|
|
|
United Nations Disability Rights Convention
Fifth session
| Fourth session
Worldwide there are approximately 600 million people with disabilities. In the year 2000, in the United States alone
41.9% (Source: US
Census Bureau) of the population of 65 years and over live with some disability. The
rights of disabled people both in rich and poor countries are often weak or
at times non-existent. Global Action on Aging strongly supports an
international convention on the rights of people with disabilities to
safeguard those who enter old age with a lifelong disability as well as
those who acquire a disabling condition in old age.
Fifth session of the Ad Hoc Committee (January 24 -
February 4, 2005)
Report on
the UN Disability Conference,
Charlotte Parkinson
, DSW (January 24 - February 4, 2005)
Charlotte Parkinson, DSW, reports on
the path-breaking UN Conference to draw up a text for consideration in the
UN General Assembly on Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities
throughout the world. Charlotte Parkinson, formerly directed a Mental
Retardation program Catholic Charities, and advises GAA on disability issues
as a volunteer. She monitored the Fifth Session of the Ad Hoc Committee
debating the content of the proposed Convention and presents her summary of
the discussions and issues that confronted the Country Delegations to the
Session.
Key Articles in Draft Disability Treaty Approved at UN
Meeting (February 6, 2005)
In a major step forward for persons with disabilities and humanity as a
whole, a United Nations negotiating panel, at the fifth session of the "Ad
Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on
the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with
Disabilities," has reached agreement on key provisions in a treaty
codifying their rights.
Ending
Poverty Means Empowering the Disabled (February 3, 2005)
In the context of the Fifth Session of the Ad Hoc Committee,
U.N.
member states and disabled advocacy groups finalized a draft agreement on
Thursday, February 3, to defend basic rights such as independent living,
employment and equality, paving the way for the first-ever international
treaty guaranteeing the rights of the disabled.
Fourth session of the Ad Hoc Committee (August 23-September 3, 2004)
Report of the Ad Hoc Committee
on its fourth session (August
23 - September 3, 2004)
During its fourth session (23 August - 3 September 2004), the Ad Hoc
Committee concluded a first reading of the draft text of the convention as
contained in the report of the Working Group (A/AC.265/2004/WG.1) by
considering the title, the structure, part of the preamble, definitions
(article 3) and monitoring (article 25). The Committee also adopted the
organization of work proposed by the Chairman (see annexes II and III) and
conducted a review of articles 1 to 15 and 24 bis. The Committee decided to
further review the draft convention at its next sessions. On 25 August, the
Ad Hoc Committee had before it the report of the Coordinator on the progress
of informal discussions of draft articles 4, 5, 6 and 7 (see annex IV).
Summary of Discussions on Draft
Articles by the Coordinator (August 23 - September 3, 2004)
GAA
posts this summary to inform readers about the open process of working
through the ideas and content of the proposed convention among Member
States. The delegates represent nations that differ along lines of language,
economic capacity, legal frameworks, attitudes toward persons with
disabilities, among other issues, but join in common and open negotiating
toward a goal.
Government Contributions by Article (August 23 - September 3, 2004)
Governments looked at 25 different articles or
issues facing persons with disability. Here you can find specific
government contributions to the debate on the Convention.
|
