1. A short introduction to the Convention
Module 2

2. Objective Module flow Answer key questions on the Convention
What is the Convention?
What is the purpose of the Convention?
Whom does it protect?
What does it protect?
Who is responsible?
What has to be done?
How is it enforced?
Why is the Convention important?
What can you do to support the Convention?

3. What is a convention? An internationally agreed document that:
Recognizes universal human rights standards
Identifies obligations on States to promote and protect human rights
Sets out national and international monitoring and implementation mechanisms

4. What is the purpose of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?
To promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity

5. Whom does it protect?
Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others
Consider:
Diversity of disabilities – physical, intellectual, psycho-social, sensory …
Women with disabilities
Children with disabilities
Older persons with disabilities
Others?

6. What are the principles set out in the Convention?
Respect for dignity and individual autonomy
Non-discrimination
Participation and inclusion
Respect for difference and diversity
Accessibility
Equality of opportunity
Equality between men and women
Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities

7. What does it protect? EXERCISE
Unlocking the secrets of the Convention: choose a right and discuss

8. Who is responsible? The State: ministries, parliaments, courts
Private sector
Health, teaching and other professionals, the media
Everyone!
Slide 8
The purpose of this slide is to outline the various mechanisms that can have a role in national implementation and monitoring.
While the Convention refers explicitly to three mechanisms – focal points and coordination mechanisms for implementation and independent mechanisms/frameworks and civil society for monitoring – others can also help to implement and monitor. Parliament and courts are possible examples.

9. What has to be done? Change laws and policies Provide funding
Make goods and services accessible
Raise awareness on rights
Train professionals and others
Undertake research
Collect data
Monitor
Strengthen ministries, courts, national human rights institutions (creating them if needed)
Build State capacity to implement
Build capacity of persons with disabilities to claim their rights

10. How is it enforced? At national level:
Government: for implementation
Focal point
Coordination mechanism (optional)
Independent framework: for monitoring
National implementation and monitoring framework
Civil society

11. How is it enforced? At international level: Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State reports
General Comments Concluding Observations
Optional Protocol to the Convention
Communications
Inquiries

12. How is it enforced? Consider the roles of: Courts
National monitoring frameworks
Civil society monitoring
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

13. Why is the Convention important?
Clarifies the rights of persons with disabilities
Sets out responsibilities to respect those rights
Requires a rights-based approach to disability
Promotes inclusive and accessible development
Ensures national and international monitoring of rights

14. Participation of persons with disabilities
Nothing about us without us!

15. What can you do to support the Convention?

16. Sources Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
A/HRC/4/75
A/HRC/10/48
Department of Economic and Social Affairs; United Nations Population Fund; Wellesley Centers for Women, Disability Rights, Gender and Development: A Resource Tool for Action. Available from (accessed 2 August 2012)