Search Tips
sorted by
300 shown of 4954 entities
A world fit for children 2002, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- We will take all measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including equal access to health, education and recreational services, by children with disabilities and children with special needs, to ensure the recognition of their dignity, to promote their self-reliance, and to facilitate their active participation in the community.
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2002
Paragraph
A world fit for children 2002, para. 37.10
- Paragraph text
- [To achieve these goals and targets, taking into account the best interests of the child, consistent with national laws, religious and ethical values and cultural backgrounds of the people, and in conformity with all human rights and fundamental freedoms, we will carry out the following strategies and actions:] Strengthen early childhood development by providing appropriate services and support to parents, including parents with disabilities, families, legal guardians and caregivers, especially during pregnancy, birth, infancy and early childhood, so as to ensure children’s physical, psychological, social, spiritual and cognitive development.
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2002
Paragraph
A world fit for children 2002, para. 37.17
- Paragraph text
- [To achieve these goals and targets, taking into account the best interests of the child, consistent with national laws, religious and ethical values and cultural backgrounds of the people, and in conformity with all human rights and fundamental freedoms, we will carry out the following strategies and actions:] Ensure effective access by children with disabilities and children with special needs to integrated services, including rehabilitation and health care, and promote family-based care and appropriate support systems for parents, families, legal guardians and caregivers of these children.
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2002
Paragraph
A world fit for children 2002, para. 40.2
- Paragraph text
- [To achieve these goals and targets, we will implement the following strategies and actions:] Promote innovative programmes that encourage schools and communities to search more actively for children who have dropped out or are excluded from school and from learning, especially girls and working children, children with special needs and children with disabilities, and help them to enrol in and attend schools, and successfully complete their education, involving Governments as well as families, communities and non-governmental organizations as partners in the educational process. Special measures should be put in place to prevent and reduce dropout due to, inter alia, entry into employment.
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2002
Paragraph
A world fit for children 2002, para. 40.4
- Paragraph text
- [To achieve these goals and targets, we will implement the following strategies and actions:] Ensure that all basic education programmes are accessible, inclusive and responsive to children with special learning needs and for children with various forms of disabilities.
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2002
Paragraph
Ability of associations to access financial resources as a vital part of the right to freedom of association & Ability to hold peaceful assemblies as an integral component of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly 2013, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- Possible issues for discussion include an estimate of the number of participants expected; itinerary of the assembly, if it is not static; specific needs of persons with disabilities and groups at risk, such as women, indigenous peoples and groups who, due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity may be in need of greater protection by the authorities; need to deploy properly trained and clearly identified stewards whose role is to provide assistance to organizers by, inter alia, informing and orienting the public during the event, but who should not be used to palliate deficiencies in the security apparatus. Importantly, when organizers cannot be identified due to the nature of certain assemblies (such as those convened through the Internet), the authorities must undertake such planning and be prepared to the same extent.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls: preventing and responding to violence against women and girls in the world of work (2019), para. 05
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming the importance of fully implementing General Assembly resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, including the commitment of all States to achieve gender equality and to empower all women and girls, to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres and to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Men
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: Eliminating domestic violence 2015, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming also the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and noting the relevant recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: Eliminating domestic violence 2015, para. 10b
- Paragraph text
- [Urges States to take effective action to protect victims of domestic violence, including by:] Establishing comprehensive, coordinated, interdisciplinary, accessible and sustained multisectoral services, programmes and responses at all levels for all victims and survivors of all forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, that are adequately resourced and include effective and coordinated action by, as appropriate, police and the justice sector, legal aid services, health-care services, including for sexual and reproductive health, and medical and psychological assistance and counselling services, as well as State and independent women’s shelters and counselling centres, 24-hour hotlines, social aid services, one-stop crisis centres, child aid services, skills training and public housing services that would provide easy to reach and safe assistance for women and children, including women and girls with disabilities, as well as assistance, protection and support through access to long-term accommodation;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: Eliminating domestic violence 2015, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing the vulnerability of those who suffer multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, such as older women, indigenous women, migrant women and women with disabilities, and the particular risk of violence they face, and stressing the urgent need to address violence and discrimination against them,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: ensuring due diligence in prevention (2010), para. 18
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- 5. Urges States to adopt and implement policies and programmes that enable women to avoid and escape situations of violence and prevent its recurrence, and that provide, inter alia, financial support and affordable access to safe housing or shelters, childcare and other social supports, legal assistance, skills training and productive resources, and to make these services accessible to women and girls with disabilities;
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: Ensuring due diligence in prevention 2010, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Urges States to adopt and implement policies and programmes that enable women to avoid and escape situations of violence and prevent its recurrence, and that provide, inter alia, financial support and affordable access to safe housing or shelters, childcare and other social supports, legal assistance, skills training and productive resources, and to make these services accessible to women and girls with disabilities;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: ensuring due diligence in protection (2011), para. 39
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- 11. Invites the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a thematic analytical study on the issue of violence against women and girls and disability, in consultation with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development of the Economic and Social Council, other relevant special procedure mandate holders, States, United Nations entities, regional organizations, civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders, and to report to the Human Rights Council at its twentieth session;
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: preventing and responding to rape and other forms of sexual violence (2013), para. 25
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- (d) Measuring the effectiveness of policies and programmes to prevent sexual violence, including by carrying out regular evaluation and monitoring, and collecting and disseminating data disaggregated by sex, age, disability and other relevant factors;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: Preventing and responding to violence against women and girls, including indigenous women and girls 2016, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing also the increased vulnerability of those who are subject to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, such as older women, indigenous women, migrant women and women with disabilities, and the particular risk of violence they face, and stressing the urgent need to address violence and discrimination against them,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Girls
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: violence against women as a barrier to women’s political and economic empowerment (2014), para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing that indigenous women and girls, women and girls with disabilities, older women, women migrants and minorities often experience multiple forms of discrimination, which may increase their vulnerability to all forms of violence and limit their ability to participate in, contribute to and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political autonomy,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Girls
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: Violence against women as a barrier to women’s political and economic empowerment 2014, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing that indigenous women and girls, women and girls with disabilities, older women, women migrants and minorities often experience multiple forms of discrimination, which may increase their vulnerability to all forms of violence and limit their ability to participate in, contribute to and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political autonomy,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Girls
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Access to justice and the right to food: the way forward 2015, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- Access to public information in relation to the adoption of new laws or amendments to existing legislation is crucial for ensuring justiciability. States are obliged to ensure that this information is made readily available and easily accessible for everyone without discrimination. Particular effort should be made to disseminate information in a format that is user-appropriate, taking into consideration the individual needs of persons with disabilities, and those with low levels of literacy. Migrants and minority groups should not be prevented from accessing information owing to linguistic barriers, and materials should be adapted accordingly. Logistical and financial barriers should also be addressed by taking into consideration the difficulties faced by those living in remote rural areas and those living in poverty.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right to food
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Access to justice and the right to food: the way forward 2015, para. 72d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends that States:] Provide mechanisms that offer adequate, effective and timely remedies in cases of violations of the right to food, in particular to groups such as communities living in remote rural areas, communities living in situations of extreme poverty, persons with disabilities and indigenous communities, either through collective or public interest remedies;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right to food
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Food & Nutrition
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Access to justice for people living in poverty 2012, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- Simply making information available is not sufficient. The burdens involved in accessing information, such as travel costs, fees, long waiting periods, and interaction with State officials, can act as disincentives for the poorest. States often do not take into account the difficulties, such as financial, geographical, technological or linguistic barriers, that the poor face in accessing information. For example, in many States, information about new statutes is disseminated in a very limited way, or access to copies of enacted laws is conditional upon the payment of a fee. Information may only be available in written format, thus creating obstacles for those with low levels of literacy and persons with disabilities, or may only be published online or in commercial newspapers, or only in one official language.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Access to justice for people living in poverty 2012, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- Such factors often act as a persuasive deterrent against seeking redress from judicial or adjudicatory mechanisms, or may indeed represent an insurmountable obstacle for the poorest and most marginalized. This is especially so for those who have limited mobility, such as older persons or persons with disabilities, or those for whom travel is more difficult or dangerous, including women and children.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Access to justice for people living in poverty 2012, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- Persons living in poverty, particularly those with disabilities or older persons, may experience additional obstacles in accessing justice when courts and police stations are not appropriately designed, and when court processes are not adaptable. For example, many judicial systems are heavily reliant on paper forms and written submissions, and on the presentation of oral evidence. Often, police stations and courts are not wheelchair accessible. Where measures are not in place to enable judicial bodies to adapt their processes for those in need, including by providing aid to defendants, claimants, witnesses and jurors who require it, such persons are excluded from accessing and benefiting from the justice system.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Access to justice for people living in poverty 2012, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Even where legal aid services are available and adequately funded, discrimination in their design and implementation impedes certain individuals and groups from accessing them. For example, some rely on telephone intakes or written applications, failing to take into account the needs and constraints of persons with disabilities, older persons or those with lower levels of literacy. Inadequate or piecemeal support directed towards community-based paralegal programmes also restricts an important and more affordable source of legal assistance. Although all aspects of the legal profession should be regulated, excessive restrictions on the operation of paralegals, or lack of official recognition of their role, can also hamper the support they provide to persons living in poverty.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Access to justice for people living in poverty 2012, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- [States should:] Expand the geographical reach of the justice system (police, prosecutors, courts, legal aid, etc.) in particular in rural and remote areas, by: Taking steps to improve the physical accessibility of courthouses and police stations in order to ensure that persons with disabilities and others experiencing mobility issues are able to access them
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Access to medicines in the context of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health 2016, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Decides to convene, at its thirty-fourth session, a panel discussion to exchange views on good practices and key challenges relevant to access to medicines as one of the fundamental elements of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, taking into account all relevant reports, and that the discussion shall be fully accessible to persons with disabilities,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- The present report aims to raise awareness and provide guidance to States on how to ensure access to different forms of support for persons with disabilities inclusive of a human rights-based approach.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Support is the act of providing help or assistance to someone who requires it to carry out daily activities and participate in society. Support is a practice, deeply embedded in all cultures and communities, that is at the basis of all our social networks. Everyone needs support from others at some stage, if not throughout their life, to participate in society and live with dignity. Being a recipient of support and offering support to others are roles we all share as part of our human experience, regardless of impairment, age or social status. However, while some forms of support have been naturally integrated into social design, others, such as that required by persons with disabilities, are still marginal.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- Support for persons with disabilities encompasses a wide range of formal and informal interventions, including live assistance and intermediaries, mobility aids and assistive devices and technologies. It also includes personal assistance; support in decision-making; communication support, such as sign language interpreters and alternative and augmentative communication; mobility support, such as assistive technology or service animals; living arrangements services for securing housing and household help; and community services. Persons with disabilities may also need support in accessing and using general services, such as health, education and justice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- For most persons with disabilities, access to quality support is a necessary precondition for living and fully participating in the community on the basis of choices equal to others. Without adequate support, persons with disabilities are at risk of falling into neglect and institutionalization. The provision of appropriate support is necessary to the realization of the full spectrum of human rights and enables persons with disabilities to achieve their full potential, thus contributing to the overall well-being and diversity of the communities in which they live. For many persons with disabilities, support represents an essential precondition for their active and meaningful participation in society, while preserving their dignity, autonomy and independence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- The existence of social and environmental barriers creates the need for support. For example, persons with disabilities who live in inaccessible communities may require greater support than if they lived in accessible ones. Individual support needs also vary according to personal factors, including level of impairment, age, socioeconomic status and ethnic origin. While the existence of strong non-discrimination legal frameworks and fully accessible general environments significantly facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities, many of them may still require support measures to be able to participate in the community on an equal basis with others.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Persons with disabilities constitute 15 per cent of the world population, approximately one billion people. Many of them require different forms of support, including for basic day-to-day activities such as getting up, bathing, dressing and eating. The sustained ageing of the global population, particularly in high-income countries, has also had a substantial impact on the demand for disability-related support, as older persons tend to be overrepresented in the disability community. Other sociopolitical factors such as conflict and migration increase the demand for support, as support networks tend to fall apart in such situations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Despite the rising demand, the support needs of most persons with disabilities worldwide are not being met. Evidence indicates that in most developed and developing countries, the majority of persons with disabilities have limited access to support services. There is a shortage of community support services for persons with disabilities who require personal assistance. In many countries, only 5-15 per cent of those in need of assistive devices and technologies are able to obtain them. Deaf and deafblind persons frequently face difficulties in accessing trained interpreters, particularly in rural or isolated communities. Persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities are overrepresented among the homeless because of the lack of support for living in the community and for decision-making. Furthermore, general public services in such areas as education and employment do not envision support measures to ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities. While all persons with disabilities face challenges in accessing support, those with high support needs are disproportionately affected by the lack of appropriate services.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Regretfully, there is little public and political interest or attention to the support needs of persons with disabilities. In many countries, support is not included in national legislation and policies and, when available, it is an underfunded residual service with scarce provision that does not match people's needs. Moreover, whereas there are some forms of formal support for persons with disabilities in many high-income countries, this is not the case in many low- and middle-income countries. Consequently, the majority of persons with disabilities have to rely on informal forms of support, primarily from their families and personal networks.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Support is a normal part of community life, with families serving as the first source of support for everyone. For many persons with disabilities, family support serves as a bridge to access other assistance needed to fully enjoy their human rights. However, when no other options are available and families are the sole source of support, the autonomy of persons with disabilities and their family members is reduced. Those being supported have no choice or control over the assistance they require to pursue their life plans, and questions of overprotection and conflict of interest commonly arise. Families - especially the poorest - are also under significant pressure as unpaid familial support also affects social relationships, income levels and the general well-being of the household. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, as in practice they are the main providers of support within the household, reducing their freedom and choices to pursue their own life plans.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- The absence of appropriate support systems increases the risk of segregation and institutionalization. When families do not get the necessary support, there is great pressure to place their family member with a disability in an institution. In addition, service providers in many countries continue to claim that institutions are the best way to support persons with disabilities. Thus, the only way a family can get any support for accessing basic services is by placing their family member in an institution. Both institutionalization and the lack of support within the family put persons with disabilities at risk of neglect, violence and abuse.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- States should therefore adopt and implement policies and programmes that enable persons with disabilities to obtain the support they need to participate in decisions affecting their lives and in the life of their communities. The protection and promotion of human rights of persons with disabilities should be at the centre of these policy efforts, rather than focusing on charitable and medical approaches.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- For a long time, responses to the assistance needs of persons with disabilities have been framed in terms of care. While care as a concept can be understood and used in several ways, the disability community has historically been critical of the idea of "being cared for" and of the traditional role of caregivers. Service models of care have traditionally treated persons with disabilities as passive objects or recipients of care, or as a "burden" for family and society, rather than as active holders of rights. Whether in formal or informal settings, care services have traditionally regarded persons with disabilities as dependents, which in most cases has not enabled them to fully participate in decisions affecting their lives.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- Care services also have a legacy of segregation and disempowerment of persons with disabilities. In fact, most services were built under the medical and assistentialist models, which prompted the confinement of persons with disabilities in institutions, leading to the loss of control of their lives and their ultimate objectification. Therefore, for many persons with disabilities the notion of care bears a heavy historical connotation associated with oppression and invalidation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- The disability community has challenged the traditional concept of care on the basis of a social understanding of disability. The social model of disability draws attention to the interaction between an individual's perceived or actual impairment - be it physical, sensory, mental or intellectual - and the disabling barriers that hinder people from participating in society. Therefore, it is critical to enable inclusive societies that support persons with disabilities to participate and have the freedom and opportunities to live lives they value. This means replacing the legacy of paternalism, dependency and stigma that exist behind traditional approaches to care with the concept of support as a State obligation arising from human rights, equality and social justice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- The philosophy of independent living, which outlines the need for persons with disabilities to have autonomous and independent lives, reinforces the notion of support. However, independence needs to be framed in a way that takes into account the interdependence of human experiences and accepts reliance on others as a fundamental aspect of that interdependence, thus moving away from narrow interpretations of independence that conflate it with self-sufficiency and self-reliance. In this regard, support must ensure that persons with disabilities are able to exercise choice and control over their own lives, irrespective of their physical, sensory, mental and intellectual impairments, and over their own views, rather than having to follow the views of those looking after their needs.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- At the same time, there is a need to recover and acknowledge the personal experience of impairment that informs the support needs that persons with disabilities have in order to participate in society, experiences that may have been rendered marginal in the disability-rights debate. The acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity should influence the way societies perceive and respond to individuals' support requirements.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- Against this background, States must move away from the assistentialist and medical approaches and rethink their policy and practice of care from a human rights perspective. The provision of access to support is essential for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. While the debates on political and social economy of care are receiving increasing attention from activists, researchers, States and international actors, they do not adequately address the rights of persons with disabilities. Discussions on care in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must be inclusive of persons with disabilities and incorporate a human rights-based approach to disability. The enjoyment by all persons with disabilities of all human rights and fundamental freedoms should be at the centre of any model of support and assistance.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- International human rights law requires States to provide persons with disabilities access to appropriate support to carry out daily activities and participate in society. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - the highest international standard on promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities - clearly stipulates the obligation of States to ensure access to a wide range of support services to persons with disabilities, and provides a comprehensive framework for its implementation. The Convention on the Rights of the Child also recognizes the obligation of States to ensure the assistance required by children with disabilities for achieving their fullest possible social integration and individual development (art. 23).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Regional human rights instruments have also recognized support to persons with disabilities. The European Social Charter (revised) enshrines the right of persons with disabilities to independence, social integration and participation in the life of the community, calling on States to facilitate access to technical aids and support services (art. 15). The Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Protocol of San Salvador) establishes an obligation to adopt measures to assist persons with disabilities to achieve the greatest possible development of their personality, including the implementation of programmes specifically aimed at providing them with the resources and environment needed for attaining this goal (art. 18). While the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights establishes a general obligation to facilitate "special protection measures" for persons with disabilities (art. 18 (2) and (4)), the draft protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the rights of persons with disabilities adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights in April 2016 explicitly recognizes support as a necessary measure to enable the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities (arts. 2 (h), 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 23, 25 and 26). Finally, the Incheon Strategy to "Make the Right Real" for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific considers community inclusion and support as part of its policy direction. Its goal 4, Strengthen social protection, includes a target on enhancing services and programmes, including for personal assistance and peer counseling, that support persons with disabilities in living independently in the community.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- That the core international human rights treaties do not explicitly mention support measures for persons with disabilities does not imply that the obligation did not exist prior to the adoption of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Support is a human rights obligation arising from various rights, including the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to social protection, the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the right to education. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in paragraph 33 of its general comment No. 5 (1994) on persons with disabilities, recognized that support and an adequate standard of living are interconnected and that the provision of necessary support services to persons with disabilities, including assistive devices, increases their level of independence in their daily living and to exercise their rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- Support can also be derived from the basic principles of human rights, such as dignity, universality, individual autonomy, equality and non-discrimination, participation and inclusion. The universal nature of human rights provides an obligation on States to promote the full realization of rights for all people. Persons with disabilities should enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others. Access to adequate support is indeed a precondition for persons with disabilities to effective exercise of their human rights on an equal basis with others and, therefore, to live with dignity and autonomy in the community.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- The State obligation to ensure access to support to persons with disabilities must be distinguished from the obligation to provide accessibility. While accessibility is an obligation related to the physical environment, transportation, information and communications - a requirement for barrier-free, inclusive societies - support is an obligation linked to the individual. Instead of transforming the environment, the goal is to assist the individual in a range of different activities, from communication to mobility. Whereas the level of accessibility may increase or decrease the need for support, the two are complementary obligations enabling persons with disabilities to live independently and to participate fully in all aspects of life.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Similarly, the right to reasonable accommodation is distinct from, although complementary to, the obligation to provide support. States are required to make all necessary and appropriate modifications or adjustments that do not impose a disproportionate or undue burden to allow persons with disabilities to exercise their rights. Such modifications or adjustments may include support measures tailored to the needs of an individual in a particular case. However, the obligation to ensure access to support is not limited by the qualification of disproportionate or undue burden.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- In the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities support is firmly grounded in a complex substantive equality model introduced by the Convention. The treaty underlines the importance of taking the diversity of the human experience into account. The Convention underlines the importance of adopting all appropriate measures to support the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society on an equal basis with others. Its rights-based approach also places persons with disabilities at the centre of all decisions affecting them, including decisions about support and assistance.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- The Convention does not define support, but refers to it in several of its provisions. According to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, "support" is a broad term that encompasses both informal and formal support arrangements, of varying types and intensity. All forms of support should be provided while respecting the general principles of the Convention (art. 3).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- Support is a cross-cutting obligation under the Convention. As part of the general obligations provided in article 4, States parties have an obligation to adopt all appropriate measures to implement the rights recognized in the treaty, including the provision of support services when necessary (art. 4 (1) (a)). States must also undertake or promote research and development, and promote the availability and use, of devices and assistive technologies (art. 4 (1) (g)), and provide accessible information to persons with disabilities about mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, including new technologies, and other forms of assistance, support services and facilities (art. 4 (1) (h)).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- In many of its concluding observations, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has called upon States to provide access to support to persons with disabilities in different aspects of life. More specifically, in its general comment No. 1 (1994) on equal recognition before the law, the Committee stressed that support must respect the rights, will and preferences of persons with disabilities, and that the type and intensity of support to be provided will vary significantly from one person to another owing to the diversity of persons with disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- Many forms of support, such as the support required to exercise legal capacity, are subject to immediate realization. While full realization of other forms of support may be achieved progressively, States have an obligation to take immediate steps to the maximum of their available resources, including those made available through international assistance and cooperation, to ensure support for persons with disabilities, including the adoption of legislative and policy frameworks and budgetary measures.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- In providing support to persons with disabilities, States need to acknowledge the different layers of identities within the disability community. Persons with disabilities comprise a very heterogeneous group with a wide range of impairments as well as identity markers such as race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, language, religion, national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, age and other status. States need to address the specific support needs of individuals throughout their life cycle.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Women and girls with disabilities face significant difficulties in accessing support throughout their lives. On average, they are less likely to study and work; they earn less than men and thus have fewer opportunities to access appropriate support. Moreover, existing support services are frequently not responsive to the needs, nor respectful of the rights, of girls and women with disabilities. Male staff are often assigned to provide assistance, which may not respond to their preferences and create a heightened risk of abuse. In this regard, support cannot be addressed in gender-neutral terms. When designing and implementing policies and interventions on support, States must take into account the systemic and multiple discrimination faced by women and girls with disabilities. They must remove all barriers that interfere with access by women and girls to comprehensive support arrangements and provide appropriate assistance to those women with disabilities who perform care and support responsibilities as parents, without reinforcing patterns of discrimination and negative stereotyping.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Children with disabilities and their families require different types of support services, especially in the education and health sectors. They include assistive technology, communication support and individualized education plans, and information and assistance to families of children with disabilities in need. For too long, children and adolescents with disabilities have been mere recipients of "special care", when this is available at all, which resulted in widespread segregation, institutionalization and neglect. Instead, States must organize support services and measures that foster their well-being and enable them to realize their full potential. Families need help to understand disability in a positive way and to know how to help support their children to be autonomous and independent. Limited understanding of care can hinder their right to express their views freely on all matters affecting them, in accordance with their age and maturity, and to be provided with disability- and age-appropriate assistance to realize that right.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- Older persons with disabilities also have difficulties in accessing support arrangements for daily life, such as personal assistance, assisted living arrangements and palliative care. While families are the most common source of support for older persons with disabilities in most countries, there is an increasing demand for institutional care, especially from family members and other informal supporters of persons with dementia, which is increasing the risk of institutionalization among older persons with disabilities. Importantly, older women with disabilities are more likely to be institutionalized owing to the different life expectancies of men and women. The provision of in-home support services, including personal assistance and help with household chores, can avoid institutionalization and improve the quality of life of older persons by enabling them to stay at home (see A/HRC/30/43, para. 72).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- Persons with disabilities belonging to groups that have been historically discriminated against or disadvantaged (such as indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities and persons living with HIV/AIDS) are disproportionately affected in accessing support arrangements and services. This also applies to migrants, persons living in conflict situations, internally displaced persons, refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and prisoners with disabilities, as humanitarian responses tend to overlook their support needs. Moreover, there is a strong link between belonging to a racial and cultural minority and experiencing coercion and institutionalization. Policies and programmes to ensure access to support must seek to overcome the impact of the multiple and aggravated forms of discrimination faced by persons with disabilities belonging to these groups in accessing support.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- Policies and programmes to ensure access to support should respond to the heterogeneous needs of the diverse disability community, which includes deaf, deafblind and autistic persons, persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities and persons with albinism. For example, in Kazakhstan new regulations provide that all blind and deafblind persons are entitled to personal assistance. Nonetheless, while impairment-specific considerations may be necessary to provide targeted support services for specific groups, States should carefully assess whether the adoption of specific measures that benefit certain groups may exclude others.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- Following the standards developed by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Special Rapporteur has identified four interrelated and essential elements of the obligation to provide support to persons with disabilities. These elements can vary in accordance with different conditions and types of support arrangements.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- Appropriate support services and arrangements must be available to all persons with disabilities in sufficient quantity within countries. States should consider establishing a system, under domestic law, to ensure access to a wide range of support measures. This system can be composed of a single scheme or a variety of schemes, both formal and informal. States have a duty to ensure that support is available for persons with disabilities, regardless of whether it is actually provided by public service providers, civil society, families, communities, or a combination of public and private actors. While the support provided by family, friends and the broader community is extremely important and should be encouraged and enabled, it is not always a reliable or sustainable solution in the longer term (see A/HRC/28/37, paras. 35-36).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- Support systems should ensure the availability of an adequate number of functioning programmes and services to provide the fullest possible range of support to the diverse population of persons with disabilities, including communication support, support in decision-making, mobility support, personal assistance, living arrangements services and community services. Ensuring the availability of a reliable, skilled and trained workforce, including sign language interpreters, interpreters for the deafblind, personal assistants and other intermediaries, is a critical component of ensuring the availability of support. Assistive devices and technologies for persons with disabilities should also be available.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- Support services and arrangements should be accessible to all persons with disabilities, especially the most disadvantaged ones, without discrimination of any kind. States must ensure that support is available within safe physical and geographical reach for everyone, including those living in institutions. All facilities and services providing support, public and private, including information and communications technologies and systems, must be accessible for the diverse disability community. States must take positive measures to ensure that persons with disabilities living in rural and remote areas also have access to support services and arrangements. Dissemination of information about existing services and social protection schemes must also be ensured.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- Support must be affordable for all persons with disabilities. Support services represent a significant cost for persons with disabilities, preventing them from climbing out of poverty. States must ensure that support is available at nominal or no cost to the maximum extent of their available resources, and take into account the gender disparity in income and access to financial resources. Social protection systems can constitute a powerful strategy to facilitate access to support services for persons with disabilities (see A/70/297, para. 9). Qualifying conditions for accessing support must be reasonable, proportionate and transparent, and should not be limited to those persons protected by social insurance schemes. Additionally, States should include the provision of essential assistive devices and technologies in the coverage of national health insurance and/or social protection schemes, on the basis of the World Health Organization priority assistive products list (ibid.). States should also consider waiving import duties and taxes on assistive devices and technologies that are not produced domestically (ibid., para. 48).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- States must take all appropriate measures to ensure that support programmes incorporate a rights-based approach, are provided on a voluntary basis and respect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. All support services and arrangements must be culturally appropriate; sensitive to gender, impairment and life-cycle requirements; and designed to respect the privacy of those concerned. Community-based approaches for the provision of support constitute an effective strategy to ensure the provision of responses that take into account geographical, social, economic and cultural issues.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- States must design support services and arrangements so that they enable direct choice and control by persons with disabilities. Existing services often do not comply with this standard. In many instances the decisions of users can be overridden by professionals and family members. States must guarantee to persons with disabilities the opportunity to plan and direct their own support: who provides it and how, and whether it is provided in disability-specific services or in services offered to the general public. The denial or restriction of legal capacity, a widespread human rights violation worldwide, has a direct impact on the possibility for persons with disabilities to exercise choice and control over the support they receive and contributes to the imposition of services that are contrary to their dignity and rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- Individual funding is a suitable way to ensure choice and control by persons with disabilities. Personalized schemes allow persons with disabilities to hire support directly, either from formal service providers or informal carers, or a combination of both. In this way, persons with disabilities can decide who provides them support and the type and level of support they wish to receive, and thus are much more empowered to ensure that they will receive adequate support. The implementation of such schemes should not, however, result in States relinquishing their primary responsibility to ensure access to appropriate support for persons with disabilities. On the contrary, States have a significant role to play in its management and monitoring.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- States must establish legal and policy frameworks that ensure that support services and arrangements, including assistive technologies, are available, accessible, adequate and affordable. Many national legal frameworks do not include support services at all, or only for the exercise of certain rights (e.g., inclusive education or mobility). Moreover, when legislation does consider these services, States often do not have the appropriate policies and programmes in place to ensure implementation. States should review existing legislation and policies on support to ensure that they are compatible with the requirements of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 58
- Paragraph text
- States should also consider establishing a comprehensive system to coordinate the effective access to support of persons with disabilities. The system should be anchored in the human rights-based approach to disability; take into account equality between men and women and the rights of the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups; and cover all support needs across all sectors of society throughout one or more schemes, formal and informal. Such a system could bring coherence and coordination across programmes, actors and levels of government responsible for the provision of support. Within this system, States should take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social, educational and other measures to protect persons with disabilities from all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, including their gender-based aspects. States should also consider integrating as many assistance and support services as possible into their existing mainstream policies and programmes. Persons with disabilities and their representative organizations should participate in all decision-making processes concerning this system, including design, implementation and monitoring.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- Decentralizing the provision of support is a major challenge for many States. Contributions to the present report illustrate that where responsibility for the provision of support has been delegated to regional or local authorities, support is often underfunded and fragmented, allowing for regional disparities and inequitable access within the country. This situation gives persons with disabilities little certainty and limited choice of or control over support services and arrangements. States should enhance their internal coordination mechanisms to address support needs in a comprehensive manner, ensure that regional and local authorities receive adequate budget, and implement and monitor the provision of support services effectively. Persons with disabilities should be able to retain the support they receive when they move to another region in their country.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- Support is usually delivered by a mixture of providers, including State agencies, private organizations, non-profit organizations, charities and families. In high- and middle-income countries, States have traditionally been the main source of formal support, either through their centralized health-care or social protection systems or through local authorities. In many cases, States fund and contract non-profit organizations and private organizations to carry out these interventions. In low-income countries, charities and international non-governmental organizations are the main providers of formal support, often with limited sustainability and low standards of quality. Regardless of the type of service delivery arrangement, States have an obligation to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to and receive quality services and adequate support, including when service provision is delegated to non-profit organizations and private actors. In such cases, States must adopt a comprehensive regulatory and monitoring framework that involves a due diligence obligation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- In the light of article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, States must adopt a community-based approach to the provision of support, either directly or through intermediaries. Such an approach enables stakeholders - family, friends, neighbours, peers and others - to play a significant role in supporting persons with disabilities in daily life activities and participating in the community. This allows the provision of culturally sensitive services in the communities where persons with disabilities live, building on existing social networks and community resources. In the case of indigenous peoples, for example, community-based approaches could reduce the risk of assimilation. When services are not made available within the community, there is limited participation by persons with disabilities in their design and provision, and there is an increased risk of segregation and institutionalization. Importantly, by benefiting from local skills and resources, community participation in the provision of support facilitates the optimal and efficient delivery of services, enabling a cost-effective policy response in countries with limited resources.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- In recent decades, many high- and middle-income countries have shifted their support policies towards personalization, to enable persons with disabilities to hire the support they require within the existing market. Different models of personalization have been implemented, including direct payments and personal budgets. While these models can potentially empower persons with disabilities, States need to adopt a set of measures to enhance their effectiveness. Such measures include, for instance, building the capacities of beneficiaries to manage their own funding and support (including supported decision-making); having a wide range of providers that respond to the diversity of support needs, particularly for those who live in rural and remote areas; preventing precariousness in the work conditions of supporters; and avoiding channelling personal budgets through the family rather than directly to the persons with disabilities, and the feminization of support. It is important to note that allowances that are paid directly to "informal carers" of adults with disabilities can compromise the capacity of persons with disabilities to exercise choice and control over their support. Support to families should never replace support to individuals.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- Persons with disabilities and their representative organizations must participate in all decision-making processes related to the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of support services and arrangements. Persons with disabilities know best what type of support they require and the barriers they face in accessing it. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities explicitly requires States to consult closely with and actively involve persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, in the development and implementation of legislation and policies concerning issues relating to them (art. 4 (3)). The Special Rapporteur's thematic study on the right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making (A/HRC/31/62) provides specific guidance in this regard.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- States should promote collaboration and partnerships between public authorities and civil society organizations, including representative organizations of persons with disabilities, in the area of provision of support, particularly at the subnational and operational levels. In this way, support systems can benefit from the outreach capacity of organizations of persons with disabilities, their knowledge of local contexts and their mobilization and advocacy capacity. For instance, in Kenya the Government funds organizations of persons with psychosocial disabilities to run peer support groups in seven counties that facilitate support for decision-making and community living.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- States must ensure that all persons with disabilities enjoy equal access to quality support without discrimination. Public and private service providers and agencies cannot deny access to support on the basis of disability, whether directly or indirectly, and they must ensure the provision of reasonable accommodation to all those who may require it. States should review all eligibility criteria and assessments from a human rights perspective to ensure they are not discriminatory, in line with the recommendations included in the Special Rapporteur's thematic study on the right of persons with disabilities to social protection (A/70/297).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- States must abolish discriminatory practices in the provision of support. For instance, many States continue to rely on institutional and residential care and provide support services predominantly in those settings. Furthermore, the existence of guardianship and other substitute decision-making regimes present great challenges for persons with disabilities in accessing support services. These practices not only deprive them of the possibility to choose their supports, but also contribute to perpetuating their isolation, forced treatment and institutionalization. States should not bundle access to support with such requirements as accepting certain residential arrangements or undergoing medical treatment. Stigma and discrimination also have a negative impact on access to support services by persons with disabilities. Misconceptions about them often result in hiding persons with disabilities at home, and even attacks against them, such as in the case of persons with albinism. Consequently, many persons with disabilities fail to receive the necessary support and instead survive in dire conditions.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- The sustainability of support services and arrangements represents a major challenge in both developing and developed countries. Whereas in most low-income countries support is funded and provided mainly by families, charities and international non-governmental organizations, many high- and middle-income countries are reducing their direct public investment in support and are turning to non-profit organizations and community networks to take charge of these services. States usually invoke the scarcity of resources and economic difficulties to justify their failure to provide support services and arrangements to persons with disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- States have an obligation to mobilize resources to their maximum availability to ensure access to support for persons with disabilities. Earmarked funds aimed at covering support, close collaboration and engagement with civil society and increasing efficiency can contribute to greater sustainability of support systems. Participatory budgeting processes, when they are inclusive of persons with disabilities, can also help to expand the allocation of public funds to support persons with disabilities. Social protection systems can also constitute a powerful strategy to facilitate access to support for persons with disabilities (see A/70/297, paras. 4-9).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- States must refrain from adopting retrogressive measures that affect their obligation to ensure access to support for persons with disabilities. In times of crisis, more support is needed, rather than cuts (ibid., para. 85). Reduction and caps on direct payments, personal budgets and other benefits; stricter eligibility criteria; the elimination or reduction of subsidies and tax credits; and reduced expenditures on community support services, such as in-home services and personal assistance, affect the right to live independently and be included in the community and to an adequate standard of living. States should ensure sufficient resources for individual funds to enable persons with disabilities to access appropriate support.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- International cooperation can play a crucial role in the implementation of support systems. Donor countries and international organizations should consider increasing funding for the design and development of sustainable national support systems and securing the necessary funds to implement development aid inclusive of the support arrangements required by persons with disabilities. For example, when funding national education systems, donors should take into account the obligation to provide support to children and adolescents with disabilities within the general education system to facilitate their effective education.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- International cooperation must be consistent with the human rights of persons with disabilities and provided in a sustainable and culturally appropriate manner. To this end, international assistance should not support practices contrary to the human rights-based approach to disability. International organizations, non-profit organizations, charities and other organizations operating in national contexts should refrain from implementing projects that are not sustainable or that violate the rights of persons with disabilities, such as "care homes" and special schools.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- States must monitor effectively the access of persons with disabilities to appropriate support. For that purpose, States should build, within their national legal and policy frameworks, clear accountability mechanisms, with indicators and benchmarks for measuring the accountability of State authorities. The governmental focal points and coordination mechanisms for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as required by its article 33 (1), should be considered as the mechanisms for overseeing implementation. To prevent the occurrence of all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse in the provision of support, States must ensure independent monitoring of all the facilities and programmes that provide services to persons with disabilities as well as the establishment of appropriate and effective safeguards.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- Persons with disabilities should have access to effective judicial or other appropriate remedies when States fail to meet their obligation to ensure access. Similarly, States must guarantee that all persons with disabilities who have experienced any form of exploitation, violence or abuse in the context of support received have access to justice and effective remedies. These remedies should include adequate reparations, including restitution, compensation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition, as appropriate. National human rights institutions and independent mechanisms to promote, protect and monitor the implementation of the Convention should be mandated to carry out inquiries and investigations (art. 33 (2)) as well as provide assistance to persons with disabilities in accessing legal remedies.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- There is a diversity of forms of support services and arrangements for persons with disabilities. These include, but are not limited to, the different types of support measures described in the following paragraphs. While the classification is useful for identifying specific obligations and particularities, in practice most forms of support overlap in significant ways.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- Some persons with disabilities may want support to make decisions, hence to exercise their legal capacity. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities explicitly recognizes that States have an obligation to provide persons with disabilities with access to support in the exercise of their legal capacity (art. 12 (3)). States must replace regimes of substitute decision-making with regimes of supported decision-making that respect the rights, will and preferences of persons with disabilities, such as support agreements, peer support groups, self-advocacy support and advance directives, among others. In its general comment No. 1 (2014) on equal recognition before the law, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides guidance on how to ensure access to support in decision-making.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- Since the adoption of the Convention, it is encouraging to note that many countries, including Argentina, Costa Rica, Czechia and Ireland, have revised their legal frameworks to recognize the right of persons with disabilities to access support to exercise legal capacity. In order to uphold a real paradigm shift, the implementation of supported decision-making systems must be accompanied by the abolishment of all substitute decision-making regimes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- Some persons with disabilities may need support to overcome barriers that limit their ability to communicate and be understood. While the provision of accessible information and communication can reduce the need for support of persons with disabilities, many of them may still require support with communication. The situation of children with disabilities with limited or no speech capacity is particularly alarming, since their communication needs are usually neglected within the education system and in their communities, despite the existence of low-cost resources and materials. In this regard, States must take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities, whatever their communication skills or type of impairment, can access the communication support they need through different forms of communication, as defined in article 2 of the Convention. This includes professional sign language interpretation, display of text, Braille, tactile communication, large print and accessible multimedia, as well as written, audio, plain-language, human-reader and augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, including accessible information and communications technology.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- A variety of persons with disabilities may require support to ensure their personal mobility with the greatest possible independence, including through mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies and forms of live assistance and intermediaries. In particular, persons with disabilities who live in rural and remote areas face significant challenges in accessing different forms of mobility support, which significantly limits their access to such basic services as health care and education.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- Article 20 of the Convention requires States to facilitate the personal mobility of persons with disabilities in the manner and at the time of their choice, facilitate their access to assistive technologies and forms of mobility assistance and intermediaries, and provide training in mobility skills to persons with disabilities and staff working with them. It also encourages entities that produce mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies to take into account all aspects of mobility for persons with disabilities. The Special Rapporteur's thematic report on disability-inclusive policies (A/71/314) provides guidance to States on how to establish a policy framework that ensures access to assistive devices and technologies to persons with disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- States have an obligation to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to the personal assistance necessary to support living and inclusion in the community, as provided by article 19 (b) of the Convention. Personal assistance encompasses a broad range of arrangements designed to assist a person with disabilities to perform daily activities, including getting up, bathing, dressing, getting ready for work, going out, cooking, cleaning and shopping. Persons with disabilities may require personal assistance for different lengths of time, from full time to a few hours a week, depending on their individual needs.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- Independent living centres and representative organizations of persons with disabilities can play an important role in ensuring access to personal assistance. They can disseminate information about the obligations of States and service providers, provide assistance in recruitment and budgeting, facilitate support groups and train those who wish to become assistants. They can also foster participatory processes for developing ethical principles and practice guidance. While personal assistants may not require specialized preparation, States should ensure they have adequate training in order to provide safe and quality support. For example, in the Republic of Korea, the Act on Personal Assistance Services for Persons with Disabilities specifies the qualifications, human resources and service providers relating to the provision of personal assistance.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- Under article 19 (2) of the Convention States are required to ensure access to a range of in-home, residential and other community support services for persons with disabilities. The ultimate aim of this provision is to support living and inclusion in the community, and to prevent isolation or segregation from the community. Persons with disabilities should have the opportunity to choose where and with whom to live, and not be obliged to live in a particular living arrangement such as psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes or other institutions. Moreover, States have an obligation to facilitate the transition of persons with disabilities from those facilities to home- and community-based residences and to provide urgent aid to persons with disabilities who are at risk of becoming homeless or being institutionalized.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- Persons with psychosocial disabilities can benefit significantly from community support services. Peer support, for example, is an effective tool to support people experiencing severe emotional distress and prevent coercion in mental health services, as well as providing them with community-based support. In the case of persons with albinism, the provision of adequate housing and community support are essential protection measures to prevent abductions and attacks. Contributions to the present report show a growing interest on the part of States in community support. In Chile, for example, the State created a programme that funds civil society organizations to provide support services for independent living. During its first year of existence, 40 projects were financed in 13 of the 15 regions of the country.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- States should close all group living arrangement for persons with disabilities of any size that do not allow residents to participate in the community on an equal basis with others. In particular, States must establish an immediate moratorium on new admissions to institutions and set up a policy framework to guide deinstitutionalization processes. This framework should include the adoption of a plan of action with clear timelines and concrete benchmarks, the redistribution of public funds from institutions to community services and the development of adequate community support for persons with disabilities such as housing assistance, home support, peer support and respite services. Evidence shows that, when adequately planned and resourced, community services are much more cost-effective than institutional care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- General services, such as education, employment, justice and health, as well as other community services and social protection programmes, must consider the provision of support to persons with disabilities. Similarly, programmes to end domestic violence should include appropriate forms of gender- and age-sensitive assistance and support for girls and women with disabilities. States should budget and plan for such measures when designing policies and programmes to ensure that support for persons with disabilities is available from the start.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- Consideration of persons with disabilities in national policies on adequate housing is essential to ensure community participation. In the Republic of Moldova, as part of the process of deinstitutionalization of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, the Government has introduced protected housing arrangements, where persons with disabilities are provided social housing and the support necessary for living independently in the community (see A/HRC/31/62/Add.2, para. 46).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- Partnerships and alliances with non-profit organizations, academia and organizations of persons with disabilities can increase the capacity of general services to ensure access to support for persons with disabilities. For example, in South Africa, the University of Pretoria has provided research and training to different national authorities on how to ensure access to justice for persons with disabilities through augmentative and alternative communication support as well as direct services to that end.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- Guaranteeing access to support for persons with disabilities is not only a human rights obligation for States, but also an essential condition to ensure that no one is left behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Even if we advance in the areas of accessibility and non-discrimination, persons with disabilities will always need to have access to support. In fact, without appropriate support to carry out daily activities and participate in society, many persons with disabilities will not be able to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and will remain at risk of abuse and institutionalization. Support measures are vital to enable persons with disabilities to benefit from all policies and programmes and to live fully in the community on an equal basis with others. States should guarantee the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities in the provision of support.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 91a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and services for persons with disabilities. States should:] Recognize in domestic legislation the obligation to provide access to different forms of support to persons with disabilities to carry out daily activities and participate in society;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 91b
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and services for persons with disabilities. States should:] Implement a comprehensive system across different sectors and levels of government to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to community-based support services and arrangements that are available, accessible, adequate and affordable;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 91c
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and services for persons with disabilities. States should:] Guarantee that all national policies and programmes take into account and allocate budgets for support services and arrangements for persons with disabilities;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 91d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and services for persons with disabilities. States should:] Ensure that social protection systems include the provision of access to different forms of support for persons with disabilities, including the provision of free access to essential assistive technologies, as part of the State's health coverage and social protection schemes;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 91e
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and services for persons with disabilities. States should:] Ensure access by persons with disabilities to appropriate support in their communities, regardless of the type of service delivery arrangement. When available, individual funding should enable persons with disabilities to effectively access support of appropriate quality;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 91f
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and services for persons with disabilities. States should:] Design support systems so that they enable direct choice and control to be exercised by persons with disabilities;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 91g
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and services for persons with disabilities. States should:] Ensure that eligibility criteria for accessing support do not discriminate against persons with disabilities on any grounds and that disability assessments, when established, take into consideration the barriers affecting a person's participation and not only her or his impairment;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 91h
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and services for persons with disabilities. States should:] Adopt a plan of action with clear timelines and concrete benchmarks for the deinstitutionalization of persons with disabilities, including a moratorium on new admissions to institutions;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 91i
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and services for persons with disabilities. States should:] Ensure appropriate safeguards at and independent monitoring of all public and private facilities and programmes providing support to persons with disabilities;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 91j
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and services for persons with disabilities. States should:] Actively involve and consult with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in all decision-making processes related to the provision of access to support;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 91k
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and services for persons with disabilities. States should:] Progressively increase the allocation of funds to ensure access to support for persons with disabilities and refrain from adopting any retrogressive measures that directly or indirectly affect the access of persons with disabilities to support;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 91l
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and services for persons with disabilities. States should:] Encourage international cooperation actors, including international non-profit organizations, to carry out research on and provide funding and technical assistance for the provision of support for persons with disabilities, and refrain from implementing or supporting projects that contravene the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur also recommends that the United Nations, including all its programmes, funds and specialized agencies, adequately consider the obligation to ensure access to support for persons with disabilities in all its work, including when assisting States in the implementation of mainstream policies and programmes, and to increase its capacities to provide technical guidance in this regard.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- Accessibility is a precondition for persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully and equally in society. Without access to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communication, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, persons with disabilities would not have equal opportunities for participation in their respective societies. It is no coincidence that accessibility is one of the principles on which the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is based (art. 3 (f)). Historically, the persons with disabilities movement has argued that access to the physical environment and public transport for persons with disabilities is a precondition for freedom of movement, as guaranteed under article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Similarly, access to information and communication is seen as a precondition for freedom of opinion and expression, as guaranteed under article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 19, paragraph 2, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination guarantees everyone the right of access to any place or service intended for use by the general public, such as transport, hotels, restaurants, cafes, theatres and parks (art. 5 (f)). Thus, a precedent has been established in the international human rights legal framework for viewing the right to access as a right per se. Admittedly, for members of different racial or ethnic groups, the barriers to free access to places and services open to the public were the result of prejudicial attitudes and a readiness to use force in preventing access to spaces that were physically accessible. However, persons with disabilities face technical and environmental - in most cases, human-built environmental - barriers such as steps at the entrances of buildings, the absence of lifts in multi-floor buildings and a lack of information in accessible formats. The built environment always relates to social and cultural development as well as customs; therefore the built environment is under the full control of society. Such artificial barriers are often the result of a lack of information and technical know-how rather than a conscious will to prevent persons with disabilities from accessing places or services intended for use by the general public. In order to introduce policies that allow better accessibility for persons with disabilities, it is necessary to change attitudes towards persons with disabilities in order to fight against stigma and discrimination, through ongoing education efforts, awareness-raising, cultural campaigns and communication.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination clearly establish the right of access as part of international human rights law. Accessibility should be viewed as a disability-specific reaffirmation of the social aspect of the right of access. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities includes accessibility as one of its key underlying principles - a vital precondition for the effective and equal enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights by persons with disabilities. Accessibility should be viewed not only in the context of equality and non-discrimination, but also as a way of investing in society and as an integral part of the sustainable development agenda.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- While different people and organizations understand differently what information and communications technology (ICT) means, it is generally acknowledged that ICT is an umbrella term that includes any information and communication device or application and its content. Such a definition encompasses a wide range of access technologies, such as radio, television, satellite, mobile phones, fixed lines, computers, network hardware and software. The importance of ICT lies in its ability to open up a wide range of services, transform existing services and create greater demand for access to information and knowledge, particularly in underserved and excluded populations, such as persons with disabilities. Article 12 of the International Telecommunication Regulations (adopted in Dubai in 2012) enshrines the right for persons with disabilities to access international telecommunication services, taking into account the relevant International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recommendations. The provisions of that article could serve as a basis for reinforcing States parties' national legislative frameworks.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- In its general comment No. 5 (1994) on persons with disabilities, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights evoked the duty of States to implement the United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. The Standard Rules highlight the significance of the accessibility of the physical environment, transport, information and communication for the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities. The concept is developed in rule 5, in which access to the physical environment, and access to information and communication are targeted as areas for priority action for States. The significance of accessibility can be derived also from general comment No. 14 (2000) of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the right to the highest attainable standard of health (para. 12). In its general comment No. 9 (2006) on the rights of children with disabilities, the Committee on the Rights of the Child emphasizes that the physical inaccessibility of public transportation and other facilities, including governmental buildings, shopping areas and recreational facilities, is a major factor in the marginalization and exclusion of children with disabilities and markedly compromises their access to services, including health and education (para. 39). The importance of accessibility was reiterated by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in its general comment No. 17 (2013) on the right of the child to rest, leisure, play, recreational activities, cultural life and the arts.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- The World Report on Disability Summary, published in 2011 by the World Health Organization and the World Bank within the framework of the largest consultation ever and with the active involvement of hundreds of professionals in the field of disability, stresses that the built environment, transport systems and information and communication are often inaccessible to persons with disabilities (p. 10). Persons with disabilities are prevented from enjoying some of their basic rights, such as the right to seek employment or the right to health care, owing to a lack of accessible transport. The level of implementation of accessibility laws remains low in many countries and persons with disabilities are often denied their right to freedom of expression owing to the inaccessibility of information and communication. Even in countries where sign language interpretation services exist for deaf persons, the number of qualified interpreters is usually too low to meet the increasing demand for their services, and the fact that the interpreters have to travel individually to clients makes the use of their services too expensive. Persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities as well as deaf-blind persons face barriers when attempting to access information and communication owing to a lack of easy-to-read formats and augmentative and alternative modes of communication. They also face barriers when attempting to access services due to prejudices and a lack of adequate training of the staff providing those services.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- Accessibility was recognized by the mainstream ICT community since the first phase of the World Summit on Information Society, held in Geneva in 2003. Introduced and driven by the disability community, the concept was incorporated in the Declaration of Principles adopted by the Summit, which in paragraph 25 state, "the sharing and strengthening of global knowledge for development can be enhanced by removing barriers to equitable access to information for economic, social, political, health, cultural, educational, and scientific activities and by facilitating access to public domain information, including by universal design and the use of assistive technologies".
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has considered accessibility as one of the key issues in each of the 10 interactive dialogues it has held with States parties during the consideration of their initial reports, prior to the drafting of the present general comment. The concluding observations on those reports all contain recommendations concerning accessibility. One common challenge has been the lack of an adequate monitoring mechanism to ensure the practical implementation of accessibility standards and relevant legislation. In some States parties, monitoring was the responsibility of local authorities that lacked the technical knowledge and the human and material resources to ensure effective implementation. Another common challenge has been the lack of training provided to the relevant stakeholders and insufficient involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in the process of ensuring access to the physical environment, transport, information and communication.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has also addressed the issue of accessibility in its jurisprudence. In the case of Nyusti and Takács v. Hungary (communication No. 1/2010, Views adopted on 16 April 2013), the Committee was of the view that all services open or provided to the public must be accessible in accordance with the provisions of article 9 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The State party was called upon to ensure that blind persons had access to automatic teller machines (ATMs). The Committee recommended, inter alia, that the State party establish "minimum standards for the accessibility of banking services provided by private financial institutions for persons with visual and other types of impairments; … create a legislative framework with concrete, enforceable and time-bound benchmarks for monitoring and assessing the gradual modification and adjustment by private financial institutions of previously inaccessible banking services provided by them into accessible ones; … and ensure that all newly procured ATMs and other banking services are fully accessible for persons with disabilities" (para. 10.2 (a)).
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- Given these precedents and the fact that accessibility is indeed a vital precondition for persons with disabilities to participate fully and equally in society and enjoy effectively all their human rights and fundamental freedoms, the Committee finds it necessary to adopt a general comment on article 9 of the Convention on accessibility, in accordance with its rules of procedure and the established practice of the human rights treaty bodies.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Article 9 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stipulates that, "to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, States parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communication, including information and communication technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas". It is important that accessibility is addressed in all its complexity, encompassing the physical environment, transportation, information and communication, and services. The focus is no longer on legal personality and the public or private nature of those who own buildings, transport infrastructure, vehicles, information and communication, and services. As long as goods, products and services are open or provided to the public, they must be accessible to all, regardless of whether they are owned and/or provided by a public authority or a private enterprise. Persons with disabilities should have equal access to all goods, products and services that are open or provided to the public in a manner that ensures their effective and equal access and respects their dignity. This approach stems from the prohibition against discrimination; denial of access should be considered to constitute a discriminatory act, regardless of whether the perpetrator is a public or private entity. Accessibility should be provided to all persons with disabilities, regardless of the type of impairment, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, legal or social status, gender or age. Accessibility should especially take into account the gender and age perspectives for persons with disabilities.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- Article 9 of the Convention clearly enshrines accessibility as the precondition for persons with disabilities to live independently, participate fully and equally in society, and have unrestricted enjoyment of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others. Article 9 has roots in existing human rights treaties, such as article 25 (c) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the right to equal access to public service, and article 5 (f) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination on the right of access to any place or service intended for public use. When those two core human rights treaties were adopted, the Internet, which has changed the world dramatically, did not exist. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the first human rights treaty of the 21st century to address access to ICTs; and it does not create new rights in that regard for persons with disabilities. Furthermore, the notion of equality in international law has also changed over the past decades, with the conceptual shift from formal equality to substantive equality having an impact on the duties of States parties. States' obligation to provide accessibility is an essential part of the new duty to respect, protect and fulfil equality rights. Accessibility should therefore be considered in the context of the right to access from the specific perspective of disability. The right to access for persons with disabilities is ensured through strict implementation of accessibility standards. Barriers to access to existing objects, facilities, goods and services aimed at or open to the public shall be removed gradually in a systematic and, more importantly, continuously monitored manner, with the aim of achieving full accessibility.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- The strict application of universal design to all new goods, products, facilities, technologies and services should ensure full, equal and unrestricted access for all potential consumers, including persons with disabilities, in a way that takes full account of their inherent dignity and diversity. It should contribute to the creation of an unrestricted chain of movement for an individual from one space to another, including movement inside particular spaces, with no barriers. Persons with disabilities and other users should be able to move in barrier-free streets, enter accessible low-floor vehicles, access information and communication, and enter and move inside universally designed buildings, using technical aids and live assistance where necessary. The application of universal design does not automatically eliminate the need for technical aids. Its application to a building from the initial design stage helps to make construction much less costly: making a building accessible from the outset might not increase the total cost of construction at all in many cases, or only minimally in some cases. On the other hand, the cost of subsequent adaptations in order to make a building accessible may be considerable in some cases, especially with regard to certain historical buildings. While the initial application of universal design is more economical, the potential cost of subsequent removal of barriers may not be used as an excuse to avoid the obligation to remove barriers to accessibility gradually. Accessibility of information and communication, including ICT, should also be achieved from the outset because subsequent adaptations to the Internet and ICT may increase costs. It is therefore more economical to incorporate mandatory ICT accessibility features from the earliest stages of design and production.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- The application of universal design makes society accessible for all human beings, not only persons with disabilities. It is also significant that article 9 explicitly imposes on States parties the duty to ensure accessibility in both urban and rural areas. Evidence has shown that accessibility is usually better in bigger cities than in remote, less developed rural areas, although extensive urbanization can sometimes also create additional new barriers that prevent access for persons with disabilities, in particular to the built environment, transport and services, as well as more sophisticated information and communication services in heavily populated, bustling urban areas. In both urban and rural areas, access should be available for persons with disabilities to the natural and heritage parts of the physical environment that the public can enter and enjoy.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Article 9, paragraph 2, stipulates the measures States parties must take in order to develop, promulgate and monitor the implementation of minimum national standards for the accessibility of facilities and services open or provided to the public. Those standards shall be in accordance with the standards of other States parties in order to ensure interoperability with regard to free movement within the framework of liberty of movement and nationality (art. 18) of persons with disabilities. States parties are also required to take measures to ensure that private entities that offer facilities and services that are open or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for persons with disabilities (art. 9, para. 2 (b)).
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Since a lack of accessibility is often the result of insufficient awareness and technical know-how, article 9 requires that States parties provide training to all stakeholders on accessibility for persons with disabilities (para. 2 (c)). Article 9 does not attempt to enumerate the relevant stakeholders; any exhaustive list should include the authorities that issue building permits, broadcasting boards and ICT licences, engineers, designers, architects, urban planners, transport authorities, service providers, members of the academic community and persons with disabilities and their organizations. Training should be provided not only to those designing goods, services and products, but also to those who actually produce them. In addition, strengthening the direct involvement of persons with disabilities in product development would improve the understanding of existing needs and the effectiveness of accessibility tests. Ultimately, it is the builders on the construction site who make a building accessible or not. It is important to put in place training and monitoring systems for all these groups in order to ensure the practical application of accessibility standards.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Movement and orientation in buildings and other places open to the public can be a challenge for some persons with disabilities if there is no adequate signage, accessible information and communication or support services. Article 9, paragraph 2 (d) and (e), therefore provides that buildings and other places open to the public should have signage in Braille and in easy-to-read and understand forms, and that live assistance and intermediaries, including guides, readers and professional sign-language interpreters should be provided to facilitate accessibility. Without such signage, accessible information and communication and support services, orientation and movement in and through buildings may become impossible for many persons with disabilities, especially those experiencing cognitive fatigue.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- Without access to information and communication, enjoyment of freedom of thought and expression and many other basic rights and freedoms for persons with disabilities may be seriously undermined and restricted. Article 9, paragraph 2 (f) to (g), of the Convention therefore provide that States parties should promote live assistance and intermediaries, including guides, readers and professional sign language interpreters (para. 2 (e)), promote other appropriate forms of assistance and support to persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information, and promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communications technologies and systems, including the Internet, through the application of mandatory accessibility standards. Information and communication should be available in easy-to-read formats and augmentative and alternative modes and methods to persons with disabilities who use such formats, modes and methods.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- New technologies can be used to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in society, but only if they are designed and produced in a way that ensures their accessibility. New investments, research and production should contribute to eliminating inequality, not creating new barriers. Article 9, paragraph 2 (h), therefore calls on States parties to promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost. The use of hearing enhancement systems, including ambient assistive systems to assist hearing aid and induction loop users, and passenger lifts pre-equipped to allow use by persons with disabilities during emergency building evacuations constitute just some of the examples of technological advancements in the service of accessibility.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- Since accessibility is a precondition for persons with disabilities to live independently, as provided for in article 19 of the Convention, and to participate fully and equally in society, denial of access to the physical environment, transportation, information and communication technologies, and facilities and services open to the public should be viewed in the context of discrimination. Taking "all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices that constitute discrimination against persons with disabilities" (art. 4, para. 1 (b)) constitutes the main general obligation for all States parties. "States parties shall prohibit all discrimination on the basis of disability and guarantee to persons with disabilities equal and effective legal protection against discrimination on all grounds" (art. 5, para. 2). "In order to promote equality and eliminate discrimination, States parties shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided" (art. 5, para. 3).
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- A clear distinction should be drawn between the obligation to ensure access to all newly designed, built or produced objects, infrastructure, goods, products and services and the obligation to remove barriers and ensure access to the existing physical environment and existing transportation, information and communication, and services open to the general public. Another of the States parties' general obligations is to "undertake or promote research and development of universally designed goods, services, equipment and facilities, as defined in article 2 of the Convention, which should require the minimum possible adaptation and the least cost to meet the specific needs of a person with disabilities, to promote their availability and use, and to promote universal design in the development of standards and guidelines" (art. 4, para. 1 (f)). All new objects, infrastructure, facilities, goods, products and services have to be designed in a way that makes them fully accessible for persons with disabilities, in accordance with the principles of universal design. States parties are obliged to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to the existing physical environment, transportation, information and communication and services open to the general public. However, as this obligation is to be implemented gradually, States parties should establish definite time frames and allocate adequate resources for the removal of existing barriers. Furthermore, States parties should clearly prescribe the duties of the different authorities (including regional and local authorities) and entities (including private entities) that should be carried out in order to ensure accessibility. States parties should also prescribe effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure accessibility and monitor sanctions against anyone who fails to implement accessibility standards.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Accessibility is related to groups, whereas reasonable accommodation is related to individuals. This means that the duty to provide accessibility is an ex ante duty. States parties therefore have the duty to provide accessibility before receiving an individual request to enter or use a place or service. States parties need to set accessibility standards, which must be adopted in consultation with organizations of persons with disabilities, and they need to be specified for service-providers, builders and other relevant stakeholders. Accessibility standards must be broad and standardized. In the case of individuals who have rare impairments that were not taken into account when the accessibility standards were developed or who do not use the modes, methods or means offered to achieve accessibility (not reading Braille, for example), even the application of accessibility standards may not be sufficient to ensure them access. In such cases, reasonable accommodation may apply. In accordance with the Convention, States parties are not allowed to use austerity measures as an excuse to avoid ensuring gradual accessibility for persons with disabilities. The obligation to implement accessibility is unconditional, i.e. the entity obliged to provide accessibility may not excuse the omission to do so by referring to the burden of providing access for persons with disabilities. The duty of reasonable accommodation, contrarily, exists only if implementation constitutes no undue burden on the entity.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- Even though ensuring access to the physical environment, transportation, information and communication, and services open to the public is often a precondition for the effective enjoyment of various civil and political rights by persons with disabilities, States parties can ensure that access is achieved through gradual implementation when necessary as well as through the use of international cooperation. An analysis of the situation to identify the obstacles and barriers that need to be removed can be carried out in an efficient manner and within a short- to mid-term framework. Barriers should be removed in a continuous and systematic way, gradually yet steadily.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- States parties are obliged to adopt, promulgate and monitor national accessibility standards. If no relevant legislation is in place, adopting a suitable legal framework is the first step. States parties should undertake a comprehensive review of the laws on accessibility in order to identify, monitor and address gaps in legislation and implementation. Disability laws often fail to include ICT in their definition of accessibility, and disability rights laws concerned with non-discriminatory access in areas such as procurement, employment and education often fail to include access to ICT and the many goods and services central to modern society that are offered through ICT. It is important that the review and adoption of these laws and regulations are carried out in close consultation with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations (art. 4, para. 3), as well as all other relevant stakeholders, including members of the academic community and expert associations of architects, urban planners, engineers and designers. Legislation should incorporate and be based on the principle of universal design, as required by the Convention (art. 4, para. 1 (f)). It should provide for the mandatory application of accessibility standards and for sanctions, including fines, for those who fail to apply them.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- It is helpful to mainstream accessibility standards that prescribe various areas that have to be accessible, such as the physical environment in laws on construction and planning, transportation in laws on public aerial, railway, road and water transport, information and communication, and services open to the public. However, accessibility should be encompassed in general and specific laws on equal opportunities, equality and participation in the context of the prohibition of disability-based discrimination. Denial of access should be clearly defined as a prohibited act of discrimination. Persons with disabilities who have been denied access to the physical environment, transportation, information and communication, or services open to the public should have effective legal remedies at their disposal. When defining accessibility standards, States parties have to take into account the diversity of persons with disabilities and ensure that accessibility is provided to persons of any gender and of all ages and types of disability. Part of the task of encompassing the diversity of persons with disabilities in the provision of accessibility is recognizing that some persons with disabilities need human or animal assistance in order to enjoy full accessibility (such as personal assistance, sign language interpretation, tactile sign language interpretation or guide dogs). It must be stipulated, for example, that banning guide dogs from entering a particular building or open space would constitute a prohibited act of disability-based discrimination.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- It is necessary to establish minimum standards for the accessibility of different services provided by public and private enterprises for persons with different types of impairments. Reference tools such as the ITU-T recommendation Telecommunications Accessibility Checklist for standardization activities (2006) and the Telecommunications accessibility guidelines for older persons and persons with disabilities (ITU-T recommendation F.790) should be mainstreamed whenever a new ICT-related standard is developed. That would allow the generalization of universal design in the development of standards. States parties should establish a legislative framework with specific, enforceable, time-bound benchmarks for monitoring and assessing the gradual modification and adjustment by private entities of their previously inaccessible services into accessible ones. States parties should also ensure that all newly procured goods and services are fully accessible for persons with disabilities. Minimum standards must be developed in close consultation with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, in accordance with article 4, paragraph 3, of the Convention. The standards can also be developed in collaboration with other States parties and international organizations and agencies through international cooperation, in accordance with article 32 of the Convention. States parties are encouraged to join ITU study groups in the radiocommunication, standardization and development sectors of the Union, which actively work at mainstreaming accessibility in the development of international telecommunications and ICT standards and at raising industry's and governments' awareness of the need to increase access to ICT for persons with disabilities. Such cooperation can be useful in developing and promoting international standards that contribute to the interoperability of goods and services. In the field of communication-related services, States parties must ensure at least a minimum quality of services, especially for the relatively new types of services, such as personal assistance, sign language interpretation and tactile signing, aiming at their standardization.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 31a
- Paragraph text
- [When reviewing their accessibility legislation, States parties must consider and, where necessary, amend their laws to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. As a minimum, the following situations in which lack of accessibility has prevented a person with disabilities from accessing a service or facility open to the public should be considered as prohibited acts of disability-based discrimination:] Where the service or facility was established after relevant accessibility standards were introduced;
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 31b
- Paragraph text
- [When reviewing their accessibility legislation, States parties must consider and, where necessary, amend their laws to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. As a minimum, the following situations in which lack of accessibility has prevented a person with disabilities from accessing a service or facility open to the public should be considered as prohibited acts of disability-based discrimination:] Where access could have been granted to the facility or service (when it came into existence) through reasonable accommodation.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- As part of their review of accessibility legislation, States parties must also consider their laws on public procurement to ensure that their public procurement procedures incorporate accessibility requirements. It is unacceptable to use public funds to create or perpetuate the inequality that inevitably results from inaccessible services and facilities. Public procurements should be used to implement affirmative action in line with the provisions of article 5, paragraph 4, of the Convention in order to ensure accessibility and de facto equality for persons with disabilities.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- The duty of States parties to ensure access to the physical environment, transportation, information and communication, and services open to the public for persons with disabilities should be seen from the perspective of equality and non-discrimination. Denial of access to the physical environment, transportation, information and communication, and services open to the public constitutes an act of disability-based discrimination that is prohibited by article 5 of the Convention. Ensuring accessibility pro futuro should be viewed in the context of implementing the general obligation to develop universally designed goods, services, equipment and facilities (art. 4, para. 1 (f)).
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- Awareness-raising is one of the preconditions for the effective implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Since accessibility is often viewed narrowly, as accessibility to the built environment (which is significant, but only one aspect of access for persons with disabilities), States parties should strive systematically and continuously to raise awareness about accessibility among all relevant stakeholders. The all-encompassing nature of accessibility should be addressed, providing for access to the physical environment, transportation, information and communication, and services. Awareness-raising should also stress that the duty to observe accessibility standards applies equally to the public and to the private sector. It should promote the application of universal design and the idea that designing and building in an accessible way from the earliest stages is cost-effective and economical. Awareness-raising should be carried out in cooperation with persons with disabilities, their representative organizations and technical experts. Special attention should be paid to capacity-building for the application and monitoring of the implementation of accessibility standards. The media should not only take into account the accessibility of their own programmes and services for persons with disabilities, but should also take an active role in promoting accessibility and contributing to awareness-raising.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- Ensuring full access to the physical environment, transportation, information and communication, and services open to the public is indeed a vital precondition for the effective enjoyment of many rights covered by the Convention. In situations of risk, natural disasters and armed conflict, the emergency services must be accessible to persons with disabilities, or their lives cannot be saved or their well-being protected (art. 11). Accessibility must be incorporated as a priority in post-disaster reconstruction efforts. Therefore, disaster risk reduction must be accessible and disability-inclusive.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- There can be no effective access to justice if the buildings in which law-enforcement agencies and the judiciary are located are not physically accessible, or if the services, information and communication they provide are not accessible to persons with disabilities (art. 13). Safe houses, support services and procedures must all be accessible in order to provide effective and meaningful protection from violence, abuse and exploitation to persons with disabilities, especially women and children (art. 16). Accessible environment, transportation, information and communication, and services are a precondition for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in their respective local communities and for them to have an independent life (art. 19).
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- Articles 9 and 21 intersect on the issue of information and communication. Article 21 provides that States parties "shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise the right to freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their choice". It goes on to describe in detail how the accessibility of information and communication can be ensured in practice. It requires that States parties "provide information intended for the general public to persons with disabilities in accessible formats and technologies appropriate to different kinds of disabilities" (art. 21 (a)). Furthermore, it provides for "facilitating the use of sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative communication, and all other accessible means, modes and formats of communication of their choice by persons with disabilities in official interactions" (art. 21 (b)). Private entities that provide services to the general public, including through the Internet, are urged to provide information and services in accessible and usable formats for persons with disabilities (art. 21 (c)) and the mass media, including providers of information through the Internet, are encouraged to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities (art. 21 (d)). Article 21 also requires States parties to recognize and promote the use of sign languages, in accordance with articles 24, 27, 29 and 30 of the Convention.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- Without accessible transport to schools, accessible school buildings, and accessible information and communication, persons with disabilities would not have the opportunity to exercise their right to education (art. 24 of the Convention). Thus schools have to be accessible, as is explicitly indicated in article 9, paragraph 1 (a), of the Convention. However, it is the entire process of inclusive education that must be accessible, not just buildings, but all information and communication, including ambient or FM assistive systems, support services and reasonable accommodation in schools. In order to foster accessibility, education as well as the content of school curricula should promote and be conducted in sign language, Braille, alternative script, and augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication and orientation (art. 24, para. 3 (a)), with special attention to the appropriate languages and modes and means of communication used by blind, deaf and deaf-blind students. Modes and means of teaching should be accessible and should be conducted in accessible environments. The whole environment of students with disabilities must be designed in a way that fosters inclusion and guarantees their equality in the entire process of their education. Full implementation of article 24 of the Convention should be considered in conjunction with the other core human rights instruments as well as the provisions of the Convention against Discrimination in Education of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- Health care and social protection would remain unattainable for persons with disabilities without access to the premises where those services are provided. Even if the buildings where the health-care and social protection services are provided are themselves accessible, without accessible transportation, persons with disabilities are unable to travel to the places where the services are being provided. All information and communication pertaining to the provision of health care should be accessible through sign language, Braille, accessible electronic formats, alternative script, and augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication. It is especially important to take into account the gender dimension of accessibility when providing health care, particularly reproductive health care for women and girls with disabilities, including gynaecological and obstetric services.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- Persons with disabilities cannot effectively enjoy their work and employment rights, as described in article 27 of the Convention, if the workplace itself is not accessible. Workplaces therefore have to be accessible, as is explicitly indicated in article 9, paragraph 1 (a). A refusal to adapt the workplace constitutes a prohibited act of disability-based discrimination. Besides the physical accessibility of the workplace, persons with disabilities need accessible transport and support services to get to their workplaces. All information pertaining to work, advertisements of job offers, selection processes and communication at the workplace that is part of the work process must be accessible through sign language, Braille, accessible electronic formats, alternative script, and augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication. All trade union and labour rights must also be accessible, as must training opportunities and job qualifications. For example, foreign language or computer courses for employees and trainees must be conducted in an accessible environment in accessible forms, modes, means and formats.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- Article 28 of the Convention addresses an adequate standard of living and social protection for persons with disabilities. States parties should take the necessary measures to ensure that both mainstream and disability-specific social protection measures and services are provided in an accessible manner, in accessible buildings, and that all information and communication pertaining to them is accessible through sign language, Braille, accessible electronic formats, alternative script, and augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication. Social housing programmes should offer housing that is, inter alia, accessible for persons with disabilities and the elderly.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Article 29 of the Convention guarantees persons with disabilities the right to participate in political and public life, and to take part in running public affairs. Persons with disabilities would be unable to exercise those rights equally and effectively if States parties failed to ensure that voting procedures, facilities and materials were appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use. It is also important that political meetings and materials used and produced by political parties or individual candidates participating in public elections are accessible. If not, persons with disabilities are deprived of their right to participate in the political process in an equal manner. Persons with disabilities who are elected to public office must have equal opportunities to carry out their mandate in a fully accessible manner.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Everyone has the right to enjoy the arts, take part in sports and go to hotels, restaurants and bars. However, wheelchair users cannot go to a concert if there are only stairs in the concert hall. Blind persons cannot enjoy a painting if there is no description of it they can hear in the gallery. Hard of hearing persons cannot enjoy a film if there are no subtitles. Deaf persons cannot enjoy a theatrical play if there is no sign language interpretation. Persons with intellectual disabilities cannot enjoy a book if there is no easy-to-read version or a version in augmentative and alternative modes. Article 30 of the Convention requires that States parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to take part in cultural life on an equal basis with others. States parties are required to take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities: (a) Enjoy access to cultural materials in accessible formats; (b) Enjoy access to television programmes, films, theatre and other cultural activities, in accessible formats; (c) Enjoy access to places for cultural performances or services, such as theatres, museums, cinemas, libraries and tourism services, and, as far as possible, enjoy access to monuments and sites of national cultural importance. The provision of access to cultural and historical monuments that are part of national heritage may indeed be a challenge in some circumstances. However, States parties are obliged to strive to provide access to these sites. Many monuments and sites of national cultural importance have been made accessible in a way that preserves their cultural and historical identity and uniqueness.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- States parties shall take appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to have the opportunity to develop and utilize their creative, artistic and intellectual potential (art. 30, para. 2). "States parties shall take all appropriate steps, in accordance with international law, to ensure that laws protecting intellectual property rights do not constitute an unreasonable or discriminatory barrier to access by persons with disabilities to cultural materials" (art. 30, para. 3). The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled of the World Intellectual Property Organization, adopted in June 2013, should ensure access to cultural material without unreasonable or discriminatory barriers for persons with disabilities, including people with disabilities living abroad or as a member of a minority in another country and who speak or use the same language or means of communication, especially those facing challenges accessing classic print materials. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides that persons with disabilities are entitled, on an equal basis with others, to recognition and support of their specific cultural and linguistic identity. Article 30, paragraph 4, stresses the recognition of and support for sign languages and deaf culture.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 46a
- Paragraph text
- [Article 30, paragraph 5, of the Convention provides that, in order to enable persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, States parties shall take appropriate measures:] To encourage and promote the participation, to the fullest extent possible, of persons with disabilities in mainstream sporting activities at all levels;
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 46b
- Paragraph text
- [Article 30, paragraph 5, of the Convention provides that, in order to enable persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, States parties shall take appropriate measures:] To ensure that persons with disabilities have an opportunity to organize, develop and participate in disability-specific sporting and recreational activities and, to this end, encourage the provision, on an equal basis with others, of appropriate instruction, training and resources;
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 46c
- Paragraph text
- [Article 30, paragraph 5, of the Convention provides that, in order to enable persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, States parties shall take appropriate measures:] To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to sporting, recreational and tourism venues;
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 46d
- Paragraph text
- [Article 30, paragraph 5, of the Convention provides that, in order to enable persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, States parties shall take appropriate measures:] To ensure that children with disabilities have equal access with other children to participation in play, recreation and leisure and sporting activities, including those activities in the school system;
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 46e
- Paragraph text
- [Article 30, paragraph 5, of the Convention provides that, in order to enable persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, States parties shall take appropriate measures:] To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to services from those involved in the organization of recreational, tourism, leisure and sporting activities.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- International cooperation, as described in article 32 of the Convention, should be a significant tool in the promotion of accessibility and universal design. The Committee recommends that international development agencies recognize the significance of supporting projects aimed at improving ICT and other access infrastructure. All new investments made within the framework of international cooperation should be used to encourage the removal of existing barriers and prevent the creation of new barriers. It is unacceptable to use public funds to perpetuate new inequalities. All new objects, infrastructure, facilities, goods, products and services must be fully accessible for all persons with disabilities. International cooperation should be used not merely to invest in accessible goods, products and services, but also to foster the exchange of know-how and information on good practice in achieving accessibility in ways that will make tangible changes that can improve the lives of millions of persons with disabilities worldwide. International cooperation on standardization is also important, as is the fact that organizations of persons with disabilities must be supported so that they can participate in national and international processes to develop, implement and monitor accessibility standards. Accessibility must be an integral part of any sustainable development effort, especially in the context of the post-2015 development agenda.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- The monitoring of accessibility is a crucial aspect of the national and international monitoring of the implementation of the Convention. Article 33 of the Convention requires States parties to designate focal points within their governments for matters relating to the implementation of the Convention, as well as to establish national frameworks to monitor implementation which include one or more independent mechanisms. Civil society should also be involved and should participate fully in the monitoring process. It is crucial that the bodies established further to article 33 are duly consulted when measures for the proper implementation of article 9 are considered. Those bodies should be provided with meaningful opportunities to, inter alia, take part in the drafting of national accessibility standards, comment on existing and draft legislation, submit proposals for draft legislation and policy regulation, and participate fully in awareness-raising and educational campaigns. The processes of national and international monitoring of the implementation of the Convention should be performed in an accessible manner that promotes and ensures the effective participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations. Article 49 of the Convention requires that the text of the Convention be made available in accessible formats. This is an innovation in an international human rights treaty and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities should be seen as setting a precedent in that respect for all future treaties.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accreditation and participation of non-governmental organizations in the Ad Hoc Committee on aComprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2002), para. 02
- Paragraph text
- Bearing in mind its resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, in which it invited, inter alia, non-governmental organizations with an interest in the matter to make contributions to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Accreditation and participation of non-governmental organizations in the Ad Hoc Committee on aComprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2002), para. 04
- Paragraph text
- 1. Decides that accreditation of non-governmental organizations to the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities shall be granted to all non-governmental organizations enjoying consultative status with the Economic and Social Council;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2003), para. 02
- Paragraph text
- Recalling its resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, by which it established the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/61 of 25 April 2002 on the human rights of persons with disabilities 1 and Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/7 of 24 July 2002 on a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and Council resolution 2002/26 of 24 July 2002 on the further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities and protection of their human rights,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2003), para. 03
- Paragraph text
- Stressing the importance of the active participation of non-governmental organizations in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee and the important contribution of non-governmental organizations to the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2003), para. 04
- Paragraph text
- Underlining the fact that the consideration of proposals for a convention should complement concrete efforts to mainstream further the disability perspective into the implementation of international obligations and into the monitoring mechanisms of the six core United Nations human rights conventions, as well as into the process of implementing and strengthening the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, 2
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2003), para. 06
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming the need to promote and protect the equal and effective enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, aware of the contribution that a convention could make in this regard and thus convinced of the need to continue to consider proposals,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2003), para. 07
- Paragraph text
- 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities on its first session; 3
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2003), para. 13
- Paragraph text
- 7. Invites the regional commissions and intergovernmental organizations, within their respective mandates, as well as non-governmental organizations, national disability and human rights institutions and independent experts with an interest in the matter, to make available to the Ad Hoc Committee suggestions and possible elements to be considered in proposals for a convention;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2003), para. 15
- Paragraph text
- 9. Urges that further efforts be made to ensure the active participation of non-governmental organizations in the Ad Hoc Committee in accordance with General Assembly resolution 56/510 of 23 July 2002 and with the decision of the Ad Hoc Committee on the modalities for the participation of non-governmental organizations in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee; 4 10. Also urges that efforts be made to ensure that accessibility, with reasonable accommodation as regards facilities and documentation, is improved for all persons with disabilities, in accordance with General Assembly decision 56/474 of 23 July 2002;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2003), para. 17
- Paragraph text
- 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the facilities necessary for the performance of its work and, in this context, invites the Secretary-General to reallocate resources in order to allow the United Nations Programme on Disability to provide the necessary support to the Ad Hoc Committee;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2003), para. 18
- Paragraph text
- 12. Encourages Member States to involve persons with disabilities, representatives of disability organizations and experts in the preparatory processes contributing to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2003), para. 19
- Paragraph text
- 13. Also encourages Member States to include persons with disabilities and/or other experts in the field in their delegations to the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2004), para. 02
- Paragraph text
- Recalling its resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, by which it decided to establish an Ad Hoc Committee open to the participation of all Member States and observers to the United Nations, to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based on a holistic approach in the work done in the fields of social development, human rights and non-discrimination and taking into account the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission for Social Development,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2004), para. 04
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2004), para. 07
- Paragraph text
- Stressing the importance of the active participation of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, and their valuable contribution to the promotion of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities,
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2004), para. 09
- Paragraph text
- 1. Welcomes the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities; 1
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2004), para. 17
- Paragraph text
- 9. Stresses the need for additional efforts to ensure accessibility at the United Nations, with reasonable accommodation regarding facilities and documentation, for all persons with disabilities, in accordance with General Assembly decision 56/474 of 23 July 2002;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2004), para. 19
- Paragraph text
- 11. Encourages Member States to continue to include in their delegations to the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee persons with disabilities and/or other experts in the field;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2005), para. 02
- Paragraph text
- Recalling its resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, by which it decided to establish an Ad Hoc Committee, open to the participation of all Member States and observers to the United Nations, to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based on a holistic approach in the work done in the fields of social development, human rights and non-discrimination and taking into account the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission for Social Development,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2005), para. 04
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2005), para. 06
- Paragraph text
- Stressing the importance of the active participation of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, and their valuable contribution to the promotion of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities,
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2005), para. 09
- Paragraph text
- 1. Welcomes the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities; 1
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2005), para. 15
- Paragraph text
- 7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the facilities necessary for the performance of its work, and in this context invites the Secretary-General to reallocate resources to the United Nations Programme on Disability so as to provide support to the negotiations on a draft convention;
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2005), para. 16
- Paragraph text
- 8. Stresses the need for additional efforts to ensure accessibility at the United Nations, with reasonable accommodation regarding facilities and documentation, for all persons with disabilities, in accordance with General Assembly decision 56/474 of 23 July 2002;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2005), para. 17
- Paragraph text
- 9. Encourages Member States to continue to include in their delegations to the Ad Hoc Committee persons with disabilities and/or other experts in the field;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2006), para. 02
- Paragraph text
- Recalling its resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, by which it decided to establish an Ad Hoc Committee, open to the participation of all Member States and observers to the United Nations, to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based on a holistic approach in the work done in the fields of social development, human rights and non-discrimination and taking into account the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission for Social Development,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2006), para. 04
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2006), para. 07
- Paragraph text
- Stressing the importance of the active participation of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, and their valuable contribution to the promotion of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities,
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2006), para. 10
- Paragraph text
- 1. Welcomes the reports of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities on its fifth 1 and sixth sessions;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2006), para. 15
- Paragraph text
- 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the facilities necessary for the performance of its work, and in this context invites the Secretary-General to reallocate resources to the United Nations Programme on Disability so as to provide support to the negotiations on a draft convention;
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2006), para. 16
- Paragraph text
- 7. Stresses the need for additional efforts to ensure accessibility at the United Nations, with reasonable accommodation regarding facilities and documentation, for all persons with disabilities, in accordance with General Assembly decision 56/474 of 23 July 2002;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2006), para. 17
- Paragraph text
- 8. Requests the Secretary-General to explore and implement innovative measures, within existing resources and in consultation with organizations of persons with disabilities and the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Committee, for the provision of selected documents of the Ad Hoc Committee in formats accessible to participants with visual and hearing disabilities;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (2006), para. 18
- Paragraph text
- 9. Encourages Member States to continue to include in their delegations to the Ad Hoc Committee persons with disabilities and/or other experts in the field;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Addis Ababa Action Agenda) (2015), para. 017
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- 12. Delivering social protection and essential public services for all. To end poverty in all its forms everywhere and finish the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals, we commit to a new social compact. In this effort, we will provide fiscally sustainable and nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, with a focus on those furthest below the poverty line and the vulnerable, persons with disabilities, indigenous persons, children, youth and older persons. We also encourage countries to consider setting nationally appropriate spending targets for quality investments in essential public services for all, including health, education, energy, water and sanitation, consistent with national sustainable development strategies. We will make every effort to meet the needs of all communities through delivering high-quality services that make effective use of resources. We commit to strong international support for these efforts and will explore coherent funding modalities to mobilize additional resources, building on country-led experiences.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons with disabilities
- Youth
Paragraph
Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Addis Ababa Action Agenda) (2015), para. 021
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- 16. Generating full and productive employment and decent work for all and promoting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. To enable all people to benefit from growth, we will include full and productive employment and decent work for all as a central objective in our national development strategies. We will encourage the full and equal participation of women and men, including persons with disabilities, in the formal labour market. We note that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which create the vast majority of jobs in many countries, often lack access to finance. Working with private actors and development banks, we commit to promoting appropriate, affordable and stable access to credit to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as adequate skills development training for all, particularly for youth and entrepreneurs. We will promote national youth strategies as a key instrument for meeting the needs and aspirations of young people. We also commit to developing and operationalizing, by 2020, a global strategy for youth employment and implementing the International Labour Organization (ILO) Global Jobs Pact.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Men
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
Paragraph
Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Addis Ababa Action Agenda) (2015), para. 086
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- 78. We recognize the importance for achieving sustainable development of delivering quality education to all girls and boys. This will require reaching children living in extreme poverty, children with disabilities, migrant and refugee children, and those in conflict and post-conflict situations, and providing safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. We will scale up investments and international cooperation to allow all children to complete free, equitable, inclusive and quality early childhood, primary and secondary education, including through scaling up and strengthening initiatives, such as the Global Partnership for Education. We commit to upgrading education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and increasing the percentage of qualified teachers in developing countries, including through international cooperation, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States.
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Boys
- Children
- Girls
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Addis Ababa Action Agenda) (2015), para. 126
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- 114. The creation, development and diffusion of new innovations and technologies and associated know-how, including the transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms, are powerful drivers of economic growth and sustainable development. However, we note with concern the persistent “digital divide” and the uneven innovative capacity, connectivity and access to technology, including information and communications technology, within and between countries. We will promote the development and use of information and communications technology infrastructure, as well as capacity-building, particularly in least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, including rapid universal and affordable access to the Internet. We will promote access to technology and science for women, youth and children. We will further facilitate accessible technology for persons with disabilities.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
Paragraph
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights “Protocol of San Salvador” 1988, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- 2. The State Parties undertake to adopt measures that will make the right to work fully effective, especially with regard to the achievement of full employment, vocational guidance, and the development of technical and vocational training projects, in particular those directed to the disabled. The States Parties also undertake to implement and strengthen programs that help to ensure suitable family care, so that women may enjoy a real opportunity to exercise the right to work.
- Body
- Organization of American States
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 1988
Paragraph
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights “Protocol of San Salvador” 1988, para. 3e
- Paragraph text
- 3. The States Parties to this Protocol recognize that in order to achieve the full exercise of the right to education: e. Programs of special education should be established for the handicapped, so as to provide special instruction and training to persons with physical disabilities or mental deficiencies.
- Body
- Organization of American States
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 1988
Paragraph
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights “Protocol of San Salvador” 1988, para. a
- Paragraph text
- Everyone affected by a diminution of his physical or mental capacities is entitled to receive special attention designed to help him achieve the greatest possible development of his personality. The States Parties agree to adopt such measures as may be necessary for this purpose and, especially, to: a. Undertake programs specifically aimed at providing the handicapped with the resources and environment needed for attaining this goal, including work programs consistent with their possibilities and freely accepted by them or their legal representatives, as the case may be;
- Body
- Organization of American States
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 1988
Paragraph
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights “Protocol of San Salvador” 1988, para. b
- Paragraph text
- Everyone affected by a diminution of his physical or mental capacities is entitled to receive special attention designed to help him achieve the greatest possible development of his personality. The States Parties agree to adopt such measures as may be necessary for this purpose and, especially, to: b. Provide special training to the families of the handicapped in order to help them solve the problems of coexistence and convert them into active agents in the physical, mental and emotional development of the latter;
- Body
- Organization of American States
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 1988
Paragraph
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights “Protocol of San Salvador” 1988, para. c
- Paragraph text
- Everyone affected by a diminution of his physical or mental capacities is entitled to receive special attention designed to help him achieve the greatest possible development of his personality. The States Parties agree to adopt such measures as may be necessary for this purpose and, especially, to: c. Include the consideration of solutions to specific requirements arising from needs of this group as a priority component of their urban development plans;
- Body
- Organization of American States
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 1988
Paragraph
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights “Protocol of San Salvador” 1988, para. d
- Paragraph text
- Everyone affected by a diminution of his physical or mental capacities is entitled to receive special attention designed to help him achieve the greatest possible development of his personality. The States Parties agree to adopt such measures as may be necessary for this purpose and, especially, to: d. Encourage the establishment of social groups in which the handicapped can be helped to enjoy a fuller life.
- Body
- Organization of American States
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 1988
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 04
- Paragraph text
- Recalling also the Convention on the Rights of the Child 3 and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 4 according to which individuals with disabilities should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the individual’s active participation in the community, as well as the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other individuals,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 05
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing the need to promote and protect the human rights of all persons with disabilities, including all individuals with autism spectrum disorders, by, inter alia, ensuring equal opportunities to achieve their optimal developmental potential and to participate in society,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 06
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing also the important contribution that non-governmental organizations and other civil society actors can make in promoting human rights for persons with disabilities, including all individuals with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities, and their integration in societies, as well as addressing the socioeconomic needs of their families and communities,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 07
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 08
- Paragraph text
- Affirming that ensuring and promoting the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities, without distinction, is critical to achieving internationally agreed development goals,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 09
- Paragraph text
- Recalling its resolution 66/124 of 19 December 2011, by which it decided to convene a one-day high-level meeting of the General Assembly, on 23 September 2013, with the overarching theme “The way forward: a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond”, which shall be funded within existing resources, in order to strengthen efforts to ensure accessibility for and the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of development efforts,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Aware also that the vast variety of needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities poses a substantial challenge to addressing the disability and providing the appropriate services for treatment and care by government and non-governmental organizations,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 12
- Paragraph text
- Deeply concerned that children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities in all regions of the world experience challenges in accessing long-term health care, education, training and intervention programmes undertaken by Governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector,
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Concerned that persons with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities continue to face barriers in their participation as equal members of society, and reaffirming that discrimination against any person on the basis of disability is a violation of the inherent dignity and worth of the human person,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 14
- Paragraph text
- Recalling that early diagnosis, appropriate research and effective interventions are vital to the growth and development of the individual, and emphasizing that early intervention is crucial for addressing the needs of the individual with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities, thus improving the opportunities to live a quality life with the ability to participate in the greater community and increasing the likelihood that an individual will need lower levels of support later in life,
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 15
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing that the full enjoyment by persons with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities of their human rights and their full participation will result in significant advances in the social and economic development of societies and communities,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 16
- Paragraph text
- Realizing that the challenge of meeting the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities is particularly acute in the developing world, resulting in increased difficulties for individuals and their families, as well as for the health, education and social welfare systems trying to meet their needs,
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing the work of the World Health Organization in addressing autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities in its resolutions, notably through resolution 65.4 entitled “The global burden of mental disorders and the need for a comprehensive, coordinated response from health and social sectors at the country level”, adopted on 25 May 2012 by the sixty-fifth World Health Assembly, requesting the Director General of the Organization to develop a comprehensive mental health action plan, for consideration by the sixty- sixth World Health Assembly, 5
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing also that a major barrier to improving the health and well-being of children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities and their families is the paucity of knowledge and expertise to recognize symptoms and identify autism spectrum disorders, and also recognizing that the absence of effective routine screening that allows for early detection, in turn, limits access to care and early interventions and that, without research to develop and implement effective programmes, the emergence of appropriate solutions that improve the quality of life for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families does not occur,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Acknowledging efforts to increase awareness of the rights of those affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities, including the commemoration of World Autism Awareness Day, which led to increased international public concern for autism and other developmental disabilities,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Taking note of the Dhaka Declaration on Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities of 25 July 2011,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 21
- Paragraph text
- 1. Encourages Member States to enhance access to appropriate support services and equal opportunities for inclusion and participation in society by providing, as appropriate, training to public administrators, service providers, carers, caregivers, families and non-professionals on the needs and rights of persons with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 22
- Paragraph text
- 2. Recognizes that, in order to develop and implement feasible, effective and sustainable intervention programmes for addressing autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities, an innovative, integrated approach would benefit from a focus, inter alia, on:
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 23
- Paragraph text
- (a) Increasing public and professional awareness of autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities and reducing stigma associated with these conditions;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 27
- Paragraph text
- (e) Increasing awareness of the advantages of the inclusion of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities in society through occupational and leisure activities;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 28
- Paragraph text
- 3. Encourages Member States to undertake to collect appropriate information, including disaggregated statistical and research data, on autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 30
- Paragraph text
- 5. Calls upon all States to ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning, as well as to promote vocational training and skills development programmes for persons with autism, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 4 and other local, national and regional policies;
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 31
- Paragraph text
- 6. Also calls upon all States to enable persons with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities to learn life and social development skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as members of the community;
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities (2013), para. 32
- Paragraph text
- 7. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States and United Nations organizations as a contribution to the preparations for the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities, to be held on 23 September 2013.
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- Encourages Member States to enhance access to appropriate support services and equal opportunities for inclusion and participation in society by providing, as appropriate, training to public administrators, service providers, carers, caregivers, families and non-professionals on the needs and rights of persons with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome and the United Nations Millennium Declaration, as well as the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 2a
- Paragraph text
- [Recognizes that, in order to develop and implement feasible, effective and sustainable intervention programmes for addressing autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities, an innovative, integrated approach would benefit from a focus, inter alia, on:] Increasing public and professional awareness of autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities and reducing stigma associated with these conditions;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 2b
- Paragraph text
- [Recognizes that, in order to develop and implement feasible, effective and sustainable intervention programmes for addressing autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities, an innovative, integrated approach would benefit from a focus, inter alia, on:] Enhancing and increasing research expertise and service delivery, including through international collaboration, by training researchers, service providers, as well as non-professionals, in early diagnosis and interventions within health and other relevant sectors;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 2c
- Paragraph text
- [Recognizes that, in order to develop and implement feasible, effective and sustainable intervention programmes for addressing autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities, an innovative, integrated approach would benefit from a focus, inter alia, on:] Enhancing inclusive educational programmes suited to infants, children and adults with autism;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Infants
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 2d
- Paragraph text
- [Recognizes that, in order to develop and implement feasible, effective and sustainable intervention programmes for addressing autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities, an innovative, integrated approach would benefit from a focus, inter alia, on:] Emphasizing the unique needs of each person with autism across a spectrum of different characteristics and experiences;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 2e
- Paragraph text
- [Recognizes that, in order to develop and implement feasible, effective and sustainable intervention programmes for addressing autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities, an innovative, integrated approach would benefit from a focus, inter alia, on:] Increasing awareness of the advantages of the inclusion of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities in society through occupational and leisure activities;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- Recalling the Declaration of Alma-Ata, the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986, and subsequent relevant resolutions of the World Health Assembly and regional committees,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- Encourages Member States to undertake to collect appropriate information, including disaggregated statistical and research data, on autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- Looks forward to the development of the World Health Organization comprehensive mental health action plan, as called for in World Health Assembly resolution 65.4, and its consideration of autism spectrum disorders in the context of a broader systems approach;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- Recalling also the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, according to which individuals with disabilities should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the individual's active participation in the community, as well as the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other individuals,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Calls upon all States to ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning, as well as to promote vocational training and skills development programmes for persons with autism, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other local, national and regional policies;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing the need to promote and protect the human rights of all persons with disabilities, including all individuals with autism spectrum disorders, by, inter alia, ensuring equal opportunities to achieve their optimal developmental potential and to participate in society,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Also calls upon all States to enable persons with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities to learn life and social development skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as members of the community;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing also the important contribution that non-governmental organizations and other civil society actors can make in promoting human rights for persons with disabilities, including all individuals with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities, and their integration in societies, as well as addressing the socioeconomic needs of their families and communities,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States and United Nations organizations as a contribution to the preparations for the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities, to be held on 23 September 2013.
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Affirming that ensuring and promoting the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities, without distinction, is critical to achieving internationally agreed development goals,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- Recalling its resolution 66/124 of 19 December 2011, by which it decided to convene a one-day high-level meeting of the General Assembly, on 23 September 2013, with the overarching theme “The way forward: a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond”, which shall be funded within existing resources, in order to strengthen efforts to ensure accessibility for and the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of development efforts,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- Aware that autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the functioning of the brain, characterized by impairments in social interaction, problems with verbal and non-verbal communication and restricted, repetitive behaviour, interests and activities,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Aware also that the vast variety of needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities poses a substantial challenge to addressing the disability and providing the appropriate services for treatment and care by government and non-governmental organizations,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- Deeply concerned that children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities in all regions of the world experience challenges in accessing long-term health care, education, training and intervention programmes undertaken by Governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Concerned that persons with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities continue to face barriers in their participation as equal members of society, and reaffirming that discrimination against any person on the basis of disability is a violation of the inherent dignity and worth of the human person,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- Recalling that early diagnosis, appropriate research and effective interventions are vital to the growth and development of the individual, and emphasizing that early intervention is crucial for addressing the needs of the individual with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities, thus improving the opportunities to live a quality life with the ability to participate in the greater community and increasing the likelihood that an individual will need lower levels of support later in life,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing that the full enjoyment by persons with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities of their human rights and their full participation will result in significant advances in the social and economic development of societies and communities,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- Realizing that the challenge of meeting the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities is particularly acute in the developing world, resulting in increased difficulties for individuals and their families, as well as for the health, education and social welfare systems trying to meet their needs,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing the work of the World Health Organization in addressing autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities in its resolutions, notably through resolution 65.4 entitled “The global burden of mental disorders and the need for a comprehensive, coordinated response from health and social sectors at the country level”, adopted on 25 May 2012 by the sixty-fifth World Health Assembly, requesting the Director General of the Organization to develop a comprehensive mental health action plan, for consideration by the sixty-sixth World Health Assembly,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing also that a major barrier to improving the health and well-being of children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities and their families is the paucity of knowledge and expertise to recognize symptoms and identify autism spectrum disorders, and also recognizing that the absence of effective routine screening that allows for early detection, in turn, limits access to care and early interventions and that, without research to develop and implement effective programmes, the emergence of appropriate solutions that improve the quality of life for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families does not occur,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Acknowledging efforts to increase awareness of the rights of those affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities, including the commemoration of World Autism Awareness Day, which led to increased international public concern for autism and other developmental disabilities,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities 2012, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Taking note of the Dhaka Declaration on Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities of 25 July 2011,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Adequacy of the international legal framework on violence against women 2017, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Civil society organizations called for more support for women’s organizations on the ground, underlining that women human rights defenders faced daily threats and harassment, and needed greater protection. At the same time, more regulations addressing violence against particular groups of women, such as women belonging to minority groups; migrants; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons; elderly women; women with disabilities; and widows, were also supported.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living (2010), para. 06
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Concerned that any deterioration in the general housing situation disproportionally affects persons living in conditions of poverty, low-income earners, women, children, persons belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples, migrants, the elderly and persons with disabilities,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living 2007, para. 4g
- Paragraph text
- [Urges States:] To pay due attention to the human rights and needs of persons with disabilities in the context of adequate housing, and in this regard to accessibility, including the removal of barriers and obstacles, and to promote equal access to public housing programmes, and to consider taking these issues into account in fulfilling their reporting obligations under international human rights instruments;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2007
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living 2010, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Concerned that any deterioration in the general housing situation disproportionally affects persons living in conditions of poverty, low-income earners, women, children, persons belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples, migrants, the elderly and persons with disabilities,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living in the context of disaster settings 2012, para. 4d
- Paragraph text
- [Urges States, in the context of post-disaster settings, and recognizing that short-term humanitarian response and early recovery phases are based on needs, to respect, protect and fulfil the right to adequate housing without discrimination of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, and, in this regard:] To ensure that accessibility for persons with disabilities is taken into account during all phases of reconstruction, in accordance with international law and standards;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to non-discrimination in this context (2018), para. 14
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Deeply concerned that inadequate housing, homelessness and forced eviction disproportionately affect women, children and persons with disabilities, and other persons who are marginalized and most vulnerable, each in different ways but with common structural causes, and that homelessness and tenure insecurity per se might result in discrimination, criminalization and further exclusion, particularly social and economic exclusion,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to non-discrimination in this context (2018), para. 16
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Emphasizing the importance of housing to dignity and equal rights for persons with disabilities, who often face widespread and severe forms of discrimination in virtually all aspects of housing, from the inaccessible design of buildings to barriers to finance or discriminatory tenant selection and various forms of stigmatization, and acknowledging in particular that persons with disabilities are at a greater risk of violence within and outside of their homes simply because of their disability,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to non-discrimination in this context (2018), para. 23
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- (c) To take positive measures with a view to prevent and eliminate homelessness by adopting and implementing cross-sectoral strategies that are gender-, age- and disability- responsive and based on international human rights law;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to non-discrimination in this context (2018), para. 25
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- (e) To ensure that the principles of equality and non-discrimination are respected when fulfilling the right to adequate housing, and in this respect to take measures to the maximum of available resources to address systemic homelessness and deprivation of housing, which disproportionately affects persons with disabilities, and to strive towards the full realization of the right to adequate housing for all, including for persons with disabilities;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to non-discrimination in this context 2016, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Deeply concerned that homelessness disproportionately affects women and persons with disabilities, and other persons who are marginalized and most vulnerable, each in different ways but with common structural causes, and that homelessness and tenure insecurity per se might result in discrimination, criminalization and further exclusion, particularly social and economic exclusion,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, in the context of mega-events 2010, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Concerned that any deterioration in the general housing situation disproportionally affects persons living in conditions of poverty, low-income earners, women, children, persons belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples, migrants, the elderly and persons with disabilities,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the rights to an adequate standard of living, and the right to non-discrimination in this context, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- Deeply concerned that inadequate housing, homelessness and forced eviction disproportionately affect women, children and persons with disabilities, and other persons who are marginalized and most vulnerable, each in different ways but with common structural causes, and that homelessness and tenure insecurity per se might result in discrimination, criminalization and further exclusion, particularly social and economic exclusion,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the rights to an adequate standard of living, and the right to non-discrimination in this context, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- Emphasizing the importance of housing to dignity and equal rights for persons with disabilities, who often face widespread and severe forms of discrimination in virtually all aspects of housing, from the inaccessible design of buildings to barriers to finance or discriminatory tenant selection and various forms of stigmatization, and acknowledging in particular that persons with disabilities are at a greater risk of violence within and outside of their homes simply because of their disability,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Adequate housing as a component of the rights to an adequate standard of living, and the right to non-discrimination in this context, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- 2 (e) To ensure that the principles of equality and non-discrimination are respected when fulfilling the right to adequate housing, and in this respect to take measures to the maximum of available resources to address systemic homelessness and deprivation of housing, which disproportionately affects persons with disabilities, and to strive towards the full realization of the right to adequate housing for all, including for persons with disabilities;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations: cross-cutting issues (2007), para. 049
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- 5. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to settle death and disability claims as soon as possible, but not later than three months from the date of submission of a claim;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations: cross-cutting issues (2007), para. 050
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- 6. Expresses deep concern about delays in the settlement of claims in respect of death and disability, and requests the Secretary-General to take urgent measures to eliminate the existing backlog of death and disability claims pending for more than three months and to report on the progress made to the General Assembly at the second part of its resumed sixty-second session;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations: cross-cutting issues (2007), para. 051
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- 7. Requests the Secretary-General to officially inform Member States of incidents involving their nationals in United Nations peacekeeping missions that may result in death or disability claims, as well as of the procedures governing the submission of such claims, no later than seventy-two hours from the time of the incident;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations: cross-cutting issues (2007), para. 056
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- (c) Clear delineation of responsibilities of the United Nations and the Member States in the submission of documentation in support of death and disability claims;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations: cross-cutting issues (2007), para. 057
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- (d) Full lists of documents to be submitted in support of death and disability claims by the Member States and, where applicable, beneficiaries;
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
Paragraph
Adolescent health and development in the context of the Convention of the Rights of the Child 2003, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- The Committee also stresses that in accordance with article 23 (3) of the Convention, the special rights of adolescents with disabilities should be taken into account and assistance provided to ensure that the disabled child/adolescent has effective access to and receives good quality education. States should recognize the principle of equal primary, secondary and tertiary educational opportunities for disabled children/adolescents, where possible in regular schools.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2003
Paragraph
Adolescent health and development in the context of the Convention of the Rights of the Child 2003, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- In accordance with article 23 of the Convention, adolescents with mental and/or physical disabilities have an equal right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. States parties have an obligation to provide adolescents with disabilities with the means necessary to realize their rights. States parties should (a) ensure that health facilities, goods and services are available and accessible to all adolescents with disabilities and that these facilities and services promote their self-reliance and their active participation in the community; (b) ensure that the necessary equipment and personal support are available to enable them to move around, participate and communicate; (c) pay specific attention to the special needs relating to the sexuality of adolescents with disabilities; and (d) remove barriers that hinder adolescents with disabilities in realizing their rights.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2003
Paragraph
Adolescents and youth 2012, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Urges Member States to promote equal opportunities for all, to combat all forms of discrimination against young people, including that based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status, and to foster social integration for marginalized groups, such as young persons with disabilities, young migrants and indigenous youth, on an equal basis with others;
- Body
- Commission on Population and Development
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons with disabilities
- Youth
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance 2007, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- State Parties shall promote participation of social groups with special needs, including the Youth and people with disabilities, in the governance process.
- Body
- African Union
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Youth
- Year
- 2007
Paragraph
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance 2007, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- State Parties shall endeavour to provide free and compulsory basic education to all, especially girls, rural inhabitants, minorities, people with disabilities and other marginalized social groups.
- Body
- African Union
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2007
Paragraph
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance 2007, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- In addition, State Parties shall ensure the literacy of citizens above compulsory school age, particularly women, rural inhabitants, minorities, people with disabilities, and other marginalized social groups.
- Body
- African Union
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2007
Paragraph
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance 2007, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- State Parties shall adopt legislative and administrative measures to guarantee the rights of women, ethnic minorities, migrants, people with disabilities, refugees and displaced persons and other marginalized and vulnerable social groups.
- Body
- African Union
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2007
Paragraph
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Banjul Charter) 1981, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- The aged and the disabled shall also have the right to special measures of protection in keeping with their physical or moral needs.
- Body
- Organization of African Unity
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 1981
Paragraph
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 1990, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- Every child who is mentally or physically disabled shall have the right to special measures of protection in keeping with his physical and moral needs and under conditions which ensure his dignity, promote his self-reliance and active participation in the community.
- Body
- Organization of African Unity
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 1990
Paragraph
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 1990, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- State Parties to the present Charter shall ensure, subject to available resources, to a disabled child and to those responsible for his care, assistance for which application is made and which is appropriate to the child’s condition and in particular shall ensure that the disabled child has effective access to training, preparation for employment and recreation opportunities in a manner conducive to the child achieving the fullest possible social integration, individual development and his/her cultural and moral development.
- Body
- Organization of African Unity
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 1990
Paragraph
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 1990, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- The State Parties to the present Charter shall use their available resources with a view to achieving progressively the full convenience of the mentally and physically disabled person to movement and access to public highway buildings and other places to which the disabled may legitimately want to have access to.
- Body
- Organization of African Unity
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 1990
Paragraph
African Youth Charter 2006, para. 2n
- Paragraph text
- 2. States Parties shall undertake to pursue the full implementation of this right and in particular shall take measures to: n) Provide technical and financial support to build the institutional capacity of youth organisations to address public health concerns including issues concerning youth with disabilities and young people married at an early age.
- Body
- African Union
- Document type
- Regional treaty
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Youth
- Year
- 2006
Paragraph
Agriculture development and food security (2013), para. 13
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so as to be able to fully develop and maintain his or her physical and mental capacities, and underlining the need to make special efforts to meet the nutritional needs, especially, of women, children, older persons, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, as well as those living in vulnerable situations,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Paragraph
Agriculture development, food security and nutrition (2014), para. 15
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming also the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so as to be able to fully develop and maintain his or her physical and mental capacities, and underlining the need to make special efforts to meet the nutritional needs, especially of women, children, older persons, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, as well as those living in vulnerable situations,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Paragraph
Agriculture development, food security and nutrition (2016), para. 14
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming also the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so that they may be able to fully develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities, and underlining the need to make special efforts to meet nutritional needs, especially of women, children, older persons, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, as well as of those living in vulnerable situations,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Paragraph
Agriculture development, food security and nutrition (2017), para. 17
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming also the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so as to be able to fully develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities, and underlining the need to make special efforts to meet nutritional needs, especially of women, children, older persons, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, as well as of those living in vulnerable situations,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Paragraph
Agriculture development, food security and nutrition (2018), para. 22
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming also the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so as to be able to fully develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities, and underlining the need to make special efforts to meet nutritional needs, especially of women, children, older persons, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, as well as of those living in vulnerable situations,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Paragraph
Agriculture development, food security and nutrition (2019), para. 31
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so as to be able to fully develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities, and underlining the need to make special efforts to meet nutritional needs, especially of women, children, older persons, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, as well as of those living in vulnerable situations,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Paragraph
Agriculture development, food security and nutrition (2019), para. 40
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Reiterating the urgent need for action to address the adverse effects of climate change on food security, in particular for women, youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, as well as the other root causes of food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition,
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
Paragraph
Agriculture development, food security and nutrition (2019), para. 77
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- 26. Emphasizes the need to revitalize the agriculture sector, promote rural development and aim for ensuring food security and nutrition, notably in developing countries, in a sustainable manner, which will contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and underlines the importance of taking the necessary actions to better address the needs of rural communities by, inter alia, enhancing access for agricultural producers, in particular small producers, women, youth, indigenous peoples and local communities, persons with disabilities and older persons, in conflict and post-conflict situations, to credit and other financial services, markets, secure land tenure, health-care services, social services, education, training, knowledge and appropriate and affordable technologies, including for development of local crops, efficient irrigation, reuse of treated wastewater and water harvesting and storage;
- Topic(s)
- Food & Nutrition
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
Paragraph
Agriculture development, food security and nutrition (2020), para. 30
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so as to be able to fully develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities, and underlining the need to make special efforts to meet nutritional needs, especially of women, children, older persons, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, as well as of those living in vulnerable situations,
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Paragraph
Agriculture development, food security and nutrition (2020), para. 39
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Reiterating the urgent need for action to enhance efforts to build resilience, especially for the most vulnerable, by investing in resilience, including disaster risk reduction, strengthening adaptation strategies and enhancing joint risk assessments and risk management strategies, to cut the impact and cost of natural disasters to address the adverse effects of climate change on food security, in particular for women, youth, older persons, indigenous peoples, local communities and p ersons with disabilities, as well as the other root causes of food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition,
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
Paragraph
Agriculture development, food security and nutrition (2020), para. 57
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- 8. Underscores the need to safeguard food security and nutrition for all, including women, children, youth, older persons, indigenous peoples, local communities, persons with disabilities and those living in vulnerable situations, inter alia by promoting economic and social policies to counteract the adverse impact of economic slowdowns and downturns on efforts to end hunger and malnutrition;
- Topic(s)
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
Paragraph