A Scientific Advisory Board to the World Future Council http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/ , consisting of eleven leading European experts from the disability rights movement, academia, human rights institutions and foundations has chosen the Representation Agreement as the best policy in the world for recognizing the right to support in personal decision-making and avoiding guardianship.

The World Future Council has also recognized the Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry as the leading expert on the BC law and system, and as the organization which has been the main driver behind the creation of the Act. Nidus and the Representation Agreement will be featured in a Bulletin issued by the World Future Council and promoted as an example of best policies at an upcoming conference in Vienna in January 2012, which Christine Gordon, Nidus’ Board President has been invited to attend.

The Disability Rights Promotion International is human rights research project conducted by people with disabilities. Locally, BCCPD human rights monitors interviewed 48 people about their disability experiences in the Lower Mainland and in the Penticton area.  Globally, other sections of the DRPI project monitor systemic human rights abuses.

In October 2011, BCCPD and DRPI held a forum to present the survey findings to the community. We were fortunate to have as our guest speakers: Susan O’Donnell Executive Director of the BC Human Rights Coalition, Normand Boucher of DRPI-Canada/Laval University, Jewelles Smith, DRPI monitor and Laura Mackenrot, DRPI interviewee. Normand presented the research findings and forum participants were invited to comment on the findings and respond to questions designed by BCCPD and DRPI. The forum participants’ responses will be incorporated into the report’s final recommendations.

See more about DRPI here.

BCCPD continues to work closely with the Woodlands survivors in their struggle for justice and compensation. As of the end of 2011, the Province continues to exclude former Woodlands residents who were at the institution before August 1, 1974. These oldest survivors have not been given the opportunity to have their abuse recognized through the settlement agreement that has been signed by the Province. The compensation process for survivors who were at Woodlands after August 1, 1974, is extremely slow: as of October 2011, only 8 claims have been filed, out of the approximately 850 survivors who have come forward.

See more on our ongoing work on Woodlands.