Delegates at UN meeting on disability rights see it as major step forward

Delegates at UN meeting on disability rights see it as major step forward

31 January 2006 – Persons with disabilities who have gathered at United Nations Headquarters from all over the world to negotiate the first-ever convention on their rights expressed confidence today that the session will pave the way for a full agreement guaranteeing protections and preventing discrimination, but they said it was just the beginning of their battle for equality.

More than 400 representatives from governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are attending the current session, which is slated to wrap up on Friday. Many said that while the process of examining each article requires time, it is critical to get an agreement in place.

“Let’s continue to work for this convention because I think we deserve to have one. It’s not going to create miracles but definitely it’s going to create better lives for all of us,” Venus Ilagan, Chairperson of the Philippines branch of the worldwide Disabled Peoples’ International Network, told the UN News Service.

“Personally as a woman with a disability, just like other women with disabilities from developing countries, we suffer triple discrimination on account of our disability, our gender and our poverty so this convention is going to be very helpful in making sure we enjoy our rights the same way other people enjoy their rights,” said Ms. Ilagan.

The second full reading of the convention is expected to conclude on Friday and although the General Assembly committee drafting the treaty has made progress on various issues – including those relating to education, work and health – delegates acknowledge much work still needs to be done before the treaty becomes law.

“This is the seventh session but I don’t think we’ll be able to finish it this year. Negotiations are still going on,” added Ms. Ilagan, echoing the views of other delegates who said the extensive number of subjects the articles covered meant it was difficult to say when the text would be agreed upon.

Like other delegates at the meeting, Wayne Cockfield, from the National Right to Life NGO, said it was important for society at large, both the developed and developing worlds, to involve people with disabilities in the community. He added that this is also economically viable.

“A lot of people think it costs a lot of money to make society accessible to disabled people when in reality it doesn’t cost that much more. If you’re building a sidewalk and you put a curb-cut so a wheelchair can get over that sidewalk, that really costs nothing because you’re already spending money to make the sidewalk,” added Mr. Cockfield.

Many of the delegates, including Mr. Cockfield and Ms. Ilagan, were in wheelchairs and particularly for Ms. Ilagan simply getting to the conference was a stark reminder of the problems of accessibility.

“It’s been difficult but you know it’s something very important and I think it’s worth the time and effort,” she said of her 19-hour trip from the Philippines.

Disabled Peoples' International

Beijing + 10: Position Paper on Women with Disabilities

March 2005

By Dinah Radtke, Vice Chair Disabled Peoples' International www.dpi.org

There are at least 300 million disabled women living in all countries of the world. 82% of these live in the developing world. Disabled women and girls are much more marginalizes and mostly invisible to policy makers. Disabled women and girls are subject to massive human rights violations without regard to their age, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, class, religious and other status. WE no longer accept being objects of violence and discrimination and we insist on respect for and protection of our human rights.

WE recognize the stated commitment of the United Nations to the provision of human rights of people with disabilities. We recognize its Commitment to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination against Women and further recognize its recent work to develop a Convention on the Rights and Dignity of People with Disabilities. But in order to be aware of the special needs of women and girls with disabilities it is necessary to name these needs in all relevant official documents.

We strongly recommend addressing the unique issues of disabled women and girls in all of the 12 critical areas of concern as outlined by the Beijing Platform for Action, and especially in the fields of:

Education and training which is not a priority in many countries for disabled women and girls. We need inclusive systems without barriers ensuring the necessary special support.
Violence: disabled women and girls are more often subject to various types of violence and particular sexual violence that non-disabled women and girls. We need effective programs and legal measure to combat all types of violence.
Motherhood and sexuality: These are often denied for women and girls with disabilities. Discriminating laws especially with regard to sterilization have to be abolished.
Healthcare: Women with disabilities sometimes have little or no access to healthcare facilities, services and information, among others to gynecological and maternal care.
HIV/AIDS: women and girls with disabilities are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS transmission given their increased risk of sexual violence. Special measures and programs are needed to protect disabled girls and women.
Poverty: disabled women and girls are more likely to live in poverty and be excluded form the work force. We call on UN organizations, in particular the World Bank in their poverty alleviation strategies, the ILO on their "right to decent work", UNESCO in their goal of "Education for ALL". Each of these organizations must ensure their work includes women and girls with disabilities.
Human Rights: all of the above points are violations of human rights standards as articulated and ensured for all people under the international human rights treaties. We thus strongly call the governments to reaffirm the entire scope of the Human Rights of women and girls with disabilities, including the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in order to achieve the internationally agreed upon development goals as well as those contained in the millennium declaration. WE pledge to undertake further action to integrate women and girls with disabilities in the implementation.