UN Human Rights Treaties

Economic and Social
Council
UNITED
NAT IONS
Distr.
GENERAL
E/CN.4/2002/NGO/203
18 April 2002
ENGLISH ONLY
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Fifty-eighth session
Item 14 (d) of the provisional agenda
SPECIFIC GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS:
OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS
Written statement* submitted by Rehabilitation International, a non-governmental
organization in special consultative status
The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is
circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.
[17 April 2002]
______________
*This written statement is issued, unedited, in the language(s) received from the
submitting non-governmental organization(s).
GE.02-12928
E

On behalf of the 600 million citizens with disabilities, represented by the International Disability
Alliance (IDA) which is composed of the following global organisations;
Disabled People’s International (DPI)
Inclusion International (II)
Rehabilitation International (RI)
World Blind Union (WBU)
World Federation of the Deaf (WFD)
World Federation of Deafblind (WFDB)
World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (WNUSP)
A significant number of people from all parts of the world, people with different disabilities, came
to Geneva to discuss disability issues with the Commission on Human Rights.
Upon our arrival, we were notified that the agenda had been changed, and due to fixed travel arrangements we
will not be present when discussions on disability take place.
In this regard, with respect, we would ask that in future, consideration is given to a more precise timing so that
the current situation will not occur again.
In conclusion, we wish to express the following to the Commission on Human Rights;
1. Acknowledge that there should be a Special Rapporteur on Disability at the Commission on Human
Rights.
2. Consider that the work of the Special Rapporteur be co-ordinated with the Special Rapporteur of the
Commission for Social Development and the Panel of Experts.
3. Appeal to the Commission on Human Rights to endorse the proposal of a Convention to protect and
promote the rights and dignity of people with disabilities.
4. Urge the Commission on Human Rights to set aside a thematic day for discussion on disability at the 59th
session in 2003.
5. Recommend that at least one permanent member of staff, preferable a person with disability should work
on full time basis with disability and human rights issues.
6. Urge the Commission that real possibilities will be given to organisations of people with disabilities, to
actively participate in the elaboration of a convention.
7. Invite member states to appoint persons with disabilities in their drafting groups and delegations.
Finally we give full support to the Commission on Human Rights in developing a disability
dimension to the present human rights monitoring system in accordance with the twin-track
approach, proposed by the UN Special Rapporteur, Dr. Bengt Lindqvist in his report to the
Commission on Human Rights.

Membership of
International Disability Alliance (IDA)
DPI, Disabled People´s International WBU, World Blind Union
Joshua Malinga Kicki Nordström
P.O. Box 2213, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe WBU/SRF Iris AB
Tel: 263 9 66764 or 880035 (office) 122 88 Enskede, Sweden
Fax: 263 9 74398 Fax: + 46 8 725 99 20
E-mail: pafod@telconet.co.zw Phone: + 46 8 39 90 00
E-mail: kicki.nordstrom@iris.se
WFD, World Federation of the Deaf WFDB, World Federation of Deafblind
Liisa Kauppinen Stig Ohlson
World Federation of the Deaf WFDB/FSDB
P.O. Box 65, SF-00401, Helsinki, Finland Sandsborgsvägen 44
Fax: +358 9 580 3770, 122 88 Enskede, Swedem
Phone +358 9 58031 Fax: +46 8 659 50 42
E-mail: wfd@kl-deaf.fi Phone: + 46 8 39 90 00
E-mail: Stigohl@algonet.se
RI, Rehabilitation International II, Inclusion International
Lex Frieden Don Wills
25 East 21 Street 13D Chemin du Levant
New York, N.Y. 10010, U.S.A F-01210 Ferney-Voltaire, France
Fax +1212 505 0871, Fax: +33 450 40 01 07
Phone +1212 420 1500, Phone: +33 450 40 01 97
E-mail: rehabintl@rehab-international.org E-mail: info@inclusion-international.org
WNUSP, World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry
Karl Bach Jensen
Langelinie 7
DK 6000 Kolding
Denmark
Phone: +45 7550 2696
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