COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES OPENS ITS SECOND SESSION

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities this morning opened its second session, hearing an introductory statement by Ibrahim Salama, Chief of the Human Rights Treaty Branch, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and adopting its agenda and programme of work. The Committee also discussed and approved the report of its first session and the report of the Chairperson on activities undertaken in the intercessional period.

Mr. Salama said that he had been closely following the progress of the Committee since its initial stages, with both great pride, and great hope for what the Convention meant to the millions of people with disabilities around the world. He had seen the beginnings of change in the way that disabilities were perceived in the world, and had kept up to date on the important milestones in the formation of the Committee and its work.

Mr. Salama commended the Committee on its progress so far. Still there remained much to be done. The process of receiving the reports of States parties following the approval of the core internal documents of the Committee, such as the reporting guidelines and the rules of procedure, awaited the Committee, as did the opening of the petition process for individual to register claims, as well as a more thorough integration with the other United Nations bodies and agencies.

The statistics of disabilities were well known, said Mr. Salama. Often referred to as the world’s largest minority, persons with disabilities made up around 10 per cent of the world’s population, amounting to over half a billion people. They dealt everyday with unique discrimination and challenges in the context of human rights. The barriers they faced could be physical or attitudinal and often originated either from official governmental policy, social stigmas, or simply indifference.

In the developing world, around 80 per cent of children with disabilities did not attend school. This hastened the vicious cycle of poverty and disability, and severely disadvantaged the child from being able to thrive in its community. Also, for every other marginalized group, there would be among them persons with disabilities. In these cases, the multiplier of disadvantage was more than just one or two, noted Mr. Salama.

“The denial of opportunity based on irrelevant and hurtful judgements and the failure to engender and promote accessible societies are the catalyst for our drive to change”, said Mr. Salama. The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as one of the eight human rights treaties, was one piece in the larger puzzle of eliminating injustice, inequality and discrimination.

Mr. Salama also noted that States had become signatories to the Convention faster than to any other human rights treaty in history. There was a growing recognition that persons with disabilities had been marginalized for too long. The practical failure around the world in the realization of their rights was an unacceptable lapse of the dignity and justice afforded to all through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent treaties. A wave of momentum had preceded this Convention, but this momentum however was not guaranteed, and would not continue without the resolve to carry it forward.

Mr. Salama said that he believed that the international community was becoming increasingly aware of the issues which must be addressed in the pursuit of equality. The Convention itself was clear in setting the tone but there was also many other things that could be done. The Convention recognized that the limitations on persons with disabilities resulted from the absence of tools, support and environment they needed for actualizing their potential. When accessible societies and communities provided for the needs of all persons equally, the benefit went well beyond the individual members and actively contributed to the success of the society as a whole.

These ideals were far from being realized, however, it was through the Convention that change would have the best chances of success, said Mr. Salama. He also said that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was committed to do whatever it could to cooperate and assist in the work of the Committee. He also urged the Committee to take swift action on finalizing their internal working documents, namely its Rules of Procedure, Reporting Guidelines and Working Methods.

In the ensuing discussion, Committee Members discussed the relationship of the Committee with the other treaty bodies; how the Committee could best respond to individual communications; and whether it should made all of this session’s planned closed meetings public or not. The Committee decided to adopt the draft programme of work as is and to discuss the issue of closed meetings on a case-by-case basis at a later time. The Committee also discussed the availability of the work and documentation of the Committee in the working languages, as well as in Braille and in sign language.

This afternoon and tomorrow, the Committee will discuss ways and means of expediting its work and will also discuss and adopt its Reporting Guidelines, Working Methods and Draft Rules of Procedure. On Wednesday, 21 October, the Committee will hold a day of general discussion on Article 12 of the Convention on the right to equal recognition before the law.

For use of the information media; not an official record

CRPD09005E