A/HRC/RES/37/22
economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field constitutes discrimination on the basis of
disability, which includes the denial of reasonable accommodation,
Recognizing that participation, accountability, non-discrimination and empowerment
are fundamental principles of a human rights-based approach to disability, and noting
article 3 of the Convention in that regard,
Mindful of the need to incorporate a gender perspective in all efforts to promote the
full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Recalling the general principles reflected in the Convention, namely, nondiscrimination, full and effective participation and inclusion in society, respect for
difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and
humanity, equality between men and women, and respect for the evolving capacities of
children with disabilities,
Emphasizing that the enjoyment of equality and non-discrimination and the right to
effective access to justice on an equal basis with others are closely linked to the enjoyment
of the full range of human rights by persons with disabilities,
Recognizing that progress has been made, yet deeply concerned that many persons
with disabilities in all regions continue to face significant obstacles in achieving equality
and non-discrimination, and effective access to justice on an equal basis with others,
Emphasizing that taking all appropriate steps to ensure the provision of reasonable
accommodation is essential to promoting equality and eliminating discrimination,
Deeply concerned that girls and women of all ages with disabilities are subject to
multiple, aggravated or intersecting forms of discrimination that affect their enjoyment of
their human rights, including their ability to have access to justice on an equal basis with
others, and that those forms of discrimination stem from harmful stigma and stereotypes
based on gender and disability, and bearing in mind the risk of segregation, violence and
abuse, including sexual violence and abuse, against women and girls with disabilities,
including that occurring in the home, in families, in institutions and carried out by support
providers,
Deeply concerned also at the negative impact of those laws and practices on the
rights of persons with disabilities that provide inadequate support to such persons to
exercise their legal capacity on an equal basis with others, which has a negative impact on
the enjoyment of equality and non-discrimination and in some cases that deny their right to
effective access to justice on an equal basis with others or allow for their forced
institutionalization on the basis of a real or perceived disability,
Emphasizing that access to procedural and age-appropriate accommodations is
essential to facilitating the effective role of persons with disabilities as direct and indirect
participants, including as witnesses, in all legal proceedings, including at the investigative
and other preliminary stages, and highlighting the key role of States in promoting
appropriate training for those working in the field of administration of justice, including
police and prison staff, in order to help to ensure effective access to justice for persons with
disabilities, as recognized in article 13 of the Convention,
Noting the cross-cutting nature of equality and non-discrimination in the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development, which has an impact on all the Sustainable
Development Goals, noting in particular Goal 10 and the specific reference in target 16.3 to
ensuring equal access to justice for all and in target 17.18, to increasing significantly the
availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by, inter alia, disability
and other characteristics relevant in national contexts, as a means to measure the
advancement under the 2030 Agenda and to ensure that no one is left behind,
Noting also that, in 2019, the high-level political forum on sustainable development
will review Goals 10 and 16 under the theme “Empowering people and ensuring
inclusiveness and equality”,
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