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Resolution of the 9th Helen Keller World Conference and the 3rd General Assembly of the World Federation of the DeafBlind

We, the members of WFDB gathered in Munyonyo, Uganda, representing all people living with deafblindness, considering the historical moment in which the 3rd General Assembly of our organization takes place; taking into account the challenge that the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities represents, we share the following resolution:

1. WFDB is committed to the necessity that every country in the world ratifies and implements the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
2. Persons with deafblindness and their organizations have to take the lead in the process of implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in all parts of the world.
3. We identify education as a primary issue, being essential to enable inclusion of persons with deafblindness in all aspects of life.
4. In developing countries special attention should be given to the specific needs of persons with deafblindness in education, including provision of technical aids, proper materials and adequate numbers of qualified teachers and guide/interpreters.
5. WFDB should facilitate that the Convention is accessible to all persons with deafblindness using all formats of communication.
6. To achieve a better impact at a national level, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities should be translated into national languages and specific guidelines should be developed in plain language.
7. Governments should address rubella as an important public health matter that is one of the main causes of deafblindness.
8. Policies aiming for inclusion of persons with deafblindness in work and productive activities have to be promoted at international organizations like the ILO.
9. The WFDB should facilitate the formation of women groups and promote the inclusion of women in different areas as education and health care, promote the legal capacity and access to information of women with deafblindness.
10. Research and data collection that can favour the life conditions of persons with deafblindness must be supported.

Munyonyo, October 27 2009