Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Rosemary Kayess

Introduction

• First Convention 21st Century– Adopted by the GA December 2006

• Open for signature March 30, 2007• 81 signatories, including Australia• Entered into force 2008

• Two instruments– Convention: 106 ratified, 153 signed– Optional Protocol: 63 ratified, 90 signed

• Human rights framework– Rights bearers

Background

• Disability ‘missing piece’– International Bill of Human Rights

• “other status”

– International Standards (soft law)• Non-compliance

– Policy failure• jurisprudence

– Disability and poverty• Poorest of the poor

• MDG (2000)

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

• Unprecedented civil society involvement– Disabled persons’ organisations– Developing nations

• Thematic– No new rights

• Non-discrimination and substantive articles• Civil & Political, Economic, Social & Cultural• Implementation, capacity building

– Disability context

– 50 articles

Innovations

• General obligations– Research, civil society engagement

• World Report

• Facilitation articles– General principles, women & children, awareness

raising, accessibility, data & statistics• Translated rights

– Freedom from violence and abuse, protecting the integrity of the person, living independently, personal mobility

• Implementation measures– Situations of risk, rehabilitation and habilitation, access to justice, international cooperation