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330 shown of 531 entities
Legal capacity and supported decision-making
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2017
- Document code
- A/HRC/37/56
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2024
Document
Right to health of persons with disabilities
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2018
- Document code
- A/73/161
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2024
Document
Deprivation of liberty of persons with disabilities
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2019
- Document code
- A/HRC/40/54
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2024
Document
Older persons with disabilities
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2019
- Document code
- A/74/186
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2024
Document
The impact of ableism in medical and scientific practice
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2019
- Document code
- A/HRC/43/41
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2024
Document
Disability-inclusive international cooperation
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2020
- Document code
- A/75/186
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2024
Document
Vision report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Gerard Quinn
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2021
- Document code
- A/HRC/46/27
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2024
Document
The rights of persons with disabilities in the context of armed conflict
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2021
- Document code
- A/76/146
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2024
Document
Artificial intelligence and the rights of persons with disabilities
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2021
- Document code
- A/HRC/49/52
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2024
Document
Protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in the context of military operations
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2022
- Document code
- A/77/203
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2024
Document
Transformation of services for persons with disabilities
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2022
- Document code
- A/HRC/52/32
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2024
Document
Peacebuilding and the inclusion of persons with disabilities
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2023
- Document code
- A/78/174
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2024
Document
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2016
- Document code
- A/HRC/31/62
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Document
Disability-inclusive policies
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2016
- Document code
- A/71/314
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Document
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2015
- Document code
- A/HRC/28/58
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Document
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2017
- Document code
- A/72/133
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Document
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2017
- Document code
- A/HRC/34/58
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Document
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2015
- Document code
- A/70/297
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Document
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are complementary and mutually reinforcing instruments crucial to guaranteeing the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society. Whereas the Convention can offer normative guidance for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals can contribute to the effective realization of the human rights of persons with disabilities. In that regard, the Special Rapporteur welcomes the efforts of the United Nations and its mechanisms, including the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to integrate the 2030 Agenda into its work to promote the rights of persons with disabilities. In particular, the Special Rapporteur commends the initiative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to develop guidance tools for States, national human rights institutions and civil society on how to implement and monitor the Sustainable Development Goals at the national level, in line with the Convention and the development of human rights indicators for the Convention, linked to the Goals, to measure progress in its implementation.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- Fifth, the eligibility criteria of social protection programmes should not include factors that could directly or indirectly exclude persons with disabilities. For instance, in many countries child nutrition programmes operate only at childcare centres and schools. Since children with disabilities have fewer opportunities to attend school, many of them lack access to nutrition programmes. Older persons with disabilities are also usually excluded from receiving disability benefits owing programmes are targeted towards the poor. Social protection programmes target persons with disabilities either as a separate group through disability-specific programmes; by explicitly incorporating them within the targeting criteria of mainstream programmes; or by including them within groups at risk of poverty. Programmes can also either target all persons with disabilities, only certain age groups, or focus on a particular level or type of impairment. to their age, yet pensions and other available benefits may not fully address disability-related needs. Therefore, States must take into account the situation of persons with disabilities when targeting specific age groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- To the maximum extent possible, States should provide support services and assistive devices and technologies under a community-based approach. That means not only providing relevant services in the community where the person lives, but also ensuring the participation of persons with disabilities in decision -making processes and activities related to the design and provision of those services, as well as recognizing and supporting existing social networks and community resources. In that way, community-based services enable the optimal use of local resources, often with more efficient delivery systems than through other measures. When services are not community-based there is either a drive towards segregation, or those needing such services may have difficulty in accessing them. Additionally, when services are designed in a participatory manner and with the communities in mind, their adequacy and adaptability is increased, which results in responses that are sensitive to geographical, social, economic and cultural issues. In the case of indigenous peoples, such community-based services could be used to avoid the risk of assimilation when providing disability-specific services to indigenous 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
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- Girls and young women with disabilities also encounter significant challenges when attempting to access justice, prevention mechanisms and response services for sexual and gender-based violence. Sexual assault is often underreported, and even more so when the individual has a disability. Girls and young women with disabilities face numerous challenges when reporting abuses, such as the risk of being removed from their homes and institutionalized; stigmatization; fears with regard to single parenthood or losing child custody; the absence or inaccessibility of violence prevention programmes and facilities; the fear of the loss of assistive devices and other supports; and the fear of retaliation and further violence by those on whom they are both emotionally and financially dependent (see A/67/227, para. 59). In addition, when, as survivors of sexual violence, they report the abuse or seek assistance or protection from judicial or law enforcement officials, teachers, health professionals, social workers or others, their testimony, especially that of girls and women with intellectual disabilities, is generally not considered credible, and they are therefore disregarded as competent witnesses, resulting in perpetrators avoiding prosecution.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- Many girls and young women with disabilities do not have access to information and education about sexual and reproductive health and rights and related services. Several studies found that youth with disabilities, especially girls and young women with intellectual disabilities, have low levels of sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health and rights knowledge, including information with regard to the prevention and transmission of HIV. The lack of inclusive education prevents girls and young women with disabilities from accessing comprehensive sexuality education, as those programmes are usually not available in special education settings. In addition, comprehensive sexuality education is not always delivered in accessible formats and alternative languages, and very often it does not address disability-specific needs. Stigma and stereotypes about female sexuality can also lead to the exclusion of girls and young women with disabilities from existing comprehensive sexuality education programmes by their parents, guardians and teachers. There is a general lack of guidance for families and teachers on how to talk about sexuality and equality with girls and young women with disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- In its resolution 35/6, the Human Rights Council requested the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the rights of persons with disabilities to report annually to the General Assembly.
- 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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 94
- Paragraph text
- The requirement to involve persons with disabilities and their representative organizations extends to international decision-making processes. Such participation can ensure that the need and demands of persons with disabilities are adequately mainstreamed and integrated into the work of the United Nations system, including all its programmes, funds, specialized agencies and other bodies. The United Nations system should guarantee the participation of persons with disabilities through their representative organizations by proactively seeking their inputs in all international decision-making processes, including processes within the United Nations itself, such as the development and monitoring of system-wide action plans, strategic planning and management. For that purpose, the United Nations system should ensure the direct participation of persons with disabilities in international summits, high-level meetings, permanent forums and conferences of persons with disabilities. The participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in all aspects of the implementation and monitoring process of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is imperative.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- Different forms of assistance and support services are required by some persons with disabilities to live and fully participate in the community, with choices equal to others. Article 19 (b) of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires States to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to a range of in-home, residential and other community support services necessary to support living and inclusion in the community and to prevent isolation or segregation from the community. Those support services include personal assistance, support in decision-making, communications support (readers, sign language interpreters), mobility support (guides, service animals), living arrangement services (housing, household care) and community services. They can be both substitutes for and complements to assistive devices. Very often those services are not covered by health insurance or social protection schemes, even though they can take up a significant proportion of the average person's budget, if they can afford it at all. States should take measures to ensure affordability and guarantee access to those services to the maximum extent of their available resources, to comply with articles 4 and 28 (2) (a), (b) and (c) of the Convention.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- States have an obligation under international human rights law to ensure that their legal and policy frameworks do not discriminate on the basis of disability and therefore must guarantee that all persons with disabilities can access and benefit from them on an equal basis with others. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities addresses non-discrimination as a cross-cutting issue. Article 2 of the Convention defines discrimination on the basis of disability very broadly to cover all forms of disability-based discrimination, including direct and indirect discrimination, discrimination by association and the denial of reasonable accommodation. Article 3 includes non-discrimination and equality of opportunity as general principles of the Convention. Article 4 (1) (b) and (c) requires States to repeal any legislation, regulations, customs and practices that constitute discrimination against persons with disabilities, including discrimination by private actors. Article 5 calls on States to adopt robust anti-discrimination legal frameworks prohibiting all forms of discrimination on the basis of disability and guaranteeing to all persons with disabilities equal and effective legal protection against discrimination on all grounds.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- There is a growing consensus that poverty affects persons with disabilities in a disproportionate manner, a correlation that is deeper than it first appears. In fact, while many studies recognize the link between poverty and disability, too often they do not consider the direct and indirect extra costs of living with a disability. Direct costs include the extra expenses for disability-specific items, such as assistive devices and personal assistance, and greater expenditure for general services, such as medical care and transportation. Indirect costs include lost benefits or opportunity costs, such as the loss of income of persons with disabilities or of their family members who cannot work, or work less, if the household includes one or more persons with disabilities (see A/70/297). A recent and growing body of literature estimates that those costs can amount to some 30 per cent of a country's average wages. When those costs are taken into account, in practice the standard of living of many persons with disabilities who are technically not below the poverty line, is inferior to that of people who are considered poor. For example, after taking into consideration the costs of disability in Viet Nam, the poverty rate for persons with disabilities increased from some 17 to 23 per cent.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- According to articles 20, 26 (3) and 28 (2) (a) of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, States have an obligation to promote the availability, knowledge and use of assistive devices and technologies for persons with disabilities. Article 20 (b) requires States to take effective measures to facilitate the access of persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, to mobility aids, devices, assistive technologies and forms of live assistance and intermediaries. Those measures must include making them available at no or an affordable cost. Moreover, as part of their general obligations, States should undertake or promote research and development of, and promote the availability and use of, devices and assistive technologies suitable for persons with disabilities, giving priority to technologies at an affordable cost (article 4 (1) (g)). They should also provide accessible information to persons with disabilities about mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, including new technologies, as well as other forms of assistance, support services and facilities (article 4 (1) (h)). Despite those obligations, in many developing countries only 5 to 15 per cent of those in need of assistive devices and technologies are able to obtain them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 23a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recognizes that a very important part of the mandate is to support States in the development of their national efforts to advance the implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities. To accomplish this, the Special Rapporteur will put particular emphasis on the following activities:] Supporting law reform processes. Most legal systems in the world still contain provisions that discriminate against persons with disabilities and violate their human rights, from the denial of legal capacity or the right to vote to education laws that exclude children with disabilities from the general education system. Although efforts have been made to harmonize national legislation with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, much remains to be done. The Special Rapporteur aims to contribute to these processes by providing technical advice and exchanging good practices with a view to supporting and promoting legal reform that is inclusive of the rights of persons with disabilities, and by promoting the effective involvement of and consultation with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in legislative reform.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur commends the establishment of the mandate and the many opportunities for change that it brings. As a new mandate within the Human Rights Council and a particularly broad one, it embraces the many ongoing processes at the national, regional and international levels relating to the advancement of the rights of persons with disabilities, and covers fields of work in which a stronger and systematic disability perspective is needed. The Special Rapporteur also foresees a considerable workload that may bring about challenges in the implementation phase. The magnitude of the efforts that are needed to engage fruitfully in each of the processes and activities presents particular challenges in terms of human and financial capacity. While careful prioritization will be a key factor in identifying the areas where the Special Rapporteur can contribute with a clear added value, the mandate holder is hopeful that, in a spirit of collaboration and in order to secure the effective implementation of her mandate, she would benefit from the support of States, partners and other stakeholders, which would thus reaffirm their commitment to the promotion of 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- By 2001 it had become evident that, despite the various efforts made by the United Nations system to advance the situation of persons with disabilities, they were not sufficient to ensure the equal and effective enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities. Following a recommendation made by States at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, the General Assembly established in its resolution 56/168 an ad hoc committee to consider proposals for a thematic convention on the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was negotiated in a relatively short period of time, between 2002 and 2006. The negotiations were characterized by the active participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, bringing to the drafting process a remarkable and previously unprecedented level of ownership by rights-holders and their support networks. The Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto were adopted by the General Assembly by its resolution 61/106, and came into force on 3 May 2008.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- As a foundation for any national social protection system, these floors must ensure, at a minimum, access to essential health care (including maternity care) and to a basic level of income security for (a) children - including access to food, education, care and other necessary goods and services; (b) persons of active age who are unable to earn sufficient income, including persons with disabilities; and (c) older persons. The ILO recommendation concerning national floors of social protection, 2012 (No. 202) identifies as priority areas of attention the prevention and alleviation of poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion, and sets forth guidelines for implementing and monitoring national strategies that are participatory, country-led, sustainable and regularly reviewed. It also provides guidance to States on progressively providing higher levels of protection to as many people as possible and as soon as possible, reflecting States' economic and fiscal capacities. The recommendation also recognizes the principles of non-discrimination, gender equality and responsiveness to specific needs, and emphasizes that any initiative should support people with special needs and other potentially disadvantaged groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur recommends that the United Nations, including all its programmes, funds and specialized agencies, adequately consider the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities in all its work, including when assisting States in the implementation of mainstream policies and programmes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62m
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Mobilize resources within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals and invest in inclusive programmes that increase the access of girls and young women with disabilities to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62l
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Collect information, including statistical and research data, on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities, including with regard to harmful practices and all forms of violence, disaggregated by sex, age and disability;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62j
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Support families, including through the provision of information, education and services, in strengthening their ability to understand and address the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities, free from stigma and stereotypes;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62i
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Implement awareness-raising programmes designed to change the societal perception of the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities and end all forms of violence against them, including forced sterilization, forced abortion and forced contraception;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62g
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Provide adequate training to law enforcement officials, prosecutors and judges on how to protect girls and young women with disabilities from violence;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62f
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Ensure that services and programmes aimed at protecting women and girls from violence, including police stations, shelters and courts, are inclusive of and accessible to girls and young women with disabilities;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Design and implement comprehensive inclusive and accessible sexuality education programmes and materials for girls and young women with disabilities within and outside the school system;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Ensure that sexual and reproductive health services are respectful of the rights of girls and young women with disabilities, including their right to non-discrimination, informed consent prior to being subjected to any medical treatment, privacy and freedom from torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62c
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Mainstream the rights of girls and young women with disabilities in all sexual and reproductive health and rights strategies and action plans to ensure that all sexual and reproductive health information, goods and services are accessible and age-, gender- and disability-sensitive;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- There is a worrisome and growing number of cases of surgical procedures and hormonal treatments intended to inhibit the growth of girls and young women with severe impairments. Hysterectomy, for example, is regarded as an effective way to avoid menstruation management,42 and it is justified on the discriminatory presumption that girls and young women with disabilities cannot handle the pain, discomfort and trauma of menstruation — an argument not applicable to girls and women without disabilities. Oestrogen treatment is also being increasingly administered for “growth-attenuation therapy”, aiming to inhibit girls’ entry into puberty and reduce their final height and weight in order to facilitate care. Those practices constitute gross human rights violations that go well beyond patronizing and infantilizing; they prioritize the interests of caregivers to the detriment and denial of a person’s dignity and integrity. As the Committee on the Rights of the Child has emphasized, the interpretation of a child’s best interests cannot be used to justify practices that conflict with the child’s human dignity and right to physical integrity. Stunting a girl’s growth does not represent, by any means, an appropriate response to the lack of support that families may encounter in providing assistance to their girls 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
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- While United Nations human rights instruments, mechanisms and agencies have recognized that the forced sterilization of persons with disabilities constitutes discrimination, a form of violence, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, the practice is still legal and applied in many countries. Across the globe, many legal systems allow judges, health-care professionals, family members and guardians to consent to sterilization procedures on behalf of persons with disabilities as being in their “best interest”, particularly for girls with disabilities who are under the legal authority of their parents. The practices are often conducted on a purported precautionary basis because of the vulnerability of girls and young women with disabilities to sexual abuse, and under the fallacy that sterilization would enable girls and young women with disabilities who are “deemed unfit for parenthood” to improve their quality of life without the “burden” of a pregnancy. However, sterilization neither protects them against sexual violence or abuse nor removes the State’s obligation to protect them from such abuse. Forced sterilization is an unacceptable practice with lifelong consequences on the physical and mental integrity of girls and young women with disabilities that must be immediately eradicated and criminalized.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Stereotypes based on gender and disability often lead to structural or systemic discrimination against women with disabilities, in particular when exercising their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Stigma and misconceptions about disability and sexuality can have a profound negative impact on their lives and can lead to their disempowerment and infantilization. The nature of the prejudice experienced affects their self-esteem, making them feel insecure and socially isolated. Girls and young women with disabilities are neither seen to be in need of information about their sexual and reproductive health and rights and available services, nor seen as competent to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive lives. Moreover, as many girls and young women with more severe impairments live at home or in institutions, often completely dependent on or controlled by others, they are denied the full exercise of their autonomy and privacy, whether that is intentional or not. Consequently, many girls and young women with disabilities lack the basic knowledge and support required to protect themselves from sexual abuse, unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and are not equipped to make informed decisions about their own bodies, health and lives.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Furthermore, girls and young women with disabilities are, almost without exception, prevented from making autonomous decisions with regard to their reproductive and sexual health, which can result in highly discriminatory and harmful practices, as discussed in section III below. Many of those practices occur in institutions, as girls and young women with disabilities are more likely to be institutionalized.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 102
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur recommends that the entire United Nations system continue its efforts to promote the participation of persons with disabilities in all international decision-making processes, especially in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 101
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur recommends that international cooperation agencies directly engage with and support representative organizations 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 100k
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur offers the following recommendations to assist States in realizing the right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making:] Support the participation of persons with disabilities in international decision-making processes.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 100i
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur offers the following recommendations to assist States in realizing the right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making:] Adopt strategies to ensure the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making and provide disability and age-appropriate assistance for their participation in such processes;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 100h
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur offers the following recommendations to assist States in realizing the right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making:] Provide reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities in all procedures related to public decision-making and consultation;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 100g
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur offers the following recommendations to assist States in realizing the right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making:] Guarantee the accessibility of all facilities, procedures and information related to public decision-making and consultation;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 100f
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur offers the following recommendations to assist States in realizing the right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making:] Actively involve and closely consult with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in public budgeting processes and in international cooperation among States;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- International decision-making processes beyond the United Nations system are also crucial. The involvement and participation of representative organizations of persons with disabilities in the drafting of regional treaties, the adoption of international trade agreements, and the review and update of the World Bank safeguard policies, among other things, are equally important.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- Persons with disabilities can participate in legislative processes in different ways. In many countries, citizens have the right to propose legislative initiatives, referendums and petitions, without the endorsement of political parties or State authorities. States must ensure that these direct democracy procedures are fully accessible for persons with disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- States should undertake periodic evaluations of the functioning of the different participation and consultation mechanisms, with the active involvement of representative organizations of persons with disabilities, to ensure that the principle of good faith is being respected. Contributions to the present report highlight the importance of developing codes of conduct for consultation and engagement with CSOs.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- As women and girls with disabilities are at a higher risk of facing multiple forms of discrimination, States must pay special attention to guaranteeing their right to participate actively and directly in all decision-making processes affecting their lives.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- States must consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities in law and policymaking and establish formal mechanisms and remedies for challenging decisions adopted without this prerequisite of validity.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- While respecting the autonomy of such organizations, States should support them in developing stronger democratic governance principles (such as respect for human rights, the rule of law, transparency, accountability, pluralism and participation) and in strengthening their accountability, and should provide guidance on how to access funding and diversify their sources of support.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- Finally, States must ensure that representative organizations of persons with disabilities can freely engage with national and international human rights monitoring mechanisms, including the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, other treaty bodies, the universal periodic review, and the special procedures of the Human Rights Council.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- The promotion of an enabling environment for organizations of persons with disabilities to flourish remains a challenge in many countries. This demands not only a strategic response, but also a shared responsibility between a broader range of stakeholders that includes Governments, national human rights institutions, international cooperation agencies and the private sector.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- Effective and meaningful participation is at the core of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This was demonstrated by the unprecedented involvement of civil society, particularly persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, in the processes of drafting and negotiating the Convention. Since the beginning of the debates, 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 was encouraged to adopt working methods that would allow full participation by relevant NGOs in its deliberations. In what was a remarkable procedural innovation, the Ad Hoc Committee allowed representatives of NGOs to speak in all its public meetings, and in its informal and closed meetings. Furthermore, the Ad Hoc Committee included 12 representatives of NGOs, designated by representative organizations of persons with disabilities and their allies, in the Working Group in charge of drafting the text. The General Assembly encouraged Member States to involve persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in the preparatory processes contributing to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee and to include persons with disabilities in their official delegations. Importantly, NGOs were actively supported and funded so that they could participate in the negotiations.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78n
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Encourage international cooperation actors to support disability- inclusive policies and programmes and refrain from supporting any policy, programme or practice that is inconsistent with 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78m
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Allocate funds to all public entities to make their policies, programmes and services progressively available, accessible and inclusive 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78l
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Incorporate the short set of questions formulated by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics in all national surveys and censuses to collect data disaggregated on the basis of disability;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78k
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Develop disability-related indicators to assess adequately the impact of all policies and programmes on 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78i
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Ensure free access to assistive technologies and support services for the poor, as part of the State universal health coverage and social protection systems;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78h
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Establish a policy framework to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to assistive technologies and support services that are available, accessible, adequate and affordable, and provided under a community-based approach;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78g
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Establish a comprehensive policy framework on accessibility, including national accessibility standards and enforcement mechanisms;
- 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
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78f
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Ensure the provision of reasonable accommodation in all programmes, services and interventions, establishing a dedicated funding mechanism for government entities;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78e
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Establish a clear policy framework that prohibits all forms of discrimination on the basis of disability and guarantees to persons with disabilities equal and effective legal protection against discrimination on all grounds;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Integrate a gender perspective in such policies and programmes, addressing the intersectionality of discrimination faced by women and girls with disabilities;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78c
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Ensure the active involvement and participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in the design, implementation and evaluation of all policies and programmes;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78b
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Ensure a human rights-based approach to disability in the design, implementation and evaluation of all policies and programmes;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Mainstream the rights and needs of persons with disabilities into all policies and programmes and ensure specific programmes and services for needs that cannot be covered by mainstream programmes;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- Knowledge of the rights of persons with disabilities, including legislation, policies and regulations that govern inclusion and how to access State programmes, must be disseminated. According to article 4 (1) (i) of the Convention, States must provide training to professionals and staff working with persons with disabilities, including public officials and service providers, on how to address the rights, concerns and needs 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- A human rights-based approach to disability is also required to achieve the inclusion of persons with disabilities in development. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities represents a major paradigm shift in the approach to persons with disabilities from both a human rights and a development perspective. The dual nature of the Convention reinforces the idea that human rights and development are inextricably linked. In that regard, it is a valuable development tool that calls for inclusive policies and programmes, inclusive international cooperation and a participatory approach to policymaking. Accordingly, policy efforts should move away from the charitable and medical approaches towards a human rights-based approach to disability, where persons with disabilities are considered as rights holders, rather than as mere receivers of protection, rehabilitation and/or welfare. Development policies should not undermine the rights of persons with disabilities or contribute to their social exclusion. Moreover, the structural barriers that cause their exclusion and poverty cannot be addressed without the direct involvement and participation of persons with disabilities. That requires a profound change in the way many States, development agencies and other organizations currently operate worldwide.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- States should take into consideration several elements in the provision of assistive devices and technologies in order to ensure their effective distribution and use. Many persons with disabilities and their families do not know about the existence of assistive products and services. In many countries, assistive devices and technologies are produced on a very small scale or not at all. When available, assistive technology services are often delivered in limited numbers and/or in major cities, far away from where most persons with disabilities live. Moreover, persons with disabilities are rarely given the opportunity to choose the most appropriate assistive device for their specific needs or environment. The provision of assistive devices and technologies therefore needs to be an integral part of rehabilitation and habilitation services, so as to ensure that there are referral systems that provide proper fitting and/or customization and instructions on proper usage, maintenance and repair. Guidelines for the appropriate provision and distribution of assistive devices and technologies should also be considered, as well as proper training for personnel working in the area. Above all, systems should be structured in a way that promotes the empowerment and choices 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur sees her mandate as a celebration of the rights of persons with disabilities and recognition of their importance in the global agenda of human rights and development. The creation of the mandate is a welcome step towards building a United Nations system that responds more effectively in the area of 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- In setting up her mandate, the Special Rapporteur has started to engage with the Centre for Disability Law and Policy of the National University of Ireland, Galway and the University of Costa Rica in order to obtain academic support in particular areas of research and knowledge development. She will continue to pursue opportunities for academic liaison throughout her mandate.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 33c
- Paragraph text
- [Given the broad scope of the mandate and the fact that it is subject to the availability of resources for its implementation, the Special Rapporteur has decided to mainly focus on a few priority areas of concern, which in her view present the most urgent challenges for the enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities. These areas of concern have been grouped into three complementary, mutually reinforcing clusters:] Promoting change in social perceptions about persons with disabilities. The Special Rapporteur, guided by article 8 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and paragraph 2 (e) of Human Rights Council resolution 26/20, intends to challenge and to contribute to changing negative perceptions of persons with disabilities with a view to fostering respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, combating stereotypes, prejudice and harmful practices relating to persons with disabilities, promoting awareness of the positive contributions of persons with disabilities to society and informing persons with disabilities, their families and communities about their rights. Awareness-raising activities will be undertaken as stand-alone activities, such as social media campaigns and contributing to the visibility of the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and as components of her mandated work.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- While positive steps have been taken to include the rights of persons with disabilities in a range of human rights and development processes at the international level, the Special Rapporteur considers it important to contribute to these efforts by providing technical advice and advocating for a human rights framing in all disability-related work.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- In the light of the mandate entrusted to the Special Rapporteur by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 26/20, the mandate holder aims to put particular emphasis on promoting the inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in a set of national and international processes which she regards as priorities.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 20b
- Paragraph text
- [The core of the Special Rapporteur's work will consist of three interrelated activities:] Annual reports on the activities undertaken in fulfilling her mandate submitted to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, including thematic studies on key issues related to the advancement of 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 20a
- Paragraph text
- [The core of the Special Rapporteur's work will consist of three interrelated activities:] (a) Gathering, requesting, receiving and exchanging information and communications from and with States and other relevant sources, including persons with disabilities and their representative organizations and other civil society organizations, on violations of 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- In the preamble of Human Rights Council resolution 26/20, in which the Council established the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, the Council also recalled the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. In that spirit, the Special Rapporteur emphasizes that the entire United Nations regulatory framework applies to persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others. Many positive developments have already taken place in which the United Nations system has advanced in the direction of including the rights of persons with disabilities in non-disability specific arenas, such as in the current negotiations of the post-2015 development framework, in the work of human rights treaty bodies beyond the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and various areas of thematic work of the Council, as well as in intergovernmental processes, including the upcoming third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. Much more, however, is needed to achieve the full inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in all endeavours of the United Nations and the broader global community. This will be highlighted by the Special Rapporteur as a need to further promote a cross-cutting approach throughout her mandate.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 12h
- Paragraph text
- [The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 26/20, decided to appoint, for a period of three years, a Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities with the following mandate:] To integrate a gender perspective throughout the work of the mandate and to address multiple, intersecting and aggravated forms of discrimination faced by persons with disabilities.
- 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
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 12g
- Paragraph text
- [The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 26/20, decided to appoint, for a period of three years, a Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities with the following mandate:] To cooperate closely with the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Commission for Social Development, including by participating in their annual sessions upon request;
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 88f
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive social protection systems:] Refrain from adopting any retrogressive austerity measures that directly or indirectly affect the right of persons with disabilities to social protection;
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 88e
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive social protection systems:] Guarantee that benefits and services offered by social protection programmes are relevant for persons with disabilities and consistent with the right to an adequate standard of living;
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- Even when programmes and services are physically accessible, lack of accessible transportation can impede persons with disabilities reaching them. Additionally, it can increase the cost of accessing benefits to the point of making them irrelevant.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- Accessibility is a precondition for persons with disabilities to benefit from social protection on an equal basis with others. Without access to the physical environment, to transportation, and to information and communication, persons with disabilities are prevented from enjoying their right to social protection.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- States have an obligation to ensure access to social protection for all persons with disabilities on an equal basis. States must therefore recognize the right to social protection without discrimination on the ground of disability - whether in law or in fact, and whether direct or indirect discrimination - and eliminate discrimination in law, policy and practice.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- Disability benefits are fundamental for promoting the inclusion and active participation of persons with disabilities; however, if wrongly conceived, they could create disincentives for such participation. When disability benefits bundle assistance to cover disability-related extra costs or access to health care together with income support aimed at reducing poverty, persons with disabilities may lose the entire benefit package if they gain a higher income than the poverty line or minimum income threshold. This places persons with disabilities at a crossroads, where they must choose between securing a minimum but stable income, and seeking employment and further socioeconomic participation and contribution; the latter option bearing the risk of job insecurity or insufficient income to cover all expenses. Therefore, if not well designed, these benefits can in themselves become a "benefit trap" that leads to low labour force participation. This problem is further compounded when the disability benefits are linked to a precondition of being "unable to work" (as opposed to having a low income or a reduced earnings potential) as part of the eligibility criteria, which not only reinforces stereotyping of persons with disabilities, but also perpetuates their dependency on the benefits by eliminating any expectation of their entering the labour market.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- States need to assess how the design of their social protection systems affects the situation of persons with disabilities, and in particular: (a) the balance between contributory and non-contributory schemes and (b) the balance between mainstream and specific programmes.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Social protection systems and programmes can only be effective if they address the specific needs of persons with disabilities throughout their life cycle: childhood, adolescence, working age and old age. This approach is aimed at removing existing barriers to accessing age-based benefits and at creating uninterrupted interventions and a smooth transition from one age group to another with regard to the receipt of benefits.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The Convention moves beyond traditional disability-welfare considerations towards a complex equality model that highlights the interdependence and indivisibility of all human rights, stressing that persons with disabilities must enjoy these rights 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- More specifically, article 28 creates an obligation for States parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities receive equal access to mainstream social protection programmes and services - including basic services, poverty reduction programmes, housing programmes, and retirement benefits and programmes - as well as access to specific programmes and services for disability- related needs and expenses.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- While in principle the right to social protection applies to all persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others, in practice there has been a significant underuse of the international legal framework to advance this and other human rights for 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- Social protection can also constitute a powerful strategy for developing human capacity and promoting full and effective participation. By facilitating access to food, health care and education, as well as support services, social protection can enhance the independence, inclusion and active participation of persons with disabilities, as it liberates them from a day-to-day struggle for survival.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- Girls with disabilities are also likely to be proposed for marriage in regions and communities where child marriage occurs. Indeed, families are more prone to force girls with disabilities into marriage because they see it as a way to ensure long-term security and protection for their children. In addition, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has strongly condemned the practice of female genital mutilation affecting girls and women with disabilities in a number of countries.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- States must consult and engage with representative organizations of persons with disabilities in good faith. This is a basic principle of good governance and international law, as stated in Article 2 (2) of the Charter of the United Nations. The principle of good faith requires parties to deal honestly and fairly with each other, represent their motives and purposes truthfully, and refrain from taking any unfair advantage.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- It is of concern that, in some countries, representative organizations of persons with disabilities that are truly independent lack a real space for operation and participation, whereas government-sponsored organizations can operate freely. States must refrain from requiring a legal entity to be established or an organization for persons with disabilities to be registered as a precondition to the exercise of freedom of association.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Moreover, social protection programmes can enhance the productivity, employability and economic development of persons with disabilities and therefore contribute to their income security. Well-designed programmes can help to remove social and economic barriers that impede access to employment, and to secure access to capital and skill development programmes, thus creating better income - earning opportunities for persons with disabilities.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62h
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Encourage and support the effective independent monitoring by national human rights institutions or other independent bodies of all public and private facilities and programmes that provide services to persons with disabilities, prevent all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse and take action when human rights violations are encountered;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 100a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur offers the following recommendations to assist States in realizing the right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making:] Recognize in domestic legislation the right of persons with disabilities to participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, including the right to participate in public decision-making;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur also recommends that the United Nations, including all its programmes, funds and specialized agencies, adequately consider the rights of persons with disabilities in all its work, and that it increase the capacities and promotes the collaboration of United Nations country teams to strengthen internal synergies and coherence when supporting States in implementing disability-inclusive policies.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 78j
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive policies:] Establish an intersectoral policy framework for the inclusion of persons with disabilities across all sectors and at all levels of governance and consider implementing specific national action plans on accessibility, assistive devices and support services;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 88c
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive social protection systems:] Design disability benefits in a way that promotes the independence and social inclusion of persons with disabilities and does not limit their full and equal enjoyment of other human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62k
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Adopt strategies to ensure the direct participation of girls and young women with disabilities in all processes of public decision-making related to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including the development of legislative or policy measures regarding sexual and gender-based violence and other forms of abuse, and guarantee that such participation is conducted in a safe environment with age- and disability-appropriate support;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- States must recognize the existing layers of identities within the disability community in order to adequately address the inequalities and intersectional discrimination experienced by girls and young women with disabilities. States should consider developing and implementing policies and practices targeting the most marginalized groups of girls and young women with disabilities (e.g., those with multiple or severe impairments and deaf-blind girls and young women) in order to accelerate or achieve de facto equality.
- 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
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- States must ensure effective access to justice for girls and young women with disabilities who experience sexual and other forms of violence. Access to effective and accessible judicial and other appropriate remedies is critical to combating all forms of exploitation, violence or abuse against girls and young women with disabilities in the public and private spheres. States must eliminate all restrictions preventing girls and young women with disabilities from accessing justice, including restrictive rules on legal standing on the basis of age and disability.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- Girls and young women with disabilities face unique challenges with regard to the management of menstrual hygiene. The absence of appropriate sanitation facilities in schools, including separate, accessible and sheltered toilets, in addition to the lack of education, resources and support for menstrual hygiene, compromise their ability to properly manage their hygiene and make them especially prone to diseases. Consequently, many girls and young women with disabilities stay at home or are sent to special schools, reinforcing their exclusion from comprehensive sexuality education.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- There are more than one billion people with disabilities in the world today, and the average global disability prevalence rate is estimated to be 15.6 per cent. Persons with disabilities experience great social disadvantages worldwide, such as poverty; discriminatory laws and practices; environmental and information barriers; poor education, health and employment; and increased expenditures related to the extra cost of living with a disability (see A/70/297, paras. 25-32, and A/71/314, paras. 13-16).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62b
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Prohibit by law the forced sterilization of girls and young women with disabilities, as well as other compulsory or involuntary practices affecting their sexual and reproductive health and rights, and ensure adequate procedural safeguards to protect their right to free and informed consent;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 62a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States:] Recognize by law the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities, and remove all legal barriers that prevent them from accessing sexual and reproductive health information, goods and services, including legislation that limits their right to make autonomous decisions;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- States can take a number of measures to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities, including by reviewing their legal and policy frameworks; taking concrete measures in the areas of education and information, access to justice, accessibility, non-discrimination and participation; and by allocating specific budgets for their implementation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- States must ensure that the support made available is of good quality. This requires, inter alia, the implementation of person-centred approaches and the adoption of guidelines and criteria to regulate the delivery of assistance and support services, including standards for training and certification. States should also train and assist families and communities providing informal support, set up monitoring mechanisms to assess the adequacy of support services and arrangements and prevent abuses and violence in its provision.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 100j
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur offers the following recommendations to assist States in realizing the right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making:] Encourage and support the participation of persons with disabilities from disadvantaged groups, in particular those who experience discrimination on the basis of their race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, property, birth, age or other status;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 100e
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur offers the following recommendations to assist States in realizing the right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making:] Ensure the participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in all processes of legal harmonization with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as in national implementation and monitoring;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 97
- Paragraph text
- The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals with concrete references to persons with disabilities constitutes an excellent opportunity for achieving the coordinated engagement of international donors in the advancement of the rights of persons with disabilities. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are complementary and should be mutually reinforced to guarantee the full inclusion and participation 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- States are increasingly introducing participatory budgeting mechanisms, which enable citizens to influence the allocation of public resources through direct discussions and negotiations with authorities. Although participatory budget processes are a valuable opportunity for persons with disabilities to make States more responsive to their needs and preferences, their effectiveness depends upon the provision of accessibility and capacity-building.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- States should implement awareness-raising training programmes on the rights of persons with disabilities. Organizations of persons with disabilities can contribute to these efforts by educating persons with disabilities about their rights and responsibilities and about how proposed policies and decisions would affect their lives. Awareness-raising and education programmes on a rights-based approach to disability can also contribute to the promotion and protection of democracy.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- States must ensure the right to participate in decision-making for all persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others. They must therefore commit to guaranteeing this right without discrimination on the basis of disability, and to eliminating discrimination against persons with disabilities on the basis of their race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, property, birth, age or other status.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- While disability lead agencies can be effective for strengthening the relationship between the State and civil society, they should be complementary to direct consultations and dialogue through other formal mechanisms as their structure usually limits the number and diversity of representative organizations of persons with disabilities. Additional engagement mechanisms may take the form of round tables, participatory dialogues, public hearings or online consultations.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- Many countries have adopted national disability lead agencies and within those, coordinating committees or similar bodies composed of various government representatives, organizations of persons with disabilities and NGOs. States should strengthen these structures, so that they can serve as focal points or coordination mechanisms for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and thus provide a permanent space for the participation 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- Importantly, the phrase "concerning issues relating to persons with disabilities", as referred to in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, should be understood broadly, to cover a wide range of legislative, administrative and other measures that may directly or indirectly affect persons with disabilities. This includes any decision-making processes, whether disability-specific or mainstream, that might have an impact in their lives.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- States should reach out directly to women and girls with disabilities, especially when cultural and social backgrounds make it unsafe for them to participate in open consultations. States must also establish adequate measures to guarantee that the perspectives of women and girls with disabilities are fully taken into account and that they will not suffer any reprisals for expressing their viewpoints and concerns, especially in relation to sexual and reproductive rights, gender-based violence and sexual violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- The building of networks, coalitions and strategic alliances is critical, as representative organizations of persons with disabilities cannot build inclusive societies in isolation. Networking and coalition-building are essential instruments for increasing collective influence, in terms of both organizational and advocacy capacity. They also facilitate exchanges of information, experiences and good practices, thereby enhancing chances for successful advocacy and contributing to pluralism and compromise.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 33
- Paragraph text
- State authorities would also benefit from regular engagement with persons with disabilities, to learn not only about their specific needs but also about the policies required to address them. This would also provide State officials with an opportunity to understand the valuable contribution that persons with disabilities can make in societies, and avoid perpetuating outdated approaches to disability that de facto exclude a particular segment of the population.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- Many States already have such disability-specific frameworks in place. However, such policies are often underfunded, lack benchmark indicators and/or do not include a human rights-based approach to disability. Furthermore, their development and implementation is frequently delegated to a State disability agency with limited resources, or to institutions responsible for health, labour or social protection, without paying due attention to the intersectoral dimension of 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
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- To ensure the effectiveness of disability-inclusive policies, which should be devised considering accessibility, non-discrimination and support service requirements, States have to adopt a clear policy framework for the inclusion of persons with disabilities across all sectors of society. They must consider adopting a national disability strategy or a national disability action plan for that purpose. Such frameworks may include other specific plans of action on non-discrimination, accessibility and support 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- In addition, the Special Rapporteur has commenced coordination with the United Nations Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; initial discussions have been held on exploring how to coordinate geographic and thematic focus in national efforts. The Special Rapporteur has also had exchanges with a number of disability focal points of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, and other international organizations and bodies to identify areas of collaboration and feed into each other's work.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- As highlighted in the outcome document of 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: the way forward, a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has the unique strength of being a human rights instrument with a development perspective, equally protecting the rights of all persons with disabilities in all parts of the world. The Special Rapporteur sees this dual approach as a concrete result of how the disability work within the United Nations has been built up, with strong participation from stakeholders from the global South, and as a tool for promoting sustainable development, based on the standards, norms and principles of human rights, and inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur embodies the added value of working towards sustainable development from a human rights-based approach, as described in Human Rights Council resolution 26/20. In this spirit, the Special Rapporteur wishes to capitalize on both the human rights and the development agendas, to address the real challenges that persons with disabilities face in their everyday lives, in which the two cannot be separated: in situations of extreme poverty and exclusion, deprived of their most basic rights and too often with a precarious standard of life.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 12e
- Paragraph text
- [The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 26/20, decided to appoint, for a period of three years, a Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities with the following mandate:] To raise awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities, to combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices that hinder their opportunity to participate in society on an equal basis with others, to promote awareness of their positive contributions and to inform persons with disabilities about their 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 12b
- Paragraph text
- [The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 26/20, decided to appoint, for a period of three years, a Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities with the following mandate:] To gather, request, receive and exchange information and communications from and with States and other relevant sources, including persons with disabilities and their representative organizations and other civil society organizations, on violations of 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 88i
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive social protection systems:] Encourage international cooperation to support inclusive social protection systems, facilitate cooperation to make mainstream social protection programmes inclusive of persons with disabilities, and develop and improve disability-specific programmes and 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 88h
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive social protection systems:] Establish formal consultative mechanisms to ensure the active involvement and participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in decision-making processes related to social protection, including in relation to budget cuts;
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 88g
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive social protection systems:] Develop disability-related indicators, undertake research on social protection and collect data, disaggregated on the basis of disability and gender, to adequately assess the impact of social protection programmes on 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 88d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive social protection systems:] Ensure that eligibility criteria and targeting mechanisms do not discriminate directly or indirectly against persons with disabilities; disability determination, when established, must respect the rights and dignity 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 88a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing disability- inclusive social protection systems:] Ensure that the right of persons with disabilities to social protection is recognized in domestic legislation and taken into account in national social protection strategies and plans, including nationally defined social protection floors;
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- Accordingly, persons with disabilities must be granted the opportunity to participate, through their representative organizations, in the planning, design, implementation and monitoring of social protection systems, at all levels of governance. Such participation ensures that domestic efforts to implement social protection systems are informed by the perspectives and experiences of persons with disabilities, and helps to engage and commit policy makers and civil servants.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- It is important that States provide persons with disabilities with choice and control over their disability benefits. In fact, if the disability benefit is provided as part of a household-related benefit, there is no guarantee that it would actually contribute to the social participation and inclusion of the person with a disability. While many individuals may require support in their daily lives, they should retain control over their personal budgets and the choice of support received.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- There are persons with disabilities across all population groups, including those historically discriminated against or disadvantaged, such as persons o f African descent, indigenous peoples, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, and minorities. In the design and implementation of social protection programmes, States must acknowledge the multiple and aggravated forms of discrimination f aced by persons with disabilities belonging to these groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- LGBTQI+
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- Social protection constitutes an essential condition for social and economic development for all. In fact, effective national social protection systems can contribute to building inclusive societies and social cohesion by protecting individuals from social risk and deprivation. They are not only a powerful instrument for providing income security and reducing poverty and inequality, but play an important role in enhancing human potential, enabling individuals to access food, health care, education, employment and financial means.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- The lack of attention to the above-mentioned situations puts those girls and women in grave danger. States have the power to stop that from happening by establishing legal and policy frameworks that recognize and protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities by ending all involuntary and harmful practices affecting them. Moreover, States must support the process of empowerment of those young women and girls to enable them to make autonomous decisions about their sexual and reproductive lives. The attitudes and practices of health-care professionals, service providers, teachers and families must also be revised in line with international human rights standards, as in many cases their responses limit the full enjoyment of rights by girls and young women 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
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- Girls and young women with disabilities have the same sexual and reproductive health and rights as other girls and young women. However they encounter significant obstacles in exercising and accessing those rights, including stigma and stereotypes, restrictive legislation and a lack of child- and disability-appropriate information and services. Moreover, poverty and/or social exclusion deprive them of the necessary knowledge to develop healthy relationships and increase the risk of sexual abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies and harmful practices. Grave human rights violations such as forced sterilization, forced abortion and forced contraception are frequent, and the violence experienced by girls and young women with disabilities remains largely invisible.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- The Sustainable Development Goals, which contain specific targets and references to sexual and reproductive health and rights and to persons with disabilities, constitute an excellent opportunity to achieve a coordinated engagement of international donors to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities. According to article 32, paragraph 1 (a), of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, international donors must ensure that all international cooperation, including international development programmes in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights, is inclusive of and fully accessible 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
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 58
- Paragraph text
- States have an obligation to take immediate steps to the maximum of their available resources, including those made available through international cooperation, to ensure that girls and young women with disabilities can fully exercise their sexual and reproductive rights and access quality sexual and reproductive health services. Government plans and budgets must incorporate sexual and reproductive health and rights policies and strategies and consider the particular needs of girls and young women with disabilities. Participatory budgeting processes and earmarked funds can help expand the allocation of public funds in that area. States should regularly monitor whether or not the resources available were used to progressively achieve the full realization of the sexual and reproductive health rights of girls and young women with disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- The Sustainable Development Goals, which call for a significant increase in the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by, inter alia, gender, age and disability (Goal 17), represent a unique opportunity to collect better data related to the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities. The short set of six questions on disability formulated by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics provides a well-tested method for disability data disaggregation in national censuses and surveys, including household and demographic and health surveys. In addition, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Washington Group on Disability Statistics have developed a module on child functioning, which covers children between the ages of 2 and 17 that can be incorporated into existing data collection efforts. The module is included in the current round of the UNICEF-supported multiple indicator cluster survey that will be implemented in more than 35 low- and middle-income countries during the next three years.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- States must collect appropriate information, including statistical and research data, to formulate and implement disability-inclusive sexual and reproductive health and rights policies and programmes and monitor and evaluate progress in promoting and protecting the rights of girls and young women with disabilities. The lack of reliable and comparable statistical data on sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities is alarming, particularly in middle- and low-income countries. Academic literature on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls with disabilities is also scant and tends to focus on self-reported experiences and challenges rather than on positive interventions. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur welcomes the upcoming United Nations Population Fund global study on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people with disabilities, which will also cover gender-based violence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- States should be aware that the views of girls and young women with disabilities might collide with those of their families and caregivers. While organizations of parents of children with disabilities are instrumental in promoting and securing the autonomy and active participation of their children, States must always take into consideration the will and preferences of children with disabilities (see A/HRC/31/62, para. 36). Similarly, mainstream organizations of persons with disabilities might have different views from those of children with disabilities, therefore it is important to consult and engage directly with girls and adolescents with disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- States must consult and involve children with disabilities, including girls and adolescents, in the implementation of sexual and reproductive health and rights as provided by articles 4, paragraph 3, and 7 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is crucial that girls and young women with disabilities be consulted, as they are the experts on their own lives. Girls and young women with disabilities, even the youngest, have the right to participate in policymaking, so they must be provided with disability- and age-appropriate support. Plan International has developed guidelines for consulting with children and young people with disabilities that contain practical suggestions on the matter.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- States have an obligation to provide access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services to all girls and young women with disabilities without discrimination. States must therefore eliminate discrimination against girls and young women with disabilities in law, policy and practice; ensure child- and gender-sensitive policies and programmes; and prohibit all forms of discrimination in the provision of those services. Moreover, States need to take measures to provide disability- and age-appropriate support and reasonable accommodation to girls and young women with disabilities so that they can access and enjoy those services and facilities 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
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- States must ensure that all information and communication pertaining to sexual and reproductive health and rights are accessible to persons with disabilities, including through sign language, Braille, accessible electronic formats, alternative script, easy-to-read formats, and augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication.64 For instance, call centres to report cases of gender-based violence must be accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing girls and women through text messaging or other alternative methods. For example, Illinois Imagines has developed guides and other materials for rape crisis centres, disability service agencies and self-advocates that include guidance for prevention education programmes and picture guides about sexual assault exams and the rights of sexual violence survivors. The University of Tartu in Estonia has provided training for teachers on how to deliver comprehensive sexuality education in plain language so that children with intellectual disabilities can benefit equally from the lessons.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- States must ensure the full accessibility of all sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services. All public and private facilities and services open or provided to the public, including gynaecological and obstetric services, must take into account all aspects of accessibility for women with disabilities, including accessibility with regard to infrastructure, equipment and information and communications. Transport to reach those services must be accessible, as otherwise girls and young women with disabilities will continue to be obstructed from enjoying and exercising their sexual and reproductive health rights in practice.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- States have an obligation to prevent, investigate, prosecute and try all acts of violence, including sexual violence, and to protect the rights and interests of the victims. National human rights institutions and civil society organizations can play a key role in carrying out inquiries and investigations on exploitation, violence or abuse against girls and young women with disabilities, and in assisting all women with disabilities in accessing legal remedies. For instance, the National Union of Women with Disabilities of Uganda trained 32 women with disabilities as paralegals with knowledge about the rights of women and girls with disabilities related to sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender-based violence. The paralegals offer peer-to-peer support with regard to reporting violations and conducting the necessary follow-up to ensure justice is achieved. States should consider reparations and redress mechanisms for girls and young women with disabilities who have been subjected to harmful practices, such as forced sterilization and forced abortion, particularly within institutions (see CEDAW/C/JPN/CO/7-8, paras. 24-25).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- States need to take all appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures necessary to ensure the provision of procedural and age-appropriate accommodations for girls and young women with disabilities, which is essential to enabling their effective direct and indirect participation, including as witnesses, in all legal proceedings, from investigative and other preliminary stages to court hearings. All protection services must be age-, gender- and disability-sensitive. For instance, the Kenya Association for the Intellectually Handicapped provides training to law enforcement officials, health personnel and service providers on the provision of reasonable and procedural accommodations to persons with intellectual disabilities and on respect for their personal autonomy.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- States must provide information and assistance to families of girls and young women with disabilities in relation to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Families may need assistance in understanding their child’s sexuality, ways to support their sexual and reproductive health needs and ways to avoid, recognize and report instances of sexual exploitation, violence and abuse. Studies have shown that training can change the attitudes of parents towards the sexuality of their children with disabilities and improve their confidence in talking to them about sexuality. Parents and family members need guidance on understanding the importance of sexuality education and respecting their children’s right to express their views freely, which will help them overcome fears about the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse of girls and young women with disabilities. Families should be involved not just as recipients of training but as participants of awareness-raising initiatives to modify their own attitudes and practices in relation to their children 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
- Children
- Families
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- States should train health-care personnel, teachers, community workers and other public officials on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities. All primary health-care workers dealing with sexual and reproductive health, particularly in rural and remote areas, must be adequately trained, prepared and supported in their work. For example, in Guwahati, India, a team of service providers was trained to provide support to young persons with disabilities with regard to accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services and identifying sexually abusive behaviours. The adoption of technical guidelines on how to provide adequate sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services to girls and young women with disabilities is recommended. In Uruguay, for example, the government developed a guide on sexual and reproductive health and rights of persons with disabilities that has been distributed to all health centres across 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
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- States need to provide comprehensive and non-discriminatory sexuality education to girls and young women with disabilities, both within and outside school (see A/65/162, paras. 62 and 87). It should include information about self-esteem and healthy relationships; sexual and reproductive health, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases; the prevention of sexual and other forms of exploitation, violence and abuse; stigma and prejudices against persons with disabilities; gender roles; and human rights. Indeed, sexuality education has been found to be effective in improving the sexual knowledge and skills of youth with disabilities, and in reducing sexual violence against them. States must ensure that their sexuality education programmes are inclusive of girls and young women with disabilities and their specific needs, and that they are made available in accessible and alternative communication formats. Peer-education programmes are effective ways to enhance knowledge and skills with regard to the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- States must ensure that sexual and reproductive health care is provided as close as possible to the communities where girls and women with disabilities live. Distance from/to health-care facilities in rural and remote areas constitutes a significant barrier to persons with disabilities owing to poverty, the absence of accessible and affordable transport and the lack of support. States must ensure that their rural development strategies include measures to promote access to quality sexual and reproductive health care for girls and women with disabilities, including community-based strategies and outreach services (e.g., mobile clinics, health caravans, telemedicine and phone-based strategies).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- Sexual and reproductive health care must be provided for free or at an affordable cost to all girls and young women with disabilities, including access to products and medicines. Universal health coverage can increase their access to quality sexual and reproductive health care. Social protection systems also help to address the additional costs that girls and young women with disabilities face when accessing sexual and reproductive health care, and to facilitate support services for those who might need it (see A/70/297, paras. 4-9, and A/HRC/34/58, para. 68). States must also ensure that girls and young women with disabilities benefit from the same range and quality of sexual and reproductive health services and programmes as other women and girls.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- The rights of and needs of girls and young women with disabilities must be mainstreamed and addressed by States in all policies and programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Many States have a range of policies and strategies that specifically address both the rights of persons with disabilities and sexual and reproductive health and rights, but those are usually disconnected and do not include a child, youth or gender perspective. Moreover, where policies and strategies identify persons with disabilities as key vulnerable groups, there is generally little focus on the specific challenges faced by girls and young women with disabilities. States must ensure that their health-care systems and services meet the specific sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents 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
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- States must immediately repeal all legislation and regulatory provisions that allow the administration of contraceptives to and the performance of abortion, sterilization or other surgical procedures on girls and young women with disabilities without their free and informed consent, and/or when decided by a third party. Furthermore, States should consider adopting protocols to regulate and request the free and informed consent of girls and young women with disabilities with regard to all medical procedures. Colombia, for example, recently adopted regulations for the delivery of sexual and reproductive health services to persons with disabilities, which include references to the provision of reasonable accommodation and support in decision-making. Laws permitting substituted decision-making and involuntary treatment of persons with disabilities must also be revoked.
- 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
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- States must ensure a supportive legislative and regulatory framework for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities. Existing general laws and regulations that restrict the free access of girls and women to sexual and reproductive health services, including by requiring spousal or parental consent or setting a minimum age, should be amended to facilitate universal and equitable access to sexual and reproductive health information and services. Narrow definitions of sexual violence, including sexual assault and rape, should be reviewed to include all forms of violence experienced by girls and young women 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
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- Physical and communication barriers in the justice system hinder access to justice by girls and young women with disabilities and their ability to seek and obtain redress. The barriers include lack of accessibility and reasonable and procedural accommodations, such as sign language interpretation, alternative forms of communication and support services that are age- and gender-sensitive. For example, the lack of provision of sign language interpretation can significantly limit the chances of success of deaf applicants. Moreover, owing to prejudices and stereotypes, courts commonly discount the testimony of girls and young women with disabilities in sexual assault cases, from questioning whether girls and young women with intellectual disabilities can understand the oath when testifying to discrediting the testimony of blind witnesses because they are not “able” to know/perceive the sequence of events. Courts often also fail to develop child-friendly proceedings adapted to the particular circumstances of girls with disabilities, including the provision and delivery of gender-sensitive and child-friendly information.
- 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
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- Evidence on sexual and gender-based violence against girls and young women with disabilities is robust. Studies from across the globe show that they are at increased risk of violence, abuse and exploitation compared with those without disabilities, and with boys and young men with disabilities. Overall, children with disabilities are almost four times more likely to experience violence than children without disabilities. However, the risk is consistently higher in the case of deaf, blind and autistic girls, girls with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities and girls with multiple impairments. Belonging to a racial, religious or sexual minority, or being poor, also increases the risk factor for sexual abuse for girls and young women with disabilities. Humanitarian crises and conflict and post-conflict settings generate additional risks of sexual violence and trafficking that affect girls with disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Boys
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Girls and young women with disabilities are disproportionately affected by different forms of gender-based violence, including physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse; bullying; coercion; arbitrary deprivation of liberty; institutionalization; female infanticide; trafficking; neglect; domestic violence; and harmful practices such as child and forced marriage, female genital mutilation, forced sterilization and invasive and irreversible involuntary treatments (see A/HRC/20/5, paras. 12-27). Many of those forms of violence are a consequence of the intersection between disability and gender, and might happen while a girl or young woman with disabilities performs daily hygiene, receives treatment or is overmedicated. Gender-based violence occurs at home, in institutions, in schools, in health centres and in other public and private facilities, and perpetrators are frequently relatives, caregivers and professionals on whom the girl or young woman may depend.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Harmful Practices
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- Other medical procedures or interventions that are often performed without the free and informed consent of girls and young women with disabilities include forced contraception and forced abortion. Contraception is often used to control menstruation at the request of health professionals or parents. Moreover, while the contraceptive needs of girls and young women with disabilities are the same as those without disabilities, they receive contraception more often by way of injection or through intrauterine devices rather than orally, as it is less burdensome for families and service providers. In addition, girls and young women with disabilities are frequently pressured to end their pregnancies owing to negative stereotypes about their parenting skills and eugenics-based concerns about giving birth to a child with disabilities. During official country visits, the Special Rapporteur has received information about compulsory regular gynaecological checks and the use of forced abortion in institutions as a way to contain the institution’s population.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- The forced sterilization of girls and young women with disabilities represents a widespread human rights violation across the globe. Girls and young women with disabilities are disproportionately subjected to forced and involuntary sterilization for different reasons, including eugenics, menstrual management and pregnancy prevention. Women with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, as well as those placed in institutions, are particularly vulnerable to forced sterilization. Despite the limited data on current practices, studies show that the sterilization of women and girls with disabilities continues to be prevalent, and up to three times higher than the rate for the general population.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- The pervasive misconception that adolescents, both with and without disabilities, lack the capacity to make autonomous decisions about their own health care is a major barrier to girls and young women with and without disabilities when they attempt to access sexual and reproductive health information and services. Many States legally limit the ability of adolescents to make autonomous choices about their sexual and reproductive health and rights by requiring parental notification or consent prior to the provision of information and services, or by permitting health-care providers to deny reproductive health information, goods and services to adolescents. Moreover, for young women with disabilities over legal age, legislation restricting their legal capacity on the basis of disability and misconceptions about their perceived lack of capacity prevent many of them from making autonomous decisions about sexual and reproductive health-care services. Those restrictive circumstances result in an impenetrable barrier for girls and young women with disabilities, especially for those requiring support to express their will and preferences, since such support is usually provided by the family. Consequently, in many cases, girls and young women with disabilities have no control over their own sexual and reproductive lives, as decisions are taken for them under the paternalistic guise of “for their own good” (see A/67/227, para. 36). Denying access to sexual and reproductive health care to girls and young women with disabilities is a form of violence, which also exposes them to the risks of unwanted pregnancy, early marriage and school dropout.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among youth with disabilities, including girls and young women with disabilities, is of concern. Evidence shows that children and youth with disabilities have a similar or increased risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections compared with other youth, while girls with disabilities experience higher rates than boys with disabilities. However, youth with disabilities, including girls, are less likely to receive information about the prevention of HIV/AIDS or to be given condoms or other methods to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Evidence suggests, for example, that HIV testing is lower among youth with disabilities (men and women) than among the general population. Generally, girls and young women with disabilities are not the target of prevention campaigns on sexually transmitted infections and cancers. The issue is particularly serious for those who are deaf or deaf-blind, who are traditionally excluded from all mainstream information.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Boys
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Girls and young women with disabilities frequently have limited access to sexual and reproductive health-care services. Common barriers to accessing those services include negative and hostile attitudes among service providers; the absence of physical accessibility with regard to buildings and equipment (e.g., exam tables and diagnostic equipment); the lack of information in accessible formats (e.g., in Braille or plain language); communication barriers (e.g., the lack of training for service providers on communicating with young women and girls with intellectual disabilities and the inability to use sign language); relatives and caregivers acting as gatekeepers to information and services; the lack of accessible transportation to or from services; the affordability of services; and the isolation of girls and young women with disabilities in institutions, camps, family homes or group homes. Moreover, many women and girls with disabilities report that their specific needs and expectations are not met by gynaecological services.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- Furthermore, in many parts of the world, girls and young women with disabilities are often entirely excluded from the education system, or otherwise isolated from their communities at home or in institutions, and are without any access to sexuality education. The lack of equal access to inclusive and quality education affects, in particular, girls and young women with disabilities in conflict, post-conflict or other humanitarian situations, especially those who are refugees, internally displaced, migrants or asylum seekers; deprived of their liberty in hospitals, residential institutions, juvenile or correctional facilities; or homeless or living in poverty. Girls and young women in such situations are at heightened risk of being subjected to physical or sexual abuse and contracting sexually transmitted infections.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- Girls and young women with multiple impairments and those who are deaf, deaf-blind, autistic or have leprosy or an intellectual or psychosocial disability, experience aggravated forms of stigma and discrimination. For example, the pervasive view that girls and young women with intellectual disabilities lack the capacity to understand sexuality and their own bodies, as well as the fear of their relatives of being held responsible for allowing their sexual activity, puts those girls and young women under excessive monitoring and control. Furthermore, in some countries, girls and young women with disabilities, especially those with albinism, are at heightened risk of sexual violence owing to the myth that having sex with them can cure HIV/AIDS (see A/71/255, para. 17).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- Girls and young women with disabilities belonging to groups that have been historically disadvantaged or discriminated against, such as indigenous peoples, religious and ethnic minorities, poor or rural populations, migrants and refugees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, experience multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination in the exercise of their sexual and reproductive health and rights. For example, indigenous girls and women with disabilities face a higher risk of experiencing early marriage, sexual violence and unwanted pregnancy. Girls with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual disabilities, also encounter significant barriers to asserting their sexual orientation because parents and guardians often deny and supress their views.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Ethnic minorities
- Girls
- LGBTQI+
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Dominant patriarchal assumptions of a woman’s role as primarily that of a wife and mother also hinder girls and young women with disabilities from living healthy sexual and reproductive lives. Because girls and young women with disabilities are perceived to be less likely to become, or be capable of becoming, spouses, mothers or caregivers, families often pay less attention to them than to other family members, thereby deepening gender inequalities. Likewise, the prevalent societal idea of beauty affects many girls and young women with disabilities, who see themselves as unattractive and unworthy. The prevalence of such models and views can have a deeply rooted impact on girls and young women with disabilities, as they may perceive themselves as incapable of fulfilling those models and views, creating a hard-to-break cycle of low expectations and relegation by their families and society. Some young women with disabilities report that stigma about disability makes them willing to accept a partner who might mistreat them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Stigma and stereotypes play a significant role in limiting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities. The sexuality of persons with disabilities is usually considered a taboo topic. Relatives, teachers and health-care providers are generally anxious, untrained and unconfident about discussing sexuality with them. Moreover, there is a prevalent assumption that persons with disabilities, particularly girls and young women with disabilities, are either asexual or hypersexual. Those stigmas are particularly strong in the cases of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities. Empirical studies show, however, that young people with disabilities have the same concerns and needs with regard to sexuality, relationships and identity as their peers, and have similar patterns of sexual behaviour.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- While attention to the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and women with disabilities increased following the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development of 1994 and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995, it is in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that States and the international human rights system restated their commitment to promote and protect the rights of girls and young women with disabilities in that area. For example, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights issued a general comment on the right to sexual and reproductive health with specific references to persons with disabilities, including accessibility and reasonable accommodation. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Committee on the Rights of the Child have also highlighted the importance of ensuring sexual and reproductive health services and ending sexual violence and harmful practices against women and girls with disabilities. The special procedures of the Human Rights Council have also addressed the issue of sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls with disabilities, including recent reports by the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health with regard to the rights of adolescents (see A/HRC/32/32, paras. 86 and 94), the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment focused on torture in health-care settings (see A/HRC/22/53, paras. 48 and 57-70), the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, with regard to violence against women with disabilities (A/67/227) and the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice focused on the issue of discrimination against women with regard to health and safety (see A/HRC/32/44, paras. 45-47).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- Article 7 of the Convention provides that States must take measures to ensure the full enjoyment of rights by children with disabilities, consider the principle of best interests and respect their evolving capacities. The Convention requires States to ensure that boys and girls with disabilities have the right to express their views freely on all matters affecting them, their views being given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity, on an equal basis with other children, and to be provided with disability and age-appropriate assistance to realize that right (see art. 7, para. 3). The Convention thus reinforces the obligations of States to recognize and respect the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and to provide support to strengthen their capacities to enable independent decision-making. As stressed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the young age or the disability of a child does not deprive her or him of the right to express her or his views, nor reduces the weight given to the child’s views in determining her or his best interests.
- 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
- Boys
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- The Convention addresses the rights of girls and women with disabilities in a cross-cutting manner, adopting a twin-track approach. On one hand, it includes specific articles on women and children with disabilities (see arts. 6 and 7); on the other, it refers to them in the general principles and other substantive articles (see arts. 3, 4, 8, 13, 16, 18, 23, 25 and 30). Article 6 recognizes that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple discriminations and requires States to adopt measures to ensure their full and equal enjoyment of rights, as well as their full development, advancement and empowerment. States must systematically mainstream the interests and rights of girls with disabilities in and across all national action plans, strategies and policies concerning women, childhood and disability, as well as in their sectoral plans. They must also target and monitor action aimed specifically at girls with disabilities, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- The adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities represented a major milestone towards the full and effective enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health and rights by girls and young women with disabilities. Embracing the basic principles of human rights, the Convention moves away from medical and paternalistic approaches towards a human rights-based approach to the sexual and reproductive health and rights of persons with disabilities. The Convention challenges all forms of substituted decision-making in the exercise of sexual and reproductive health and rights (see arts. 12 and 25); prohibits harmful and discriminatory practices against persons with disabilities in all matters related to marriage, family, parenthood and relationships, including the right to retain their fertility and to decide on the number and spacing of their children (see art. 23); calls to end all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, including their gender-based aspects (see art. 16); and promotes access to quality sexual and affordable reproductive health care and programmes (see art. 25).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Sexual and reproductive health, human rights and sustainable development are all interconnected. The Sustainable Development Goals explicitly call for ensuring “universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights”, and include targets related to that under Goal 3, Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages; Goal 4, Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all; and Goal 5, Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. In addition, Goal 5 stresses that all forms of discrimination and violence against girls and women (including those with disabilities) must be eliminated. Investing in sexual and reproductive health and rights saves lives and empowers girls and young women with disabilities. Protecting and promoting their sexual and reproductive health and rights should therefore be a top priority for States.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- States have an obligation to respect, protect and fulfil the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as other international and regional instruments, outline standards for securing the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities and for protecting their right to be free from any kind of gender-based violence.
- 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
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights entail a set of freedoms and entitlements. They encompass the right to have control over decisions concerning sexuality and reproduction without discrimination, coercion and violence, and the right to access a range of sexual and reproductive health facilities, services, goods and information. Sexual and reproductive health services include, inter alia, contraceptive counselling, information, education, communication and services; education and services for prenatal care, safe delivery and postnatal care; the prevention and appropriate treatment of infertility; safe abortion services; the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections; and sexual and reproductive health information, education and counselling (see A/CONF.171/13/Rev.1, chap. VII).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- All
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights are human rights. They are not only an integral part of the right to health, but are necessary for the enjoyment of many other human rights, including the rights to life, freedom from torture and ill-treatment, freedom from discrimination, equal recognition before the law, privacy and respect for family life, education and work. As such, sexual and reproductive health and rights are universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. States must ensure the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of facilities, goods, information and services related to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- For women with disabilities, disability inclusion and gender equality cannot be achieved without addressing their sexual and reproductive health and rights. In particular, girls and young women with disabilities are able to develop their own identities and realize their full potential when their sexual and reproductive health needs and rights are met. That contributes to ensuring their health and well-being, reducing the existing gaps in their access to education and employment and achieving their empowerment. When those needs and rights are not met, they are exposed to unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, gender-based violence and sexual abuse, child marriage and other harmful practices that hamper their participation.
- 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
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- The intersection between young age, disability and gender results in both aggravated forms of discrimination and specific human rights violations against girls and young women with disabilities. While in all parts of the world persons with disabilities are faced with violations of their rights and barriers to their participation as equal members of society, girls with disabilities are significantly worse off than boys with disabilities, regardless of the types and levels of impairment. Girls with disabilities are more likely to be excluded from family interactions and activities, and are less likely to have access to education, vocational training and employment, or to benefit from full inclusion.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Boys
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Disability is more prevalent among women than men. Women with disabilities account for almost one fifth of the world’s female population. There are no reliable and representative global data on children with disabilities. Estimates suggest that there are between 93 and 150 million children with disabilities worldwide, but numbers could be higher. Furthermore, there are very few statistics available on girls with disabilities at national and international levels, as generally data are not disaggregated by gender, age and disability. That scarcity of data has contributed to making the pressing human rights issues that affect children with disabilities, and girls in particular, invisible.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- In preparing her report, the Special Rapporteur analysed 47 responses to a questionnaire sent to Member States, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations, including representative organizations of persons with disabilities, as well as the outcome of consultations conducted with girls and young women with disabilities in three countries, whose main trends are reflected in the text. She also organized an expert consultation in New York in June 2017 with representatives of United Nations agencies, women’s organizations and organizations of persons with disabilities. The Special Rapporteur would like to thank Plan International, who supported the research efforts for the study, which was undertaken under the coordination of her office.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- The present report focuses on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities. The term “girls with disabilities” refers to women with disabilities below the age of 18 years, whereas the term “young women with disabilities” refers to women between 15 and 24 years of age. The Special Rapporteur stresses that those women face significant challenges in making autonomous decisions with regard to their reproductive and sexual health, and are regularly exposed to violence, abuse and harmful practices, including forced sterilization, forced abortion and forced contraception. She recalls that States have an obligation to invest in the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities, and to end all forms of violence against them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities 2017, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- In her thematic reports, the Special Rapporteur has underscored the importance of ensuring a gender perspective in all interventions related to persons with disabilities, stressing the significant additional barriers that women and girls with disabilities encounter that can prevent them from the full enjoyment of their rights. As international and national efforts on the rights of persons with disabilities have too often failed to take into account a gender perspective, it is urgent that the multifaceted discrimination, marginalization and compounded human rights violations that women and girls with disabilities face in most societies be addressed (see A/HRC/28/58, para. 19 (d)).
- 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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 20c
- Paragraph text
- [The core of the Special Rapporteur's work will consist of three interrelated activities:] Country visits at the invitation of Governments (see para. 23 (d) below).
- 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
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- The United Nations, including all its programmes, funds and specialized agencies, should increase the awareness and expertise of its staff on the implementation of support systems to be able to cooperate more effectively with States, including through technical guidance, information and capacity-building.
- 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
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- Persons with disabilities have the right to participate in the conduct of public affairs. This is a broad concept that includes all aspects of public administration and policymaking, and relates to the exercise of political power, including legislative, executive and administrative powers. It also covers participation in public debates and dialogues, as well as in peaceful demonstrations and meetings.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- Data on the availability of assistive devices, personal assistance and other support services is generally unavailable in low- and middle-income countries. It is important that States periodically conduct a needs assessment to determine and address the gaps in the availability of assistive devices and support services, and the effectiveness of that support. That could be done through community-based strategies and surveys.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Disability-inclusive policies 2016, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Policymakers and other public officials must take those three aspects into account when designing and implementing any public policy or programme, as they are indispensable for addressing the specific demands and needs of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, such components can significantly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of development policies and programmes, not only for persons with disabilities, but for the general population as well.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- In her first months as mandate holder, the Special Rapporteur took initial steps to set up a framework for collaboration. Grateful for the positive welcome that she has received, she has already had the chance to exchange with a large number of stakeholders and looks forward to further opportunities of interaction.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 19a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur will be guided by the following overarching considerations in all aspects of her work:] Participation. In the spirit of the Convention and the nature of the disability movement, the Special Rapporteur aims to carry out her work in a participatory, consultative and open manner, and actively involve persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in her work.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- The above-mentioned developments have contributed to building a structure within which the global community is better prepared to respond more effectively and to work in unity towards achieving the full enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities. The establishment of the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities was a welcome step in this series of positive developments.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur also recommends that the United Nations system, including all its programmes, funds, specialized agencies and other organs, continue its efforts to promote social protection systems that are inclusive of persons with disabilities, and provide additional technical guidance to States in implementing inclusive social protection systems.
- 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 12d
- Paragraph text
- [The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 26/20, decided to appoint, for a period of three years, a Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities with the following mandate:] To conduct, facilitate and support the provision of advisory services, technical assistance, capacity-building and international cooperation in support of national efforts for the effective realization of 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 32
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that regional bodies play an important role in interpreting international standards at the regional level and advancing the rights of persons with disabilities within relevant cultural and economic regional contexts. In this light, she will be available to provide advice upon request, taking into account the work plans and priorities of regional organizations in processes involving the promotion and protection of 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
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- Contributions to the present report illustrate different ways in which States provide support in the area of communication. For example, Cuba has certified 455 sign language interpreters who work in coordination with the National Association of the Deaf, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, while Colombia has set up an online relay centre that facilitates the communication of deaf persons with anyone in the country through interpretation services. Deaf persons can also learn to use information and communications technology and be trained as interpreters.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- The Convention challenges traditional approaches to care and has the potential to redress the legacy of disempowerment and paternalism. Furthermore, the notion of support in the Convention also has the potential to override traditional understandings of care and assistance for other groups, such as older persons and children. The Convention restores the importance of the "human being" in the human rights discourse by emphasizing the individual and social aspects of the human experience. These innovations can and should be incorporated into the implementation of all existing human rights instruments.
- 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
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- The provision of specific forms of support is further referred to in articles 9 (accessibility), 12 (equal recognition before the law), 13 (access to justice), 16 (freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse), 19 (living independently and being included in the community), 20 (personal mobility), 21 (freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information), 23 (respect for home and the family), 24 (education), 26 (habilitation and rehabilitation), 27 (work and employment), 28 (adequate standard of living and social protection) and 30 (participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport).
- 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
- Families
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 100d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur offers the following recommendations to assist States in realizing the right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making:] Engage with women and girls with disabilities and secure their direct participation in all processes of public decision-making, and guarantee that such participation and consultation is conducted in a safe environment, particularly in processes relating to the development of legislative or policy measures regarding violence and sexual abuse;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 100c
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur offers the following recommendations to assist States in realizing the right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making:] Adopt legislation to require State authorities to closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities, including children and women with disabilities, through their representative organizations, in the development and implementation of legislation and policies that directly or indirectly concern them. States should establish formal mechanisms and remedies to challenge decisions that do not adhere to this requirement;
- 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
- Women
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 100b
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur offers the following recommendations to assist States in realizing the right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making:] Create an enabling environment for the establishment and functioning of representative organizations of persons with disabilities, especially by: (i) Adopting a policy framework favourable to their establishment and sustained operation; (ii) Guaranteeing their independence and autonomy from the State; (iii) Providing support for capacity-building; (iv) Securing access to funding mechanisms, including public funding and international cooperation;
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 99
- Paragraph text
- The right of persons with disabilities to participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others encompasses the right to participate in decision-making. The latter is an essential condition for a human rights-based approach to development and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides a robust framework for guaranteeing the participation of representative organizations of persons with disabilities, and their active involvement and participation in public decision-making. States must embrace these obligations as an opportunity to enhance good and effective governance and to foster agency and empowerment among 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- International cooperation agencies should directly engage with and support representative organizations of persons with disabilities, and should consider increasing funding to achieve that engagement and support. In recent years, many donors have reduced the number of regions and countries in which they operate, thereby affecting organizations of persons with disabilities in middle-income countries. Additionally, funding is often tied to the condition that organizations must provide a percentage of co-funding from another source, but many representative organizations of persons with disabilities are unable to comply with this requirement and are thus excluded from such aid. Donors should take this factor into account and show flexibility in their conditions.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- International cooperation is pivotal to support national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, especially in developing countries. States must undertake appropriate and effective measures to foster international cooperation between and among States, including South-South and triangular cooperation, in partnership, as appropriate, with relevant international and regional organizations and CSOs, particularly organizations of persons with disabilities. Involvement and consultation by persons with disabilities is essential in order to ensure that they are both agents and beneficiaries of official development aid. States should take into account their expertise in identifying priority areas for funding, as well as key areas for capacity-building and research. Contributions to the present report illustrate the added value of establishing disability-inclusive consultative forums or working groups attached to national cooperation agencies.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- In recent years, several proposals have been made to strengthen the treaty body system and overcome past challenges, including engagement with civil society. The ability of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations to participate in international human rights monitoring requires the availability of procedures and information in accessible formats. The universal periodic review, the human rights treaty bodies and the special procedures of the Human Rights Council, as well as regional human rights bodies, should increase efforts 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
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities also invites States to closely consult and actively involve persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, when nominating candidates to serve as experts for the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (see art. 34 (3) of the Convention). This provides an opportunity for persons with disabilities to suggest qualified candidates and to be nominated as members of the Committee. States should encourage applications from persons with disabilities and support their participation in election processes for this Committee and those of other treaty bodies.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities underscores the importance of the participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations at the international level. It invites States to consult and involve representative organizations of persons with disabilities in the preparation of State party reports to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (see art. 35 (4) of the Convention). States should also consult with persons with disabilities when preparing their reports for other human rights mechanisms, such as other treaty bodies, the universal periodic review and the special procedures.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- Consequently, the establishment of any national framework for the implementation or monitoring of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities must include persons with disabilities through their organizations. These frameworks must be operated in a transparent manner and persons with disabilities must be allowed to define the criteria of representativeness in accordance with their own procedures. The autonomy and independence of the monitoring mechanisms and of representative organizations must be ensured in order to enable their effectiveness.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 89
- Paragraph text
- Article 33 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires States to designate one or more government focal points and to consider the establishment of a coordination mechanism to advance and facilitate the implementation of the treaty at all levels. States are also required to establish an independent mechanism to monitor the implementation of the Convention. Involvement and full participation by persons with disabilities and their representative organizations is required not only in the monitoring process but in all the provisions within article 33.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- Contributions to the present report have illustrated that persons with disabilities and their representative organizations are generally excluded from public budgeting processes. Inadequate resource allocation and inadequate identification of priority areas, including for funding participatory mechanisms and for representative organizations of persons with disabilities, are of concern. States must therefore adopt a framework that facilitates the participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations at all stages of the budgeting process.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- The right of persons with disabilities to participate in public decision-making also covers public budgeting processes. Representative organizations of persons with disabilities can play an important role in public budgeting, by providing critical information on the concerns, needs and priorities of persons with disabilities. The participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in public budgets ensures that resources are allocated to priority areas, and that bodies implementing mainstream and disability-specific policies and programmes are held accountable for their performance.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- While the legislative process may vary from country to country, legislatures should guarantee the participation of persons with disabilities throughout the entire process, including in deliberative assemblies or chambers that debate and vote on draft laws concerning issues relating to persons with disabilities. National legislatures should establish specific provisions in their rules of procedure to enable the participation of representative organizations of persons with disabilities in advisory groups and legislative committees, as well as in public hearings and online consultations. The accessibility of facilities and procedures must also be guaranteed.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- States parties to international and regional human rights instruments have an obligation to ensure that their domestic legislation is consistent with international standards. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires States to adopt all the appropriate legislative measures to implement the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, and to repeal any inconsistent legislation. Therefore, States should undertake a holistic review of the adequacy of their existing legislation, in view of their obligations under the Convention. During this process, States must closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities through their representative organizations.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- Due to stigma and segregation, persons with disabilities often remain invisible in society and their opinions are not duly taken into account or recognized as valid. States must raise the awareness of societies about the importance of persons with disabilities participating in public decisions and about the positive impact that they have on the decision-making. They should develop specific training programmes targeted at authorities and public officials, especially those involved in policymaking. These actions must be undertaken in consultation with representative organizations of persons with disabilities, and the active participation of persons with disabilities as teachers, instructors or advisors must 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- Consequently, good faith should be a foundation stone of all State actions during processes of dialogue and consultation with representative organizations of persons with disabilities, and should permeate States' interpretations of their own rules for participation in public decisions. Consultations must embrace transparency, mutual respect, meaningful dialogue and a sincere desire to reach consensus. They must take place in accordance with procedures that are appropriate to the circumstances of the diversity of the disability movement and must allow for reasonable and realistic timelines.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- New information and communications technologies, particularly the Internet, can significantly enhance the participation of persons with disabilities in public decision-making processes. There is a growing awareness of the role of the Internet in broadening the concept of "online citizenship", especially through e-government and e-democracy initiatives. States should increase their efforts to reduce the access gap in the use of the Internet and other information and communications technologies, while ensuring full accessibility. Electronic participation should not prevent States from providing other forms of participation and consultation.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- Without accessible information and communication, a range of persons with different disabilities cannot effectively participate in law-making and policymaking. This is particularly the case for persons with sensory and intellectual impairments. Generally, decision-making bodies and mechanisms neither produce nor disseminate information in accessible formats (such as easy-to-read), nor do they ensure the availability of sign language interpretation, guide interpreters for deafblind persons, or captioning during public debates. States must ensure that the entire public decision-making process is made accessible, including buildings, information, materials and communication pertaining to public debates.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- States must guarantee access to all facilities and procedures related to public decision-making and consultation. Accessibility is a precondition for persons with disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of life. Therefore, according to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, States must take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, transportation, information and communications (including information technologies and systems) and other facilities and services open or provided to the public, in both urban and rural settings.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- In most countries, children with disabilities are not provided with disability and age-appropriate assistance to allow them to participate in decision-making processes that may be relevant in their lives. States should guarantee the right of children with disabilities to express their views freely on all matters affecting them and give their views due weight in accordance with their age and maturity, on an equal basis with other children. Contributions to the present report illustrate the benefit of implementing disability-inclusive strategies and guidelines on children's participation in decision-making.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- Whenever needed, States must also provide reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities in all dialogue and consultation processes. This accommodation should include adequate time frames and the technical assistance necessary to ensure their effective participation on an equal basis with others. Regrettably, many countries do not recognize this right or limit its scope to the employment sector. However, according to international human rights law, States have an immediate duty to fulfil the right of reasonable accommodation, which is not subject to progressive realization and whose denial constitutes discrimination.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- Finally, States must promote the participation of representative organizations of persons with disabilities beyond disability-specific consultative bodies and mechanisms. In many countries, although CSOs are part of different committees or collegiate bodies working on a variety of issues (such as poverty, employment or education), representative organizations of persons with disabilities are rarely invited to participate. As disability is a cross-cutting issue, representative organizations of persons with disabilities should have the same opportunity to participate in these forums as others do.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- As certain groups of persons with disabilities face additional challenges to their participation in public life, they may be inadequately represented by existing representative organizations in a given country. Accordingly, States must not only encourage and support the participation of persons with disabilities from disadvantaged groups in representative organizations of persons with disabilities, but also show flexibility and establish consultative mechanisms to enable the participation of all persons with disabilities. This is particularly important for persons with multiple impairments, persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities, autistic persons and deafblind persons. States must devise outreach strategies aimed at ensuring the participation of these groups. The broad inclusion of persons with disabilities throughout the public decision-making process is one of the most effective tools for States to develop truly inclusive and diverse societies.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Although the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities underscores the involvement of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes through their representative organizations, it does not provide guidance on how participation should be ensured. The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has highlighted the need to establish formal mechanisms and protocols, at all levels of the government, to conduct systematic consultations with representative organizations of persons with disabilities. These consultation mechanisms may include institutionalized consultative bodies and other formal mechanisms for direct participation.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- National legal frameworks must explicitly require that State authorities consult closely with and actively involve persons with disabilities (including women and children with disabilities) through their representative organizations, in the development and implementation of legislation and policies concerning issues relating to them. This requires prior consultations and engagement with representative organizations of persons with disabilities at all stages of public decision-making, including before the adoption of legislation, policies and programmes that affect them. This duty stretches beyond consultation and access to public decision-making spaces and moves into the areas of partnership, delegated power and citizen control.
- 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
- Women
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires States to adopt all appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures to ensure effective and active participation by persons with disabilities in public decision-making. This entails recognizing the right of persons with disabilities to both participation and association, as well as the right of organizations of persons with disabilities to represent persons with disabilities at the national, regional and local levels. States must also adopt a legal framework conducive to the direct and indirect participation of persons with disabilities in law and policymaking, amending or repealing legislation, regulations, customs and practices that limit the ability of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations to participate. The participation of persons with disabilities in public life must be a cross-cutting principle of good governance.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- Representative organizations of persons with disabilities should promote the participation of women and girls with disabilities, as well as that of persons with disabilities from all population groups, as active members, in a spirit of pluralism and inclusiveness. While representative organizations of persons with disabilities may have different agendas and different engagement at various levels of government, this multiplicity of interests and strategies should not lead to the exclusion of specific groups of persons with disabilities. Only by embracing its diversity will the disability movement find its strength.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- States must promote the participation of persons with disabilities across all population groups, including those historically discriminated against or disadvantaged, such as indigenous people, poor or rural-based persons, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, and others. States must also ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities from throughout the life cycle are heard (particularly those of children, adolescents and older persons) and from across the whole range of impairments and experiences of disability (including deaf persons, autistic persons, deafblind persons, and persons with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- LGBTQI+
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 58
- Paragraph text
- Because women and girls with disabilities have historically encountered many barriers to participation in public decision-making, due to power imbalances and multiple forms of discrimination, they have had fewer opportunities to establish or join organizations that can represent their needs as women and persons with disabilities. Consequently, despite the widespread human rights violations affecting them, the intersectionality between gender and disability-based issues is still not fully included in the work of the different stakeholders promoting the rights of persons with disabilities or the rights of women. Acknowledging this situation, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires States to take all appropriate measures to ensure their full development, advancement and empowerment. States must take steps to eliminate the barriers that prevent their participation in public decision-making and must ensure that all participatory mechanisms and bodies take into account both disability- and gender-related factors and the complex interrelationships between them.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- There are various types of cooperation that representative organizations of persons with disabilities engage in, such as promoting the mainstreaming of the rights of persons with disabilities in advocacy initiatives conducted by other groups subject to exclusion and discrimination, such as indigenous people or older persons. This approach is of particular importance since persons with disabilities have often been invisible and excluded from non-disability-specific discussions and processes. Furthermore, representative organizations of persons with disabilities can benefit from the strengths and experience of other civil society movements to strengthen the disability movement.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- Representative organizations of persons with disabilities should build collaborative relationships with other actors, including CSOs from other sectors, NGOs, human rights defenders, providers of services, political parties, multilateral organizations and international cooperation agencies, to work collectively for respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities. Collaboration requires a common understanding of the human rights-based approach to disability, thus avoiding charity-based and paternalistic approaches. The rights of persons with disabilities are not "disability-specific" rights but universal human rights that apply to all human beings.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- The recommendation formulated by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to increase the public resources available for representative organizations of persons with disabilities, including those representing children with disabilities, should be implemented to enable them to fulfil their role under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. States should not only economically support the establishment and strengthening of organizations of persons with disabilities, but also allow them to access foreign funding as a part of international cooperation, which CSOs are also entitled to benefit from.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- When organizations are unable to access domestic funds to support their activities, due either to a lack of or the limited availability of government funding, or a lack of interest by the private sector, they often rely on external sources. In such cases, donors' preferences for funding activities rather than core institutional functions, as well as their sometimes narrow agendas, can prevent representative organizations of persons with disabilities from establishing a viable organizational structure. Such trends have an impact on organizations' long-term planning and engagement in a given area. Furthermore, the lack of a financial or funding history prevents many grass-roots organizations from applying for any type of funding.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- Securing sustainable funding is one of the main challenges faced by representative organizations of persons with disabilities. Contributions to the present report illustrate that some States have established temporary or permanent funds to support the functioning of these representative organizations as well as the participation of persons with disabilities in various decision-making processes. While those schemes are important for the sustainability of representative organizations, the broad discretion of State authorities to allocate resources is of concern, as it may affect the independence and autonomy of organizations. Moreover, it is worrisome that in some cases, State funds are only intended for the provision of services, which limits the funding opportunities for existing and potential organizations focusing primarily on advocacy.
- 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
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph