In 2007, GAATES was developed as an international consortium dedicated to promoting accessibility worldwide.  Today, it is a leading international organization dedicated to the promotion of accessibility of the built and virtual environments, and to promoting the Guiding Principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).  GAATES’ global network includes expert members in disaster risk reduction and preparedness, information and communication technologies, urban development, and the built environment.  The alliance allows for collaborative partnerships, between a wide range of stakeholders, to implement universal design principles in creating inclusive and sustainable environments.

Appropriately, GAATES’ members have been actively planning for the upcoming World Urban Forum.  Mr. Batista Poitier first introduced the event types that participants can host, and the application processes.  He clarified that side events are focused on the organizer, their area of focus related to urban development, and the speakers they choose to highlight.  Networking events, on the other hand, are more focused on the goal of partnerships in a specific area. Training events are focused on a specific and deployable skill, and on engaging participants which would find the skill applicable to their work.  Mr. Batista Poitier informed members of the requirements necessary for each event type, and highlighted how each event should contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Forum’s theme, Cities for All.

Also presented were some of the events which GAATES is currently developing for WUF including:

• an art exhibit related to inclusion in cities,
• an event with network colleague,Sozialhelden, which will be a networking event where Wheelmap could promote their new white label product to organizations or cities, but with the potential to also train participants through a live mapping of the Forum,
• an exhibit, featuring the braille and audio versions of the New Urban Agenda. This event would not only present the new versions, but would advocate for their necessity in all fields by engaging with persons without disabilities.
• an event which would highlight the use of digital technology for inclusion in smart cities,
• an event focused on displacement in urban centers and inclusive humanitarian action.

To follow up on the engaged discussion during the meeting, Mr. Batista Poitier is planning meetings with members interested in participating on the development of these events.  He encouraged any DIAUD member who wished to be further involved with planning to contact him: federico.poitier@gaates.org