{"id":89464,"date":"2021-09-29T17:00:43","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T15:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/?p=89464"},"modified":"2021-09-20T10:28:31","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T08:28:31","slug":"29-00-61","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/?p=89464","title":{"rendered":"Israel\u2019s Shalva Band Performs for Online WHO Event Promoting Disability Inclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>Israel\u2019s Shalva Band Performs for Online WHO Event Promoting Disability Inclusion<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Shiryn Ghermezian<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Shalva Band vocalists Dina Samteh (left) and Anael Khalifa performing for a side event of the 71st WHO Regional Committee for Europe. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

An eight-member ensemble comprised of Israeli musicians with disabilities performed on Friday at an online gathering about disability inclusion, as part of the 71st session of the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO) Regional Committee for Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Shalva Band performed \u201cA Million Dreams\u201d from the film \u201cThe Greatest Showman,\u201d a song they first\u00a0performed<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before the start of the track, vocalist Dina Samteh told viewers, \u201cWe are all humans. We have our differences. And that\u2019s what makes our lives interesting. Far too often, persons with disabilities face barriers and stigma, and don\u2019t receive the health services they need.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The band\u2019s lead vocalist, Anael Khalifa, added, \u201cI think of what the world could be if we broke down these barriers: a world of respect and acceptance. It is our responsibility to ensure that our voices are being heard and that no one is left behind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0online event<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0on Friday was co-hosted by the European Disability Forum, Germany, Israel, Norway, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was a side event of the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, a three-day agenda that formally ended on Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

In May 2021, the World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA74.8 on the \u201chighest attainable standard of health\u201d for persons with disabilities. The goal of Friday\u2019s event was to raise awareness among member states about the resolution, identify ways to highlight the importance of and advance disability inclusion in healthcare, and determine the next steps for advancing the resolution\u2019s goals in Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n

The European Disability Forum said the \u201cthe proposed outcome\u201d of the event was to begin preparing a European plan of action for implementing resolution WHA74.8 that would be presented to the WHO Regional Committee for Europe at its 72nd session.<\/span><\/p>\n

One billion people around the world live with some form of disability, according to the WHO Regional Office for Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch The Shalva Band perform \u201cA Million Dreams\u201d for the 71st WHO Regional Committee for Europe in the video below.<\/span><\/p>\n

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