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<DIV><SPAN class=774314319-26032008>This will be of considerable interest for
those working on ICT Access issues and Persons with Disabilities.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=774314319-26032008></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=774314319-26032008>MG</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=774314319-26032008></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=774314319-26032008></SPAN> </DIV>
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<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
discuss-bounces@un-gaid.org [mailto:discuss-bounces@un-gaid.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>Axel Leblois<BR><B>Sent:</B> March 25, 2008 1:00 PM<BR><B>To:</B> 'GAID
Discussion'<BR><B>Cc:</B> 'Francesca Cesa Bianchi'<BR><B>Subject:</B>
[gaid-discuss] G3ict - ITU Joint Global Forum on ICT
AccessibilityStandards<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=734172919-25032008>Dear <SPAN
class=921175519-25032008>GAID Friends and Colleagues</SPAN>,</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN
class=734172919-25032008><SPAN class=921175519-25032008>As announced last
summer, </SPAN>o</SPAN>n Monday, April 21st, G3ict<SPAN
class=921175519-25032008>, a Flagship Advocacy Initiative of the
Global Alliance for ICT and Development </SPAN><SPAN
class=921175519-25032008>will </SPAN>co-organize with the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) <SPAN class=921175519-25032008>a </SPAN>joint
2008 Global Forum to review areas of challenges and opportunities for
international ICT accessibility standards in light of the dispositions of the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. <BR><BR>Since March 30,
2007, 126 United Nations member states have signed the Convention: this
unexpected fast rate of adoption makes it urgent to promote ICT accessibility
standards that will support a better and faster implementation around the world
of the many dispositions of the Convention regarding ICTs. <BR><BR>For the first
time since the Convention was adopted, an international group of experts from
industry, standards development organizations, NGOs representing persons with
disabilities, international development institutions, governments and academia
will examine together its many implications for ICT accessibility
standards. <SPAN class=921175519-25032008> </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=921175519-25032008></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left>Proceedings will be edited to serve as a reference for
future accessibility standards developments. <BR><BR>We hope that you can join
us for this important meeting which will take place at the ITU Headquarters in
Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, April 21st, 2008. I have attached an invitation
and agenda (in both accessible text only version and PDF file). Please feel free
to forward this invitation to those of your colleagues who may have an
interest<SPAN class=734172919-25032008> in</SPAN> attend<SPAN
class=734172919-25032008>ing </SPAN>. Participation to the meeting is free,
but advanced registration is required at: <BR><BR><A
href="http://itu.int/ITU-T/worksem/accessibility/200804/registration.html"
target=_BLANK>http://itu.int/ITU-T/worksem/accessibility/200804/registration.html</A>
<BR><BR>Should you have any question regarding your participation, please
contact Ms. Francesca Cesa Bianchi, Director of External Relations for G3ict <A
href="mailto:fcesabianchi@g3ict.com">fcesabianchi@g3ict.com</A> or +1 404 446
4160. <SPAN class=921175519-25032008> </SPAN><SPAN
class=921175519-25032008> </SPAN><BR><BR>Looking forward to seeing you in
Geneva, <BR><BR>With best regards, <BR><BR>Axel Leblois <BR>Executive Director
<BR>G3ict <BR><BR><A href="http://www.g3ict.com"
target=_BLANK>www.g3ict.com</A><BR><BR><IMG
src="http://na1.salesforce.com/servlet/servlet.ImageServer?oid=00D300000001KJs&esid=01830000007Nt48"
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