UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations A/AC.265/2004/L.4
General Assembly
Distr.: Limited
31 August 2004
Original: English

04-47389 (E) 010904
*0447389*
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, 23 August-3 September 2004
Draft report of the fourth session of the Ad Hoc Committee
I. Introduction
1. In its resolution 56/168, 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 58/246, the General Assembly also decided that the Ad Hoc
Committee should start the negotiations on a draft convention at its third session and
that, prior to its fifty-ninth session, the Ad Hoc Committee should hold two sessions
for a duration of 10 working days each in 2004.
II. Organizational matters
A. Opening and duration of the fourth session
3. The Ad Hoc Committee held its fourth session at United Nations Headquarters
from 23 August to 3 September 2004. In the course of its session, the Ad Hoc
Committee held 20 meetings.
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 fourth session of the Ad Hoc Committee was opened by the Chairman of
the Committee, Gallegos Chiriboga, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of
Ecuador to the United Nations.

A/AC.265/2004/L.4
B. Officers
6. The following officers continued to serve on the Bureau of the Committee:
Chairman:
Luis Gallegos (Ecuador)
Vice-Chairpersons:
Ivana Grollovà (Czech Republic)
Leslie Gatan (Philippines)
Jeanette Ndhlovu (South Africa)
Carina Mårtensson (Sweden)
C. Agenda
7. At its 1st meeting, on 23 August 2004, the Ad Hoc Committee adopted its
provisional agenda, as contained in document A/AC.265/2004/L.3, as follows:
1. Opening of the session.
2. Adoption of the agenda.
3. Organization of work.
4. Consideration of the draft text as contained in the report of the Working
Group of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral
International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (A/AC.265/2004/WG.1, annex I) (elements
deferred from the third session of the Ad Hoc Committee: title; structure
of the convention; part of the preamble; definitions (article 3); and
monitoring (article 25)).
5. Consideration of the compilation of proposed revisions and amendments
to the draft text of the Working Group as contained in the report of the
Ad Hoc Committee on its third session (A/AC.265/2004/5, annex II).
6. Conclusions of the Ad Hoc Committee at its fourth session.
7. Adoption of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on its fourth session.
D. Documentation
8. The Ad Hoc Committee had before it the following documents:
(a) Provisional agenda and proposed organization of work
(A/AC.265/2004/L.3);
(b) List of participants (A/AC.265/2004/INF/2);
(c) Report of the Working Group to the Ad Hoc Committee
(A/AC.265/2004/WG.1);
(d) Report of the third session of the Ad Hoc Committee (A/AC.265/2004/5
and Corr.1);

A/AC.265/2004/L.4
(e) Letter dated 19 August 2004 from the Permanent Representative of New
Zealand to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
(A/AC.265/2004/6).
III. Organization of work
9. During its meetings (23 August-3 September 2004), the Ad Hoc Committee
concluded a first reading of the draft text of the convention as contained in the
report of the Working Group (A/AC.265/2004/WG.1) by considering the title, the
structure, part of the preamble, definitions (article 3) and monitoring (article 25).
The Committee also adopted the organization of work proposed by the Chairman
(see annex II) and conducted a review of articles 1 to 15 and 24 bis. The Committee
decided to further review the draft convention at its next sessions, without prejudice
to the decisions to be taken by the General Assembly in that regard at its fifty-ninth
session.
IV. Recommendations
10. The Ad Hoc Committee recommends that the Committee continue its work in
2005 and that the dates and venue for its 2005 session(s) be included in the relevant
resolution to be adopted by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session.
11. The Ad Hoc Committee invites members of its Bureau to hold an
intersessional meeting regarding the preparation and organization of its fifth session,
including the preparation of the provisional agenda, to be issued at least four weeks
prior to the fifth session.
12. With regard to accessibility and in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 58/246 and decision 56/474, the Committee invites the General Assembly,
at its fifty-ninth session, to examine in greater detail the provision of reasonable
accommodation for persons with disabilities in order to facilitate accessibility to
United Nations premises, technology and documents.
V. Adoption of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee
13. At its 20th meeting, on 3 September 2004, the Committee adopted the draft
report on its fourth session (A/AC.265/2004/L.4), as orally amended.

A/AC.265/2004/L.4
Annex I
Additional list of non-governmental organizations
accredited to the Ad Hoc Committee
ABRAR (Sudan)
Australian Federation of Disability Organization
Cerebral Palsy Nigeria
Children’s Rights Alliance for England
Equal Opportunities Commission of Hong Kong
Humanitarian Organization for Poverty Eradication
LOTOS Disability Awareness and Learning Center (Azerbaijan)
Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (South Africa)

A/AC.265/2004/L.4
Annex II
Organization of work proposed by the Chairman
Date/time Programme
Monday, 23 August
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
3-6 p.m.
Preamble/title structure
Definitions/monitoring
Tuesday, 24 August
10 a.m.
3-6 p.m.
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Wednesday, 25 August
• Public meeting
• Participation by members, observers, intergovernmental
organizations and NGOs as well as national human rights
institutions
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
3-6 p.m.
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Thursday, 26 August
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
3-6 p.m.
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Friday, 27 August
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
3-6 p.m.
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Monday, 30 August
Informal consultations
• Coordinator
• Participation by member States and observers
• Presence of intergovernmental organizations, NGOs as well
as national human rights institutions
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
3-6 p.m.
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Tuesday, 31 August
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
3-6 p.m.
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Wednesday, 1 September
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
3-6 p.m.
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis

A/AC.265/2004/L.4
Date/time Programme
Thursday, 2 September
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
3-6 p.m.
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Articles 1-15 and 24 bis
Friday, 3 September
• Public meeting
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
3-6 p.m.
Report of the Coordinator on facilitators’ work
Conclusion of the fourth session and adoption of report