Programme : Presentation on Day
1Background and issues associated with elaboration of an international
convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
Presented by Kay Nagata
Disability Focal Point
UN ESCAP
Slide 1
Background and issues associated with elaboration of an international convention on
the rights of persons with disabilities
UN ESCAP/CDPF Regional Seminar on an International Convention on Protection and
Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
Beijing, China
4-7 November 2003
Kay Nagata
Disability Focal Point
UN ESCAP
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Equality
Equality is a fundamental concern of the World Programme and is reflected in its
"equalization of opportunities" objective. Equality is defined in the World
Programme with reference to parity with opportunities available to the entire population.
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International Convention
General Assembly resolution 57/229 provides important guidance on
further elaboration of a comprehensive and integral international convention. The
resolution: ;
- invites the regional commissions and intergovernmental
organizations, within their respective mandates, to make available to the Ad Hoc
Committee suggestions and possible elements to be considered in proposals for a convention;
- urges that further efforts be made to ensure the active participation
of non-governmental organizations in the Ad Hoc Committee;
- encourages Member States to involve persons with disabilities,
representatives of disability organizations and experts in the preparatory
processes contributing to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, . . .
4
Expert Group Meeting and Seminar on an International Convention to Protect and Promote
the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
Bangkok, Thailand, 2-4 June 2003
Outcome: Bangkok Recommendations, submitted
to the Second Session of Ad-Hoc Committee on the Convention, held in NY, 16-27 2003 by UN
ESCAP.
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Key principles (Bangkok Recommendations)
- International human rights standards require that people with disabilities should claim
and enjoy the same basic human rights;
- Need for a new Convention for PWD;
- Both civil, political and socio-economic and cultural rights;
- Rights based;
- Need for provision of reasonable accommodation/positive measures to achieve equality;
- Full participation of PWD in all processes of the Convention (preparation,
implementation, and monitoring);
- Accessibility is very critical (physical access and access to information);
- Non-discrimination and specific rights of PWD
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Gender Perspective
- UN ESCAP Workshop on Women and Disability: Promoting Full Participation of Women
with Disabilities in the Process of Elaboration on an International Convention to Promote
and Protect the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
(outcome: Statement of Recommendations, which was used for preparation of the Bangkok
Draft)
- 18-22 August 2003, Bangkok, Thailand
- 13 October 2003, Bangkok, Thailand
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Basic principles
- The new convention should reaffirm and build on existing human rights norms,
particularly CEDAW;
- Gender equality and mainstreaming (50% of population);
- The term "access" is a liberty to enter, to approach, to communicate with, to
pass to or from, or make use of physical, environmental and societal structures, systems
and processes regardless of type and degree of disability, gender or age.
- The Bangkok Draft on proposed elements …..
- Regional Workshop towards a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on
Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, Bangkok,
Thailand, 14-17 October 2003
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Basic principles
- The Convention should build on human rights laid down in the existing UN human
rights treaties;
- Human rights are universal, inter-related and inter-dependent and fully apply to
people with disabilities.
- Pro-active state obligations to take legislative and administrative measures to ensure
equality;
- The role of international cooperation in implementation of the Convention;
- Independent community living and inclusive services (e.g. inclusive education, etc/)
9
Thank you
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