Programme : Presentation on Day
2United Nations and Persons with Disabilities
presented by Akiko Ito
Focal Point for Disability
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United Nations
and Persons with Disabilities
Equalization of opportunities
by, for and with persons with disabilities for the realization of a "society for
all"
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Regional Seminar on an
International Convention
on Disability
Beijing, China
4 to 7 November 2003
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The United Nations and
Persons with Disabilities
During the first 50 years, the UN has shifted its focus:
- From people's disabilities to their abilities, and
- To the removal of social barriers for full participation of persons with disabilities
and equality in social life and development
Documenting solutions >> Evaluating solutions >>
providing input into policy processes
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A brief history
1945 - 1955: The welfare perspective
1955 - 1960s: The social welfare and development perspective
1970s: A human rights approach
1981: International Year of Disabled Persons: full participation and
equality
1983-1992: United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons
1990-2000s: UN development conferences and 5 year reviews
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Milestones
1982: Adoption of the World Programme of Action concerning persons
with Disabilities
1993: Adoption of the Standard Rules, and the promotion of a human
rights perspective
1999: Third review and appraisal of the WPA
2001: Towards a convention based on a broad human rights framework for
the full realization of the rights of persons with disabilities in development
2002: Fourth review and appraisal of the WPA
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Our mandate
International instruments guiding our work:
- World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, and
- Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
- The United Nations Charter affirms the essentiality of "a universal respect for,
and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without
distinction…"
- And other relevant international instruments
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World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons
The WPA presents disability policy options with reference into three functional areas:
- Prevention
- Rehabilitation
- Equalization of opportunities
The goal: full participation of persons with disabilities, based on equality in social
life and development
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Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
The Standard Rules are practical guidelines for disability-sensitive policy making.
For example -
Rule 5, 6 & 7 focusing on accessibility, education and employment are key target
areas for the equalization of opportunities related to the empowerment of persons with
disabilities.
The Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for Social Development
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Activities of the
Division for Social Policy and Development of the
United Nations Secretariat
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Activities of the Division for Social Policy and Development of the United Nations
Secretariat
The activities of the Programme focus on
- Providing substantive support to intergovernmental policy processes
- Provided international normative/policy frameworks to promote the rights of persons with
disabilities in development
- Promoting disability sensitive policy legislation, and programmes
- Catalytic work in building capacity of persons with disabilities
INFORM * ENGAGE * EMPOWER
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Monitoring and Implementation
of the World Programme of Action
Fourth Review and appraisal (A/58/61-E/2003/5)
Strategic Framework
The disability perspective in development
Inclusive principles of universal design
Multiplicity of "disabled population"
Accessibility
Holistic approach to disability policy and development
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Recommendations of the S-G's report:
Progress in the elaboration of a convention
Action on equalization of opportunities in the context of development
Disability perspective in technical cooperation activities
Data and statistics
Improved planning and coordination of UN system activities
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International norms and standards related to Disability
Technical Cooperation
Accessibility
- Environmental Accessibility
- Accessibility to information and communication
Data and Statistics
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Ad Hoc Committee to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international
convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities
- First meeting, 29 July to 9 August 2002
- Second meeting, 16 to 27 June 2003
(accreditation process for NGOs and media currently underway. Visit our website for
forms and guidelines)
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The way ahead
- Monitoring - the implementation of relevant international norms and standards as well as
issues and trends in disability policy and development
- Linking human rights and development
- Mainstreaming disability in the work of the UN especially in development and human
rights
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The way ahead (cont.)
- Mainstreaming human rights and development in the traditional disability fields
- Creating a new community involving an entire society
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Some of the steps toward promoting the rights of persons with disabilities
Through the Ad Hoc Committee and other human rights international norms and standards:
- Full exploration, by both legal experts and advocates for the rights of persons with
disabilities of the existing human rights and standards and other mechanisms
- Accessibility to the institutional resources for utilizing legal administrative or other
official procedures
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…Steps (cont.)
- Capacity building in the disability community as well as non-traditional sectors of
society
- Networking to forge a sense of integrated community to prioritize the agenda for
protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities
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Promoting the policy discourse
- Adoption of legislative frameworks by Governments that reflect international standards
relating to disability that advance rights of persons with disabilities
- Commitment by policy makers, programme planners and technical experts to broaden policy
dialogues on disability
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Promoting the policy discourse (cont.)
- Involvement of civil society in a broad discourse on law and disability policies
- Organization of innovative forums in which legal and policy professionals, academics and
civil society can exchange knowledge and experience
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Contact us
United Nations Focal Point on Disability
Division for Social Policy and Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations
Two UN Plaza, DC2-1308
New York, NY 10017, USA
Or visit us on the web at:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable
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