AGREEING TO HOLD SECOND SESSION, COMMITTEE URGES IMPROVED ACCESS FOR DISABLED TO UNITED NATIONS FACILITIES

Ad Hoc Committee on Convention

on Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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AGREEING TO HOLD SECOND SESSION, COMMITTEE URGES IMPROVED ACCESS

FOR DISABLED TO UNITED NATIONS FACILITIES

Decision Stresses Importance of NGOs in Committee’s Work

The Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities concluded its inaugural consideration of proposals for a new holistic international treaty this afternoon by reaffirming the need to promote and protect the equal and effective enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities.  

Aware of the contribution that an integral convention could make in that regard and convinced of the need to continue the deliberation of proposals, the Committee approved a decision to hold its second session -- within existing resources -- for 10 working days at Headquarters prior to the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly. 

That decision also stressed the importance of active participation by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Ad Hoc Committee's work.  The text would have the Assembly decide to establish a voluntary fund to support the participation of such groups, as well as that of experts from developing countries, and particularly the least developed countries.

Further by the text, the Assembly would strongly recommend that the Secretary-General implement steps to ensure that accessibility to United Nations facilities -- including physical premises, technology and documents -- is improved for all persons with disabilities.  It would also have the Assembly invite persons with disabilities and experts to present proposals in that regard.

Also by the decision, the Assembly would underline that consideration of proposals for a convention shall complement concrete efforts to further mainstream the disability perspective into the implementation of international obligations and into the monitoring of the six core United Nations human rights treaties, as well as the process of strengthening the United Nations Standard Rules on Equalization of the Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.

The decision was one of several recommendations contained in the Committee's draft report and subsequently approved for consideration by the fifty-seventh session of the Assembly.  Following a paragraph-by-paragraph reading, the Committee adopted its report as orally amended.

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Another decision contained in the report concerned the modalities of the participation of NGOs.  By that decision, accredited civil society groups could participate in the Committee's work by, among other ways, attending and/or making statements at its public meetings, receiving copies of written documents, as well as by making written presentations.   

Among the other recommendations for the Assembly's consideration, was a request for the Bureau to hold an inter-sessional meeting regarding the preparation of the Committee's second session, and another inviting the Bureau to organize panel discussions at the Committee's next session, with the participation of experts and United Nations agencies on key thematic issues.  Delegations decided, by oral amendment, to have the outcome of the Bureau's inter-sessional posted on the Ad Hoc Committee's Web Site.

In other business this afternoon, Vice-Chairman Enrique Manalo (Philippines) briefed the Committee on the progress of the informal consultations, which had been held during the final two days of the session.  He said that through cooperation on the part of all the negotiating parties, the working group had been successful in elaborating the draft resolution contained in the report before the Committee.  Also, Vice-Chairperson and Rapporteur Jeanette Ndhlovu (South Africa) introduced the Committee's draft report. 

Before the Committee concluded its work, Vice-Chairperson Karina Martensson (Sweden) announced that Ecuador had just been named the 2002 recipient of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt International Disability Award presented to States that had undertaken outstanding efforts on behalf of persons with disabilities in connection with the United Nations World Programme of Action for Persons with Disabilities.

In closing remarks, Committee Chairman Luis Gallegos (Ecuador) said the protection and promotion of human rights was one of the fundamental objectives of the international community.  That imperative was even more urgent when it concerned vulnerable populations.  All those participating in the Committee's

10-day deliberations had come away with a more sensitive perspective and a more urgent desire to effect changes in the international culture that would make the world better for people with disabilities.

He called on everyone to continue to work toward the elaboration of a new international treaty, which would instil in the world's nearly 600 million disabled persons a sense of community and ultimately provide the means with which to address inequality and discrimination against them.

Also making closing remarks were the representatives of Cameroon (on behalf of the African Group), New Zealand, Mexico and Denmark (on behalf of the European Union).

A representative of the NGO International Disability Alliance also spoke.

The General Assembly established the Ad Hoc Committee last February by its resolution A/RES/56/168, recognizing that despite efforts made to increase

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cooperation and integration and increasing awareness of and sensitivity to disabilities, those efforts had not been sufficient to promote full and effective participation by and opportunities for persons with disabilities in economic, social, cultural and political life.

[United Nations efforts to promote the rights of persons with disabilities had incorporated the core human rights principles set out by the international human rights instruments -- the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights -- into disability-specific instruments.  Those include the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons (1982) and the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (1993), as well as strategic frameworks established by a series of 1990s United Nations development conferences and, most recently, the Millennium Development Goals.]

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