Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 8

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Paragraph text: By 2001 it had become evident that, despite the various efforts made by the United Nations system to advance the situation of persons with disabilities, they were not sufficient to ensure the equal and effective enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities. Following a recommendation made by States at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, the General Assembly established in its resolution 56/168 an ad hoc committee to consider proposals for a thematic convention on the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was negotiated in a relatively short period of time, between 2002 and 2006. The negotiations were characterized by the active participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, bringing to the drafting process a remarkable and previously unprecedented level of ownership by rights-holders and their support networks. The Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto were adopted by the General Assembly by its resolution 61/106, and came into force on 3 May 2008.

Topic(s)

Person(s) affected