Disability and human rights What are the human rights of people with disabilities?

Equal, yet unrealized human rights Direct and indirect discriminations Double observation: – Constraining general international law: concerns all but does not explicitly refer to people with disabilities – Disability-related international texts (ex: Standard Rules): not legally constraining  UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted December 2006, entered into force May 2008

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Purpose: « 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 » (Article 1)

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Does not create new rights for persons with disabilities Legally binding for State Parties A development tool and a human rights instrument; Applies the social model of disability Is a policy instrument that is cross-disability and cross-sector; Represents “a huge step forward for the promotion of access to services for people with disabilities in all contexts and environments” Clearly stipulates the role of representative organisations of persons with disabilities

Disability rights in international cooperation Links between disability and development Article 32 : development should be inclusive of and accessible to people with disabilities (first article of the kind in an international treaty, concerning its application in the framework of international cooperation) Implication: any international cooperation action must respect the terms of the Convention, and not create new discriminations for people with disabilities

Disability movement DPO an organisation that is led and controlled by disabled people common platform to exchange and share their experiences and build a common voice legitimate representatives of people with disabilities DPOs mostly see their role as raising awareness in society and advocating for equal rights as citizens.

Key messages People with disabilities have the same human rights than any other person. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is a treaty which is constraining for State Parties and which reaffirms the rights of people with disabilities to fully enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others. Recognizing the close linkages between disability and poverty, the CRPD is the first human rights treaty to include a stand-alone article regarding its application within the framework of international cooperation. Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) represent people with disabilities and play a fundamental role in promoting and monitoring their rights.