is an international human rights instrument of the United Nations intended to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities
- About the Convention on wikipedia.
- Text of the Convention on OHCHR.
Homepage;
Disability and the UN; Conference of States; Accessibility; News; Resources; Support-Group;
See also: Social Policy, Development; DESA; MDGs;
Address: Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Two United Nations Plaza, DC2-1382, New York, NY 10017, USA;
Contact.
Our Work: The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol are serviced by a joint Secretariat, consisting of staff of both the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), based in New York, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva.
DESA services the Conference of States Parties to the Convention that convens in New York and OHCHR services the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that meets in Geneva.
In New York, the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is housed in DESA’s Division for Social Policy and Development, which is responsible for activities related to poverty eradication and employment, generational issues and social integration, inclusive development and indigenous issues.
The objectives of the Secretariat at DESA are: (i) to support the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in social life and development; (ii) to advance the rights and protect the dignity of persons with disabilities and; (iii) to promote equal access to employment, education, information, goods and services. The mandate of the Secretariat at DESA also includes the review and implementation of the Standard Rules on Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities adopted in 1994, and the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons adopted in 1982. In addition, the Secretariat prepares publications and acts as a clearinghouse for information on disability issues; promotes national, regional and international programmes and activities; provides support to governments and civil society; and gives substantial support to technical co-operation projects and activities.
In Geneva, the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities currently comprises the Advisor on Human Rights and Disabilities, housed in the Operations, Programmes and Research Division. With the establishment of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Secretariat also comprises the Secretary and staff supporting the Committee.
The objectives of the Secretariat at OHCHR, drawn from the High Commissioner’s Plan of Action, are: (i) country engagement – to support UN human rights field presences increase their work at the country level on the Convention, with a particular focus on awareness-raising and promoting ratification; (ii) support for human rights bodies – to mainstream disability within the UN human rights programme, specifically in the work of the Human Rights Council and the existing treaty monitoring bodies; (iii) leadership – to encourage the High Commissioner to raise awareness of disability as a human rights issue and to provide tools and publications to assist States, civil society organizations and national human rights institutions to implement the Convention; and, (iv) partnership – to work closely with other intergovernmental and civil society organizations to strengthen work on the Convention through cooperation.
History of United Nations and Persons with Disabilities – The First millennium decade: … (full text).