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A/AC.265/2006/L.3

Draft report 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 on its 7th session

UN Document Symbol A/AC.265/2006/L.3
Convention Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Document Type Draft Report
Session 7th
Type Document
Description

6 p.

Subjects Persons with Disabilities

Extracted Text

United Nations A/AC.265/2006/L.3
General Assembly
Distr.: Limited
30 January 2006
Original: English
06-22749 (E) 310106
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Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and
Integral International Convention on the
Protection and Promotion of the Rights and
Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
New York, 16 January-3 February 2006
Draft report 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 on its seventh session
I. Introduction
1. In its resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, the General Assembly decided
to establish 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, based on the holistic approach in the work done in the fields of
social development, human rights and non-discrimination and taking into account
the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission for
Social Development.
2. In its resolution 60/232 of 23 December 2004, the General Assembly decided
that the Ad Hoc Committee should hold, within existing resources, prior to the
sixty-first session of the General Assembly, two sessions in 2006, one of 15 working
days from 16 January to 3 February, in order to achieve a complete reading of the
draft text of a convention prepared by the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee and
one of 10 working days from 7 to 18 August.
II. Organizational matters
A. Opening and duration of the seventh session
3. The Ad Hoc Committee held its seventh session at United Nations
Headquarters from 16 January to 3 February 2006. In the course of its session, the
Ad Hoc Committee held 30 meetings.
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4. The Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of
Economic and Social Affairs acted as the substantive secretariat, while the
Disarmament and Decolonization Affairs Branch of the Department for General
Assembly and Conference Management served as secretariat of the Ad Hoc
Committee.
5. The seventh session of the Ad Hoc Committee was opened by the Chairman of
the Committee, Don McKay, Ambassador of New Zealand.
B. Officers
6. The following officers continued to serve on the Bureau of the Committee:
Chairman:
Don McKay (New Zealand)
Vice-Chairpersons:
Jorge Ballestero (Costa Rica)
Petra Ali Doláková (Czech Republic)1
Mu’taz Hyassat (Jordan)
Laoura Lazouras (South Africa)
C. Agenda
7. At its 1st meeting, on 16 January 2006, the Ad Hoc Committee adopted its
provisional agenda, as contained in document A/AC.265/2006/L.1, as follows:
1. Opening of the session.
2. Election of officers.
3. Adoption of the agenda.
4. Organization of work.
5. Continuation of the review of the draft Convention, based on the draft
text proposed by the Chair (A/AC.265/2006/1).
6. Conclusion of the Ad Hoc Committee at its seventh session.
7. Adoption of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on its seventh session.
D. Documentation
8. The Ad Hoc Committee had before it the following documents:
(a) Provisional agenda (A/AC.265/2006/L.1);
(b) Proposed organization of work (A/AC.265/2006/L.2);
(c) Letter dated 7 October 2005 from the Chairman to all members of the
Committee (A/AC.265/2006/1);
1 Elected on 16 January 2006.
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(d) List of participants (A/AC.265/2006/INF/1);
(e) Concept of reasonable accommodation in selected national disability
legislation (background conference document prepared by the Department of
Economic and Social Affairs) (A/AC.265/2006/CRP.1);
(f) Draft final provisions for the disability convention (background
conference document prepared by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights) (A/AC.265/2006/CRP.2);
(g) Accessibility to information and communications: perspectives of the
visually impaired (background conference document prepared by the Department of
Economic and Social Affairs) (A/AC.265/2006/CRP.3);
(h) Expert paper on existing monitoring mechanisms, possible relevant
improvements and possible innovations in monitoring mechanisms for a
comprehensive and integral international convention on the protection and
promotion of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities (background
conference document prepared by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights) (A/AC.265/2006/CRP.4).
III. Organization of work
9. During its seventh session, the Ad Hoc Committee conducted informal
discussions on articles 1 to 34, the preamble and the title of the draft convention in
accordance with the programme of work adopted at its first meeting, on 16 January
2006. On 3 February, at its 30th meeting, the Ad Hoc Committee heard the report of
the Chairman on the progress of informal discussions on articles 1 to 34, the
preamble and the title of the draft convention (see annex II). The Committee
decided to continue to review the draft convention at its next session.
IV. Recommendations
10. The Ad Hoc Committee recommends that it continue its work at its eighth
session, to be held from 14 to 25 August 2006.
11. The Ad Hoc Committee invites members of its Bureau to hold intersessional
meetings regarding the preparation and organization of its eighth session, including
the preparation of the provisional agenda, to be issued at least four weeks prior to
the eighth session.
12. With regard to accessibility, and in accordance with General Assembly
resolutions 58/246, 59/198 and 60/232 and decision 56/474, the Committee
reiterated the need for additional efforts to ensure accessibility at the United
Nations, with reasonable accommodation regarding facilities and documentation, for
all persons with disabilities.
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13. The Committee recommends to the General Assembly the following draft
resolution:
“The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 60/232 of 23 December 2005 and its decision
56/474 of 23 July 2002 on the need for additional efforts to ensure
accessibility at the United Nations, with reasonable accommodation regarding
facilities and documentation, for all persons with disabilities,
1. Welcomes the efforts made by the Secretary-General to explore and
implement innovative measures for the provision of selected documents in
Braille to the Ad Hoc Committee at is seventh session;
2. Welcomes also the donation to the United Nations of a Braille
printer by Services for the Visually Impaired and Braille software by Duxbury
System;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that selected pre-session
documents as well as in-session documents be reproduced in Braille at all
forthcoming sessions of the Ad Hoc Committee.”
V. Adoption of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee
14. At its 30th meeting, on 3 February 2006, the Committee adopted the draft
report on its seventh session (A/AC.265/2006/L.3).
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Annex I
Additional non-governmental organizations accredited
to the Ad Hoc Committee
Arab Organization of Disabled People
Asia Pacific Disability Forum
Association of Disabled Women and Mothers of Disabled Children
Disabled People’s Rehabilitation and Employment Union of Georgia
National Federation of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities of Honduras
Fédération togolaise des personnes handicapées
Global Deaf Connection
Impact Foundation Bangladesh
Junior Chamber International Nigeria
Life Vanguards
Light of the World
Mine Combat Organization
Harmony of the World
Little People of Kosova
Planwell Group Organization
Projet de Réadaptation à Base Communautaire des Aveugles et Autres Personnes
Handicapées du Niger
Scope
Statute of Mine Combat Organization
The Cambodia Trust
Threshold Association
United States Burn Support Organization
Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation
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Annex II
[Report of the Chairman to the seventh session of the Ad Hoc Committee]