Link October 2018 Volume 27 Issue 5 | Page 28

people Rosemary Kayess, image courtesy Jacquie Manning. Advocate in the UN Rosemary Kayess, Interim-Director of the UNSW Sydney Disability Innovation Institute, has been elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. E lections for the committee, development of a consistent and Rosemary Kayess is a Visiting which monitors implementation coherent body of international Fellow at UNSW Law, and Senior of the United Nations law that never loses sight of its Research Fellow at UNSW’s Social Convention on the Rights of Persons purpose and objectives, and Policy Research Centre (SPRC). with Disabilities, took place at the its principles and spirit.”   United Nations in New York recently. She is Chair of the Australian Centre for Disability Law and is Ms Kayess also acknowledged one of the driving forces behind leadership the Australian Government the state parties for voting six UNSW’s Disability Innovation had shown in promoting the rights of women onto the committee, where Institute, a ground-breaking people with disabilities and thanked there was previously only one.    initiative to help transform the the Disabled People’s Organisations  “It’s great to see so many Ms Kayess acknowledged the Australia for supporting her bid.   “I am very proud and humbled lives of people with disability by women with disability come harnessing research and innovation through in this election. In that across all faculties and disciplines.  Her research and advocacy that Australia has supported my spirit, I pay tribute to all the women nomination and I look forward to and girls whose contribution is include access to justice, social the task ahead,” Ms Kayess said.   so meaningful to what we do.”  inclusion, housing and employment.  “There are many challenges that lie before us, including the 28  As a woman with disability, people An internationally respected lawyer, researcher and academic, www.disabilityinnovation. unsw.edu.au linkonline.com.au