CBM: Respect for Disability Rights Crucial to Reduce Poverty
UN Convention Open for Signature on 30 March
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- At the shoe workshop of CBM's partner Khartoum Cheshire Home, Roda (left) and Malka are fabricating new shoes for the young clients with physical impairment. Both young women were rehabilitated by the project and have found livelihood opportunities in the workshop. Khartoum Cheshire Home is a rehabilitation centre for children with physical impairments, located in Sudan's capital city. © CBM
On 30 March 2007, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will be open for signature by the 192 UN-Member States; the signing ceremony will take place in New York. After the signing, the way is open for ratification—the translation of the Convention into national legislation. The Convention needs to be ratified by at least 20 countries to enter into force.
"CBM is requesting all governments to sign and ratify the convention, so that persons with disabilities will have equal rights and opportunities" says Professor Allen Foster, President of CBM. Of the world’s 600 million persons with disabilities 80% live in low income countries, where they often belong to the most marginalised of society. "In order for the global efforts aimed at poverty reduction and sustainable development to be successful it is essential that the human rights of persons with disabilities are respected across the world", explained Foster.
"CBM is requesting all governments to sign and ratify the convention, so that persons with disabilities will have equal rights and opportunities" says Professor Allen Foster, President of CBM. Of the world’s 600 million persons with disabilities 80% live in low income countries, where they often belong to the most marginalised of society. "In order for the global efforts aimed at poverty reduction and sustainable development to be successful it is essential that the human rights of persons with disabilities are respected across the world", explained Foster.
European Community will sign Convention
The European Community and its 27 member states will sign the convention. Due to differing legal processes, not all member countries will sign already on 30 March. Internationally, more than 40 countries will sign the convention, including one fifth of countries, in which CBM supports programmes.
Following the signing, the ratification process of the Convention will start, which will be a much more complicated procedure. It will require the active involvement and participation of disability and development NGOs as well as all other stakeholders to bring about effective ratification and effective take-up of the new stand-alone International Cooperation Article 32 of the convention, which now makes the inclusion of disability in development cooperation legally binding.
Following the signing, the ratification process of the Convention will start, which will be a much more complicated procedure. It will require the active involvement and participation of disability and development NGOs as well as all other stakeholders to bring about effective ratification and effective take-up of the new stand-alone International Cooperation Article 32 of the convention, which now makes the inclusion of disability in development cooperation legally binding.
Article 32, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
International cooperation
States Parties recognize the importance of international cooperation and its promotion, in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the present Convention, and will undertake appropriate and effective measures in this regard, between and among States and, as appropriate, in partnership with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society, in particular organizations of persons with disabilities.
Such measures could include, inter alia:
The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the obligations of each State Party to fulfil its obligations under the present Convention.
States Parties recognize the importance of international cooperation and its promotion, in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the present Convention, and will undertake appropriate and effective measures in this regard, between and among States and, as appropriate, in partnership with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society, in particular organizations of persons with disabilities.
Such measures could include, inter alia:
- (a) Ensuring that international cooperation, including international development programmes, is inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities;
- (b) Facilitating and supporting capacity-building, including through the exchange and sharing of information, experiences, training programmes and best practices;
- (c) Facilitating cooperation in research and access to scientific and technical knowledge;
- (d) Providing, as appropriate, technical and economic assistance, including by facilitating access to and sharing of accessible and assistive technologies, and through the transfer of technologies.
The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the obligations of each State Party to fulfil its obligations under the present Convention.
Right to health, employment and education
Equal rights, non discrimination, the right to freedom and personal security, to health, employment and education are included in the treaty. They aim for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society, and for their participation in political and cultural life on equal terms as all other members of society.
While the ratification process can take several years, so far, negotiations have proceeded quickly, thanks to the high level of contributions from civil society and Disabled Persons’ Organisations in particular.
Already on 13 December 2006, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the United Nations’ General Assembly.
Since 1908, CBM supports partner organisations in currently 113 developing countries to provide medical, educational, and rehabilitative services to persons with disabilities and to advocate for their human rights.
Read more:
Social Exclusion is a Violation of Human Rights - summary of an essay by Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt, Director of the German Institute for Human Rights on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
What Are CBM's Activities On 30. March?
UN General Assembly Adopts Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
While the ratification process can take several years, so far, negotiations have proceeded quickly, thanks to the high level of contributions from civil society and Disabled Persons’ Organisations in particular.
Already on 13 December 2006, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the United Nations’ General Assembly.
Since 1908, CBM supports partner organisations in currently 113 developing countries to provide medical, educational, and rehabilitative services to persons with disabilities and to advocate for their human rights.
Read more:
Social Exclusion is a Violation of Human Rights - summary of an essay by Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt, Director of the German Institute for Human Rights on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
What Are CBM's Activities On 30. March?
UN General Assembly Adopts Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Links
The full text of the Convention can be downloaded at
UN Enable Website
The UN website offers a live webcast of the Signature Ceremony of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities starting at 10 a.m. at United Nations Headquarters in New York City (or at noon in Buenos Aires, 4 p.m. London, 5 p.m. Berlin, 6 p.m. Nairobi, 10 p.m. Bangkok), following the link: www.un.org/webcast/
The programme of the signing ceremony with a list of speakers and further information is available at www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/crpdopensig.htm
The International Disability Caucus is an umbrella organisation for 70 international, national and regional Disabled People’s Organisations.
UN General Assembly Adopts Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Ratification Toolkit Disabled Peoples International: Learn about the Convention, the ratification and how to support the ratification with campaigns
How to translate global development goals into local action? How can people with disabilities be included as beneficiaries and agents of action in the planning and implementation of poverty reduction strategies? The web-based toolbox developped by the Global Partnership on Disability and Development provides a platform for sharing information about how to facilitate the inclusion of disability matters and disabled people in poverty reduction strategies. GPDD toolbox on disability and poverty reduction
The German Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) offers publications for download, about the inclusion of the interests of persons with disabilities in German development cooperation. E.g.: Disability and development. A contribution to promoting the interests of persons with disabilities in German development cooperation. Policy paper. Sector Initiative Systems of Social Protection - Fischer, Anja; Franke, Katja; Rompel, Matthias; 2006.
GTZ Publications
Signature Campaign:
www.1million4disability.eu - European Disability Forum
Conference Report
"Impact and Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in Developing Countries", 20.-21. November 2006 as part of the EU-Project "Disability Mainstreaming": www.make-development-inclusive.org
UN Enable Website
The UN website offers a live webcast of the Signature Ceremony of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities starting at 10 a.m. at United Nations Headquarters in New York City (or at noon in Buenos Aires, 4 p.m. London, 5 p.m. Berlin, 6 p.m. Nairobi, 10 p.m. Bangkok), following the link: www.un.org/webcast/
The programme of the signing ceremony with a list of speakers and further information is available at www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/crpdopensig.htm
The International Disability Caucus is an umbrella organisation for 70 international, national and regional Disabled People’s Organisations.
UN General Assembly Adopts Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Ratification Toolkit Disabled Peoples International: Learn about the Convention, the ratification and how to support the ratification with campaigns
How to translate global development goals into local action? How can people with disabilities be included as beneficiaries and agents of action in the planning and implementation of poverty reduction strategies? The web-based toolbox developped by the Global Partnership on Disability and Development provides a platform for sharing information about how to facilitate the inclusion of disability matters and disabled people in poverty reduction strategies. GPDD toolbox on disability and poverty reduction
The German Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) offers publications for download, about the inclusion of the interests of persons with disabilities in German development cooperation. E.g.: Disability and development. A contribution to promoting the interests of persons with disabilities in German development cooperation. Policy paper. Sector Initiative Systems of Social Protection - Fischer, Anja; Franke, Katja; Rompel, Matthias; 2006.
GTZ Publications
Signature Campaign:
www.1million4disability.eu - European Disability Forum
Conference Report
"Impact and Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in Developing Countries", 20.-21. November 2006 as part of the EU-Project "Disability Mainstreaming": www.make-development-inclusive.org
