Workshop for National Human Rights Institutions of the Commonwealth for a new UN Convention on Disability

The National Human Rights Commission of India, in partnership with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) and the British Council is hosting an international workshop on the rights of people with disabilities, which is being inaugurated today by Dr. Justice A.S. Anand, Chairperson, NHRC.





The workshop, which will be attended by representatives from national human rights institutions from the Commonwealth and the Asia Pacific region, will be held in New Delhi from 26 to 29 May 2003. Representatives from the Government and Indian non-governmental organizations working in the field of disability will also attend. The main focus of the workshop is to discuss a proposal to develop a new comprehensive United Nations treaty on the rights of people with disabilities.





“It is a unique opportunity for national human rights institutions from the Commonwealth and from the Asia Pacific region to formulate their views on the proposed new UN Convention. We can learn from each other and share information about the most effective strategies to promote and protect the human rights of people with disabilities”, said Justice A.S. Anand, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of India.

In November 2002, the National Human Rights Commission of India hosted the Seventh Annual Meeting of the APF at which NHRC, India, was unanimously elected as Chairperson of this regional organization. At that meeting the twelve member human rights commissions of the APF decided to actively contribute to the development of a new UN Convention on disability. In addition, the British Council approached the National Human Rights Commission of India to host a meeting of national human rights institutions from Commonwealth countries on the same subject.





The workshop participants will meet from 26 to 29 May 2003. A ‘statement of conclusions’ will be issued at the conclusion of the workshop on agreed strategies and approaches.