UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations E/CN.5/2004/L.5
Economic and Social Council Distr.: Limited
11 February 2004
Original: English
04-23848 (E) 120204
*0423848*
Commission for Social Development
Forty-second session
4-13 February 2004
Agenda item 3 (b) (ii)
Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development
and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly:
review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes
of action pertaining to the situation of social groups:
equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities
Chile,* Guatemala, Mexico, New Zealand,* Nicaragua* and Romania:
draft resolution
The Commission for Social Development recommends to the Economic and
Social Council the adoption of the following draft resolution:
“Comprehensive and integral international convention to
promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with
disabilities
“The Economic and Social Council,
“Recalling General Assembly resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001,
by which the Assembly established an Ad Hoc Committee, open to the
participation of all Member States and observers to the United Nations, to
consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention
to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based
on the holistic approach in the work carried out 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,
“Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/12 of 21
July 2003 on a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote
and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,
* In accordance with rule 69 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the
Economic and Social Council.

E/CN.5/2004/L.5
“Recalling further General Assembly resolution 58/246 of 23 December
2003, by which the Assembly decided that the Ad Hoc Committee will start
the negotiations on a draft convention at its third session,
“Welcoming the important contributions made so far to the Ad Hoc
Committee by all stakeholders,
“Welcoming also the progress made in the Working Group established by
the Ad Hoc Committee in preparing a draft text which would be the basis for
negotiations on a draft convention in the Ad Hoc Committee, taking into
account all contributions,
“Encouraging Member States and observers to participate actively in the
Ad Hoc Committee in order to present to the General Assembly, as a matter of
priority, a draft text of a convention,
“Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with
disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination,
“Taking note with satisfaction of the positive steps taken by Governments
in order to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with
disabilities,
“Encouraged by the increased support of the international community for
the promotion and protection of the rights and dignity of persons with
disabilities under a comprehensive and integral approach,
“1. Requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to
contribute to the process of negotiation of a draft international convention by,
inter alia, providing its views regarding the social development perspective,
bearing in mind the experience in the implementation of the Standard Rules on
the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities1 and the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;2
“2. Welcomes the contributions of the Special Rapporteur on Disability
of the Commission to the process of negotiation of a draft convention and
requests the Special Rapporteur further to contribute and participate in the
work of the Ad Hoc Committee, bearing in mind the experience in the
monitoring of the Standard Rules and in collaboration with the Secretariat by,
inter alia, providing her views on the elements to be considered in the
convention and promoting awareness about the process among Governments
and civil society;
“3. Requests the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the
Secretariat, through its Division for Social Policy and Development, to
continue to support the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, in collaboration with
the Special Rapporteur and other relevant United Nations bodies and agencies,
through, inter alia, the organization of experts meetings and the provision of
information on issues related to the international convention, including
national and international experiences and norms and standards on disabilities,
as appropriate;
__________________
1 General Assembly resolution 48/96, annex.
2 A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV).

E/CN.5/2004/L.5
“4. Underlines the importance of strengthening the cooperation and
coordination between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs in order
jointly to support the work of the Ad Hoc Committee;
“5. Invites bodies, organs and entities of the United Nations system,
including the funds and programmes, particularly those working in the fields
of social and economic development and human rights, within their respective
mandates, to continue to provide suggestions about elements for a convention;
“6. Also invites non-governmental organizations, national disability and
human rights institutions and independent experts with an interest in the matter
to continue to make available to the Ad Hoc Committee suggestions and
possible elements to be included in proposals for a convention;
“7. Encourages the relevant bodies of the United Nations to continue to
promote and support the active participation of civil society, including nongovernmental
organizations, in the process of elaboration of an international
convention in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 56/510 of 23
July 2002 and 57/229 of 18 December 2002, and requests the Secretary-
General to disseminate widely to non-governmental organizations all available
information on accreditation procedures, modalities and supportive measures
for their participation in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee;
“8. Invites Governments, civil society and the private sector to
contribute to the voluntary fund established by the General Assembly to
support the participation of non-governmental organizations and experts from
developing countries, in particular from the least developed countries, in the
work of the Ad Hoc Committee;
“9. Stresses the need for additional efforts to ensure accessibility with
reasonable accommodation regarding facilities and documentation at the
United Nations for all persons with disabilities in accordance with General
Assembly decision 56/474 of 23 July 2002;
“10. Requests the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur to report
to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-third session on the
implementation of the present resolution.”