The drafting process of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

1. Why draft a disability convention? Disability is no longer considered a problem strictly linked to the person, it also depends on the environment of the disabled individual.  The perception of disability has evolved: Disabled persons are no longer considered as objects, but as subjects of law. © Ph Revelli pour Handicap International

 to allow disabled persons to enjoy the same rights as others © M. Seth pour Handicap International

1987: Initial call for a convention 1999/2000: several experts meetings clearly recognized that a specific and legally binding text on disability is needed. 2001: Mexico suggested working on a new convention, which was accepted by a United Nations General Assembly resolution. 2. First steps

General Assembly resolution 19/12/2001 Established an ad hoc committee responsible for drafting a convention Suggested to elaborate an integral convention including social development Asked all relevant stakeholders (NGOs, international treaty bodies, UN agencies...) to contribute to the work entrusted to the ad hoc committee

The ad hoc committee The committee was composed of: States representatives Civil society (NGOs): its participation is exceptional UN bodies and agencies National Human Rights Institutions © C. Dixon / Handicap International

Stakeholders’ positions Developing countries: practical obligations for States, but which do not imply a cost too high Scandinavian countries: international norms wouldn’t be less effective than their national norms Development organizations: the implementation of the Convention will be effective only if disability issues are mainstreamed in all development programs Disabled People Organizations: « nothing about us without us »

 1 st et 2 nd sessions ( ) : Choosing the nature of text and creation of a working group The working group was composed of: 27 States representatives 12 Disabled People Organizations 1 national institution of Human Rights 3. Ad hoc committee sessions

 3 rd session to 6 th session ( ) : First and second reading of the draft, amendments  October 2005 : publication of the « Chairman Text » : the committee’s chairman proposed a compromise between the different positions of the participants  7 th and 8 th session (2006) : Last reading  General Assembly resolution 12/13/2006: the text is adopted by the General Assembly.