Judith Varsaski

Ludmilla Tsesarskaya

Kurt Gilgen

Rahel Ganz

Local organizing committee

Swiss Federation of the blind and visually impaired (SFB)

Gutenbergstrasse 40b

CH-3011 Bern

In partnership with the Association of the Blind (SBb), the Swiss National Association of and for the Blind (SNAB), Retina Suisse and the Association pour le Bien des Aveugles et malvoyants ABA (Association for the Wellbeing of the Blind and Visually Impaired)

WBU Officers

President

Dr. William ROWLAND

Past Executive Director

South African National Council for the Blind

First Vice-President

Ms. Maryanne Diamond

c/o AFDO

Australia

Second Vice-President

Ms. Gloria PENIZA

President

Venezuela

Secretary general

Mr. Enrique Pérez

Spain

Treasurer

Dr. Susan Jay Spungin

Vice-president of International Programs and Special Projects

USA

Chief executive officer

Dr. Penny Hartin

Canada

Social Program of the General Assembly (only open to registered people)

August 17th - Standing dinner reception at ICCG with Pari Zanganeh

August 20^th - Swiss Night - Concert of the Chorale du Brassus at the temple de Saint-Gervais

August 22^nd - Gala Dinner at the Crowne Plaza

General information

Various

The following information are handed separately, collected in a plastic bag inside the conference bag. Additional information are only available on the congress website.

Lunches and refreshments

Lunches and refreshments (except water) are not included in the registration fee. Participants must buy a lunch ticket to get access to the restaurant.

Coffee breaks and lunches

Coffee breaks will be served in the ICCG, next to the plenary room.

Lunches will be served in the main restaurant at the first floor of the CICG.

Name badge

Your name badge is your admission to the conference sessions and the coffee breaks. It should be worn at all times at the conference venue.

Language

The official languages of WBU 2008 are English, French and Spanish. Simultaneous translation will be available in the Assembly hall and some of the workshop rooms. English is widely spoken in Geneva, but the official language is (Swiss-) French.

Electricity

Geneva's electricity supply is 220V.

Insurance and cancellation policy

The organisers are not able to take any responsibility whatsoever for injury or damage involving people and property during the conference.

Conference contact

Kuoni Congress will take care of the conference registration, payment of fees, accommodation bookings and social events and will be present at the conference centre.

Currency, credit cards and banking information

The official currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF). Normal banking hours are from 09.00 to 16.00 on weekdays, but most exchange offices are open on Saturdays. Automatic tellers, which you can use with your VISA, Mastercard or most other major credit cards, are available all over the city. Most hotels and shops accept all major credit cards, as well as Euros (giving change in CHF).

Shopping

Shops mostly open from 09.00 to 19.00 on week days, 09.00 to 18.00 and few shops open on Sundays. Exceptions are as follow: at the airport, the Migros supermarket opens from 08.00-20.00 and at the railway station, the Aperto supermarket is open from 06.00-22.00.

Time zone

Geneva's time is Central European Summer Time (GMT+2), e.g. 1 hour ahead of UK and Ireland, 6 hours ahead of East coast USA, 9 hours ahead of West coast USA, and 7 hours behind Tokyo, Japan.

Tourist information

Tourist information, concerning the best restaurants, cafes, museums or events in Geneva and its surroundings, etc., can be found at: www.genevetourisme.ch. The tourist information office is:

Geneva Tourism,

Rue du Mont-Blanc 18,

PO Box 1602, CH 1211 Geneva 1,

Switzerland, Tel. +41 22 909 70 00.

Kuoni will be happy to advise you.

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