International Workshop on Disability
Twenty-one National Institutions from the Commonwealth and the Asia Pacific Region met in New Delhi from 26 - 29 May 2003 to discuss a proposal to develop a Comprehensive and Integral United Nations Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Workshop was organized by the Commission in partnership with the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, the British Council and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Workshop held nine working sessions relating to various aspects of the rights of persons with disabilities. It considered, inter alia, country papers on the impact of national legislation and administrative practice; the role of NHRIs in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities; "mainstreaming disability" - experiences of UN Conventions (hard instruments); existing (soft) UN instruments relevant to disability; international monitoring mechanisms and complaints procedures; the nature and key elements of the proposed new Convention on disability - perceptions of NHRIs and NGOs; and partnership strategies for action in the lead up to the new UN Convention.
In his presidential address to the Workshop on 29 May 2003, the Chairperson, Dr. Justice A.S. Anand stated that the primary objective of a Disability Convention must be to transact a shift from an approach based on welfare to one based on rights by firmly grounding the new treaty on human rights values.
The Workshop -
· Strongly affirmed the need for the development of a comprehensive and integral Convention;
· Stressed that the Convention should be a 'rights based' instrument built on international human rights norms and standards and social justice. It should be informed by the overarching principle that all persons with disabilities, without exception, are entitled to the full benefit and enjoyment of all fundamental human rights and freedoms on the basis of equality, dignity and without discrimination.
· Stressed that the situation of all disability groups and the diverse conditions related to gender, race, colour, age, ethnicity and other considerations must be taken into account when elaborating the Convention.
(For full details of Conclusions and Recommendations of the New Delhi Workshop, see Commission's website at http://nhrc.nic.in ).
The Workshop held nine working sessions relating to various aspects of the rights of persons with disabilities. It considered, inter alia, country papers on the impact of national legislation and administrative practice; the role of NHRIs in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities; "mainstreaming disability" - experiences of UN Conventions (hard instruments); existing (soft) UN instruments relevant to disability; international monitoring mechanisms and complaints procedures; the nature and key elements of the proposed new Convention on disability - perceptions of NHRIs and NGOs; and partnership strategies for action in the lead up to the new UN Convention.
In his presidential address to the Workshop on 29 May 2003, the Chairperson, Dr. Justice A.S. Anand stated that the primary objective of a Disability Convention must be to transact a shift from an approach based on welfare to one based on rights by firmly grounding the new treaty on human rights values.
The Workshop -
· Strongly affirmed the need for the development of a comprehensive and integral Convention;
· Stressed that the Convention should be a 'rights based' instrument built on international human rights norms and standards and social justice. It should be informed by the overarching principle that all persons with disabilities, without exception, are entitled to the full benefit and enjoyment of all fundamental human rights and freedoms on the basis of equality, dignity and without discrimination.
· Stressed that the situation of all disability groups and the diverse conditions related to gender, race, colour, age, ethnicity and other considerations must be taken into account when elaborating the Convention.
(For full details of Conclusions and Recommendations of the New Delhi Workshop, see Commission's website at http://nhrc.nic.in ).