UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations
A/AC.265/2006/2

General Assembly

Distr.: General
13 February 2006
Original: English

Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and
Integral International Convention on the
Protection and Promotion of the Rights and
Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
Seventh session
New York, 16 January-3 February 2006
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 2005, 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 MacKay, Ambassador of New Zealand.
B. Officers
6. The following officers continued to serve on the Bureau of the Committee:
Chairman:
Don MacKay (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.
13. At its 30th meeting, on 3 February, the Secretary of the Committee read out a
statement on behalf of the Secretary-General on the financial implications of the
draft resolution contained in paragraph 14 of the current report. The representative
of the United States of America expressed the reservations of his delegation on the
possible financial implications of the draft resolution.

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14. 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
15. At its 30th meeting, on 3 February, the Committee adopted the draft report on
its seventh session (A/AC.265/2006/L.3), with the title of annex II orally amended
to read as follows: “International Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities: working text”.

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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 for 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
International Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities
Working text
The States Parties to the present Convention,
(a) Recalling the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations
which recognize the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all
members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the
world,
(b) Recognizing that the United Nations, in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and in the International Covenants on Human Rights, has proclaimed
and agreed that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein,
without distinction of any kind,
(c) 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,
(d) Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International
Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of
Their Families,
(e) Recognizing the importance of the principles and policy guidelines
contained in the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and in
the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities in influencing the promotion, formulation and evaluation of the policies,
plans, programmes and actions at the national, regional and international levels to
further equalize opportunities for persons with disabilities,
(f) Recognizing also that discrimination against any person on the basis of
disability is a violation of the inherent dignity of the human person,
(g) Recognizing further the diversity of persons with disabilities,
(h) Recognizing the need to promote and protect the human rights of all
people with disabilities, including those who require more intensive support,
(i) Concerned that, despite these various instruments and undertakings,
persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in their participation as equal
members of society and violations of their human rights in all parts of the world,
(j) Recognizing the importance of international cooperation for improving
the living conditions of persons with disabilities in every country, in particular in
developing countries,

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(k) Emphasizing the importance of recognizing the valued existing and
potential contributions made by persons with disabilities to the overall well-being
and diversity of their communities, and that the promotion of the full enjoyment by
persons with disabilities of their human rights and fundamental freedoms and of the
full participation by persons with disabilities will result in their enhanced sense of
belonging and in significant advances in the human, social and economic
development of society and the eradication of poverty,
(l) Recognizing the importance for persons with disabilities of their
individual autonomy and independence, including the freedom to make their own
choices,
(m) Considering that persons with disabilities should have the opportunity to
be actively involved in decision-making processes about policies and programmes,
including those directly concerning them,
(n) Concerned about the difficult conditions faced by persons with
disabilities who are subject to multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination on the
basis of race, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national,
ethnic or social origin, property, birth, age or other status,
(o) Recognizing that women and girls with disabilities are often at greater
risk, both within and outside the home, of violence, injury or abuse, neglect or
negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including their gender-based
manifestations,
(p) Recognizing also that children with disabilities should have full
enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with
other children, and recalling the obligations to that end undertaken by States Parties
to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
(q) Emphasizing the need to incorporate a gender perspective in all efforts to
promote the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons
with disabilities,
(r) Highlighting the fact that the majority of persons with disabilities live in
conditions of poverty, and recognizing in this regard the critical need to address the
negative impact of poverty on persons with disabilities,
(s) Concerned that situations of armed conflict and the occurrence of natural
disasters have considerably increased the experience of disability in war-stricken
and disaster-prone countries, as well as having especially devastating consequences
for the human rights of persons with disabilities,
(t) Recognizing the importance of accessibility to the physical, social,
economic and cultural environment, health and education and information and
communication, in enabling persons with disabilities to fully enjoy all human rights
and fundamental freedoms,
(u) Realizing that the individual, having duties to other individuals and to the
community to which he or she belongs, is under a responsibility to strive for the
promotion and observance of the rights recognized in the International Bill of
Human Rights,

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(v) Convinced that a comprehensive and integral international convention to
promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities will make a
significant contribution to redressing the profound social disadvantage of persons
with disabilities and promote their participation in the civil, political, economic,
social and cultural spheres with equal opportunities, in both developing and
developed countries,
[Convinced that the family, as the fundamental group of society, should
receive support, information, and services to enable it to contribute towards the full
and equal enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities,]
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
Purpose
The purpose of the present Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the
full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons
with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.
Article 2
Definitions
For the purposes of the present Convention:
“Communication” includes spoken and signed languages, the display of text,
and Braille, and tactile communication, large print, written, audio, accessible
multimedia, plain language, human reader and augmentative and alternative modes,
means and formats of communication, including accessible information and
communication technology;
“Disability”/“Persons with disabilities” …
“Discrimination on the basis of disability” means any distinction, exclusion or
restriction on the basis of disability which has the purpose or effect of impairing or
nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal basis with others, of
all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social,
cultural, civil or any other field. It includes all forms of discrimination, including
denial of reasonable accommodation [and direct and indirect discrimination];
“Language” includes spoken and signed languages and other forms of nonspoken
languages;
[“National laws of general application” means laws that apply to society as a
whole and which do not differentiate in respect of persons with disabilities.
“National laws and procedures of general application” and “national laws, customs
and traditions of general application” shall have the same meaning, mutatis
mutandis;]
“Reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate modification
and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate burden, where needed in a
particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on
an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms;

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“Universal design” and “inclusive design” mean the design of products,
environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest
extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. “Universal
design” and “inclusive design” shall not exclude assistive devices for particular
groups of persons with disabilities where this is needed.
Article 3
General principles
The principles of the present Convention shall be:
(a) Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy, including the freedom
to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons;
(b) Non-discrimination;
(c) Full and effective participation and inclusion in society;
(d) Respect for difference and acceptance of disability as part of human
diversity and humanity;
(e) Equality of opportunity;
(f) Accessibility;
(g) Equality between men and women;
(h) Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and
respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.
Article 4
General obligations
1. States Parties undertake to ensure and promote the full realization of all human
rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities without
discrimination of any kind on the basis of disability. To this end, States Parties
undertake:
(a) To adopt all appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures
for the implementation of the rights recognized in the present Convention;
(b) To take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or
abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices that constitute
discrimination against people with disabilities;
(c) To take into account the protection and promotion of the human rights of
persons with disabilities in all policies and programmes;
(d) To refrain from engaging in any act or practice that is inconsistent with
the present Convention and to ensure that public authorities and institutions act in
conformity with the present Convention;
(e) To take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination on the basis
of disability by any person, organization or private enterprise;
(f) To undertake or promote the research, development, availability and use
of:

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(i) Universally designed goods, services, equipment and facilities, to
meet the specific needs of persons with disabilities, which should require
the minimum possible adaptation and the least cost to meet the specific
needs of a person with disabilities, and to promote universal design in the
development of standards and guidelines;
(ii) New technologies, including information and communication
technologies, mobility aids, devices, assistive technologies, suitable for
persons with disabilities, giving priority to technologies at an affordable
cost;
(g) To provide accessible information to persons with disabilities about
mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, including new technologies, as
well as other forms of assistance, support services and facilities;
(h) To promote the training of professionals and staff working with persons
with disabilities in the rights recognized in the present Convention so as to better
provide the assistance and services guaranteed by those rights.
2. With regard to economic, social and cultural rights, each State Party
undertakes to take measures to the maximum of its available resources and, where
needed, within the framework of international cooperation, with a view to achieving
progressively the full realization of these rights, without prejudice to the
immediately applicable obligations emanating from international human rights law.
3. In the development and implementation of legislation and policies to
implement the present Convention, and in other decision-making processes
concerning issues relating to persons with disabilities, States Parties shall closely
consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities, including children with
disabilities, through their representative organizations.
4. Nothing in the present Convention shall affect any provisions which are more
conducive to the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities and which may
be contained in the law of a State Party or international law in force for that State.
There shall be no restriction upon or derogation from any of the fundamental human
rights recognized or existing in any State Party to the present Convention pursuant
to law, conventions, regulation or custom on the pretext that the present Convention
does not recognize such rights or that it recognizes them to a lesser extent.
5. The provisions of the present Convention shall extend to all parts of federal
States without any limitations or exceptions.
Article 5
Equality and non-discrimination
1. States Parties recognize that all persons are equal before and under the law and
are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection and equal benefit of
the law.
2. States Parties shall prohibit all discrimination on the basis of disability and
guarantee to persons with disabilities equal and effective legal protection against
discrimination on all grounds.
3. In order to promote equality and eliminate discrimination States Parties shall
take all appropriate steps to ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided.

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4. Specific measures which are necessary to accelerate or achieve de facto
equality of persons with disabilities shall not be considered discrimination under the
terms of the present Convention.
Article 6
Women with disabilities
1. States Parties recognize that women and girls with disabilities are subject to
multiple discrimination and that focused, empowerment and gender-sensitive
measures are necessary to ensure the full and equal enjoyment by women and girls
with disabilities of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the full
development and advancement of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the
exercise and enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms set out in the
present Convention.
Article 7
Children with disabilities
1. States Parties shall take all necessary measures to ensure the full enjoyment by
children with disabilities of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and ensure
the equal rights of children with disabilities to the enjoyment of all rights set out in
the present Convention.
2. In all actions concerning children with disabilities the best interest of the child
shall be a primary consideration.
3. State Parties shall ensure that children with disabilities have the right to
express their views freely on all matters affecting them on an equal basis with other
children, and to be provided with disability and age-appropriate assistance to realize
that right.
Article 8
Awareness-raising
1. States Parties undertake to adopt immediate, effective and appropriate
measures:
(a) To raise awareness throughout society regarding persons with disabilities
and to foster respect for their rights and dignity;
(b) To combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to
persons with disabilities, including those based on gender and age, in all areas of
life;
(c) To promote awareness of the capabilities and contributions of persons
with disabilities.
2. Measures to this end include:
(a) Initiating and maintaining effective public awareness campaigns
designed:

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(i) To nurture receptiveness to the rights of persons with disabilities;
(ii) To promote positive perceptions and greater social awareness
towards persons with disabilities;
(iii) To promote recognition of the skills, merits, abilities and
contributions of persons with disabilities to the workplace and the labour
market;
(b) Fostering at all levels of the education system, including in all children
from an early age, an attitude of respect for the rights of persons with disabilities;
(c) Encouraging all organs of the media to portray persons with disabilities
in a manner consistent with the purpose of the present Convention;
(d) Promoting awareness training programmes regarding people with
disabilities and their rights.
Article 9
Accessibility
1. To enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully
in all aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to
persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical
environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including
information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities
and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas. These
measures, which shall include the identification and elimination of obstacles and
barriers to accessibility, shall apply to, inter alia:
(a) Buildings, roads, transportation and other indoor and outdoor facilities,
including schools, housing, medical facilities and workplaces;
(b) Information, communications and other services, including electronic
services and emergency services.
2. States Parties shall also take appropriate measures:
(a) To develop, promulgate and monitor the implementation of minimum
standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and services open or
provided to the public;
(b) To ensure that private entities that offer facilities and services which are
open or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for
persons with disabilities;
(c) To provide training for stakeholders on accessibility issues facing
persons with disabilities;
(d) To provide in buildings and other facilities open to the public signage in
Braille and in easy to read and understand forms;
(e) To provide forms of live assistance and intermediaries, including guides,
readers and professional sign language interpreters, to facilitate accessibility to
buildings and other facilities open to the public;
(f) To promote other appropriate forms of assistance and support to persons
with disabilities to ensure their access to information;

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(g) To promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and
communication technologies and systems, including the Internet;
(h) To promote the design, development, production and distribution of
accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early
stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost.
Article 10
Right to life
States Parties reaffirm that every human being has the inherent right to life and
shall take all necessary measures to ensure its effective enjoyment by persons with
disabilities on an equal basis with others.
Article 11
Situations of risk
States Parties recognize that in situations of risk to the general population
[, including situations of …,] persons with disabilities are a group in especially
vulnerable circumstances and shall take all feasible measures for their protection.
Article 12
Equal recognition before the law
1. States Parties reaffirm that persons with disabilities have the right to
recognition everywhere as persons before the law.
[2. States Parties shall recognize that persons with disabilities have [legal
capacity]1 on an equal basis with others in all fields and shall ensure that where
support is required to exercise that capacity:
(a) The assistance provided is proportional to the degree of support required
and tailored to the person’s circumstances, that such support does not undermine the
legal rights of the person, respects the will and preferences of the person and is free
from conflict of interest and undue influence. Such support shall be subject to
regular and independent review;
(b) Where States Parties provide for a procedure, which shall be established
by law, for the appointment of personal representation as a matter of last resort, such
a law shall provide appropriate safeguards, including regular review of the
appointment of and decisions made by the personal representative by a competent,
impartial and independent tribunal. The appointment and conduct of the personal
representative shall be guided by principles consistent with the present Convention
and international human rights law.]
or: alternative:
[2. States Parties shall recognize that persons with disabilities enjoy legal
capacity1 on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life.
2 bis. States Parties shall take appropriate legislative and other measures to provide
access by persons with disabilities to the support they may require in exercising
their legal capacity.
__________________
1 See A/AC.265/2005/2, annex II, para. 20.

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2 ter. States Parties shall ensure that all legislative or other measures that relate to
the exercise of legal capacity provide for appropriate and effective safeguards to
prevent abuse in accordance with international human rights law. Such safeguards
shall ensure that measures relating to the exercise of legal capacity respect the
rights, will and preferences of the person, are free of conflict of interest and undue
influence, are proportional and tailored to the person’s circumstances, apply for the
shortest time possible and are subject to periodic impartial and independent judicial
review. The safeguards shall be proportional to the degree to which such measures
affect the persons’ rights and interests.]
3. States Parties shall take all appropriate and effective measures to ensure the
equal right of persons with disabilities to own or inherit property, to control their
own financial affairs and to have equal access to bank loans, mortgages and other
forms of financial credit, and shall ensure that persons with disabilities are not
arbitrarily deprived of their property.
Article 13
Access to justice
1. States Parties shall ensure effective access to justice for persons with
disabilities on an equal basis with others, including through the provision of
procedural and age appropriate accommodations, in order to facilitate their effective
role as direct and indirect participants, including as witnesses, in all legal
proceedings, including at investigative and other preliminary stages.
2. In order to help ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities,
States Parties shall promote appropriate training for those working in the field of
administration of justice, including police and prison staff.
Article 14
Liberty and security of the person
1. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with
others:
(a) Enjoy the right to liberty and security of the person;
(b) Are not deprived of their liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily, and that any
deprivation of liberty is in conformity with the law, and in no case shall the
existence of a disability justify a deprivation of liberty.
2. States Parties shall ensure that if persons with disabilities are deprived of their
liberty through any process, they are, on an equal basis with others, entitled to
guarantees in accordance with international human rights law and shall be treated in
compliance with the objectives and principles of the present Convention, including
by provision of reasonable accommodation.
Article 15
Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
1. No person with disabilities shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, States Parties shall prohibit, and
protect persons with disabilities from, medical or scientific experimentation without
the free and informed consent of the person concerned.

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2. States Parties shall take all effective legislative, administrative, judicial or
other measures to prevent persons with disabilities from being subjected to torture
or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 16
Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse
1. States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social,
educational and other measures to protect persons with disabilities, both within and
outside the home, from all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, including their
gender-based aspects.
2. States Parties shall also take all appropriate measures to prevent all forms of
exploitation, violence and abuse by ensuring, inter alia, appropriate forms of genderand
age-sensitive assistance and support for persons with disabilities and their
families and caregivers, including through the provision of information and
education on how to avoid, recognize and report instances of exploitation, violence
and abuse. States Parties shall ensure that protection services are age, gender and
disability sensitive.
3. In order to prevent the occurrence of all forms of exploitation, violence and
abuse, States Parties shall ensure that all facilities and programmes designed to
serve persons with disabilities are effectively monitored by independent authorities.
4. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote the physical,
cognitive and psychological recovery, rehabilitation and social reintegration of
persons with disabilities who become victims of any form of exploitation, violence
or abuse, including through the provision of protection services. Such recovery and
reintegration shall take place in an environment that fosters the health, welfare, selfrespect,
dignity and autonomy of the person and takes into account gender- and agespecific
needs.
5. States Parties shall put in place effective legislation and policies, including
gender- and children-specific legislation and policies, to ensure that instances of
exploitation, violence and abuse against persons with disabilities are identified,
investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted.
Article 17
Protecting the integrity of the person
1. States Parties shall protect the integrity of the person or persons with
disabilities on an equal basis with others.
2. States Parties shall protect persons with disabilities from forced interventions
or forced institutionalization aimed at correcting, improving or alleviating any
actual or perceived impairment.
3. In cases of medical emergency or issues of risk to public health involving
involuntary interventions, persons with disabilities shall be treated on an equal basis
with others.
[4. States Parties shall ensure that involuntary treatment of persons with
disabilities is:
(a) Minimized through the active promotion of alternatives;

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(b) Undertaken only in exceptional circumstances, in accordance with
procedures established by law and with the application of appropriate legal
safeguards;
(c) Undertaken in the least restrictive setting possible, and that the best
interests of the person concerned are fully taken into account;
(d) Appropriate for the person and provided without financial cost to the
individual receiving the treatment or to his or her family.]
Article 18
Liberty of movement and nationality
1. States Parties shall recognize the rights of persons with disabilities to liberty of
movement, to freedom to choose their residence and to a nationality, on an equal
basis with others, including by ensuring that persons with disabilities:
(a) Have the right to acquire and change a nationality and are not deprived of
their nationality arbitrarily or on the basis of disability;
(b) Are not deprived, on the basis of disability, of their ability to obtain,
possess and utilize documentation of their nationality or other documentation of
identification, or to utilize relevant processes such as immigration proceedings, that
may be needed to facilitate exercise of the right to liberty of movement;
(c) Are free to leave any country, including their own;
(d) Are not deprived, arbitrarily or on the basis of disability, of the right to
enter their own country.
2. Children with disabilities shall be registered immediately after birth and shall
have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as
possible, the right to know and be cared for by their parents.
Article 19
Living independently and being included in the community
States Parties to the present Convention recognize the equal right of all
persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to others, and
shall take effective and appropriate measures to facilitate full enjoyment by persons
with disabilities of this right and their full inclusion and participation in the
community, including by ensuring that:
(a) Persons with disabilities have the opportunity to choose their place of
residence and where and with whom they live on an equal basis with others and are
not obliged to live in a particular living arrangement;
(b) Persons with disabilities have access to a range of in-home, residential
and other community support services, including personal assistance necessary to
support living and inclusion in the community, and to prevent isolation or
segregation from the community;
(c) Community services and facilities for the general population are
available on an equal basis to persons with disabilities and are responsive to their
needs.

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Article 20
Personal mobility
States Parties shall take effective measures to ensure personal mobility with
the greatest possible independence for persons with disabilities, including by:
(a) Facilitating the personal mobility of persons with disabilities in the
manner and at the time of their choice, and at affordable cost;
(b) Facilitating access by persons with disabilities to quality mobility aids,
devices, assistive technologies and forms of live assistance and intermediaries,
including by making them available at affordable cost;
(c) Providing training in mobility skills to persons with disabilities and to
specialist staff working with persons with disabilities;
(d) Encouraging entities that produce mobility aids, devices and assistive
technologies to take into account all aspects of mobility for persons with
disabilities.
Article 21
Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with
disabilities can exercise their right to freedom of expression and opinion, including
the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis
with others and through sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative
communication and all other accessible means, modes and formats of
communication of their choice,2 including by:
(a) Providing information intended for the general public to persons with
disabilities in accessible formats and technologies appropriate to different kinds of
disabilities in a timely manner and without additional cost;
(b) Accepting and facilitating the use of sign languages, Braille,
augmentative and alternative communication and all other accessible means, modes
and formats of communication of their choice by persons with disabilities in official
interactions;
(c) Urging private entities that provide services to the general public,
including through the Internet, to provide information and services in accessible and
usable formats for persons with disabilities;
(d) Encouraging the mass media, including providers of information through
the Internet, to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities;
(e) Recognizing and promoting the use of sign language.
Article 22
Respect for privacy
1. No person with disabilities, regardless of place of residence or living
arrangements, shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her
__________________
2 The Ad Hoc Committee may wish to revisit this list after it has discussed the definitions article.
If delegations are happy with the definition of communication in that article, the Committee may
wish to use that term here, rather than specifying the full list.

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privacy, family, home or correspondence or other types of communication or to
unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation. Persons with disabilities have
the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
2. States Parties shall protect the privacy of personal, health and rehabilitation
information of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.
Article 23
Respect for home and the family
1. States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against persons with disabilities in all matters relating to marriage,
family and personal relations, and shall ensure that national laws, customs and
traditions relating to marriage, family and personal relationships do not discriminate
on the basis of disability so that:3
(a) Persons with disabilities have the equal opportunity to [experience their
sexuality,] have sexual and other intimate relationships and experience parenthood;
(b) The right of all persons with disabilities who are of marriageable age to
marry and to found a family on the basis of free and full consent of the intending
spouses is recognized;
(c) The rights of persons with disabilities to decide freely and responsibly on
the number and spacing of their children and to have access to age-appropriate
information, reproductive and family planning education, the means necessary to
enable them to exercise these rights and the equal opportunity to retain their
fertility.
2. States Parties shall ensure the rights and responsibilities of persons with
disabilities with regard to guardianship, wardship, trusteeship and adoption of
children, or similar institutions where these concepts exist in national legislation; in
all cases the interests of the children shall be paramount. States Parties shall render
appropriate assistance to persons with disabilities in the performance of their childrearing
responsibilities.
3. States Parties shall ensure that children with disabilities have equal rights with
respect to family life. With a view to realizing these rights, and to prevent
concealment, abandonment, neglect and segregation of children with disabilities,
States Parties shall undertake to provide early and comprehensive information,
services and support to children with disabilities and their families.
4. States Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her
parents against their will, except when competent authorities subject to judicial
review determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such
separation is necessary for the best interests of the child. In no case shall a child be
separated from parents on the basis of a disability of either the child or one or both
of the parents.
__________________
3 The Ad Hoc Committee notes that this article is not intended to affect the ability of States
Parties to determine their own policies and legislation on marriage, the family and personal
relationships. Rather, the effect of this article is to oblige States Parties to ensure that where
freedoms or restrictions on those issues exist, they are applied without discrimination on the
basis of disability.

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5. States Parties shall undertake that where the immediate family is unable to
care for a child with disabilities, to take every effort to provide alternative care
within the wider family, and failing that, within the community in a family setting.
Article 24
Education
1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education.
With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal
opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels,
and lifelong learning, directed to:
(a) The full development of the human potential and sense of dignity and
self worth, and the strengthening of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms
and human diversity;
(b) The development by persons with disabilities of their personality, talents
and creativity, as well as their mental and physical abilities, to their fullest potential;
(c) Enabling persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a free
society.
2. In realizing this right, States Parties shall ensure:
(a) That persons with disabilities are not excluded from the general
education system on the basis of disability, and that children with disabilities are not
excluded from free and compulsory primary and secondary education on the basis of
disability;
(b) That persons with disabilities can access inclusive, quality, free primary
and secondary education on an equal basis with others in the communities in which
they live;
(c) Reasonable accommodation of the individual’s requirements;
(d) That persons with disabilities receive the support required, within the
general education system, to facilitate their effective education. [In order to meet
adequately] [In those circumstances where the general education system cannot
adequately meet] the individual support needs of persons with disabilities, States
Parties shall ensure that effective individualized support measures are provided in
environments which maximize academic and social development, consistent with
the goal of full inclusion.
3. States Parties shall enable persons with disabilities to learn life and social
development skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as
members of the community. To this end, States Parties shall take appropriate
measures, including:
(a) Facilitating the learning of Braille, alternative script, augmentative and
alternative modes, means and formats of communication, orientation and mobility
skills, and facilitating peer support and mentoring;
(b) Facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the
linguistic identity of the deaf community;
(c) Ensuring that the education of persons, and in particular children, who
are blind, deaf and deaf-blind, is delivered in the most appropriate languages and

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modes and means of communication for the individual, and in environments which
maximize academic and social development.
4. In order to help ensure the realization of this right, States Parties shall take
appropriate measures to employ teachers, including those with disabilities, who are
fluent in sign language and Braille, and to train professionals and staff who work at
all levels of education. Such training shall incorporate disability awareness and the
use of appropriate augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of
communication, educational techniques and materials to support persons with
disabilities.
5. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access
general tertiary education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning
without discrimination and on an equal basis with others. To this end, States Parties
shall ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons with disabilities.
Article 25
Health
States Parties recognize that persons with disabilities have the right to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the
basis of disability. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure access
for persons with disabilities to health services that are gender sensitive, including
health-related rehabilitation. In particular, States Parties shall:
(a) Provide persons with disabilities with the same range, quality and
standard of free or affordable health services as provided other persons, [including
sexual and reproductive health services]4 and population-based public health
programmes;
(b) Provide those health services needed by persons with disabilities
specifically because of their disabilities, including early identification and
intervention as appropriate, and services designed to minimize and prevent further
disabilities, including among children and the elderly;
(c) Provide these health services as close as possible to people’s own
communities, including in rural areas;
(d) Require health professionals to provide care of the same quality to
persons with disabilities as to others, including on the basis of free and informed
consent by, inter alia, raising awareness of the human rights, dignity, autonomy and
needs of persons with disabilities through training and the promulgation of ethical
standards for public and private health care;
__________________
4 The Ad Hoc Committee notes that the use of the phrase “sexual and reproductive health
services” would not constitute recognition of any new international law obligations or human
rights. The Ad Hoc Committee understands draft paragraph (a) to be a non-discrimination
provision that does not add to, or alter, the right to health as contained in article 12 of the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights or article 24 of the Convention
on the Rights of the Child. Rather, the effect of paragraph (a) would be to require States Parties
to ensure that where health services are provided, they are provided without discrimination on
the basis of disability.

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(e) Prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in the provision
of health insurance, and life insurance where such insurance is permitted by national
law, which shall be provided in a fair and reasonable manner.
Article 26
Habilitation and rehabilitation
1. States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures, including through
peer support, to enable persons with disabilities to attain and maintain their
maximum independence, full physical, mental, social and vocational ability, and full
inclusion and participation in all aspects of life. To that end, States Parties shall
organize, strengthen and extend comprehensive habilitation and rehabilitation
services, particularly in the areas of health, employment, education and social
services, in such a way that:
(a) Habilitation and rehabilitation services and programmes begin at the
earliest possible stage, and are based on the multidisciplinary assessment of
individual needs and strengths;
(b) Habilitation and rehabilitation services and programmes support
participation and inclusion in the community and all aspects of society, are
voluntary, and are available to persons with disabilities as close as possible to their
own communities, including in rural areas.
2. States Parties shall promote the development of initial and continuing training
for professionals and staff working in habilitation and rehabilitation services.5
Article 27
Work and employment
1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work, on an
equal basis with others; this includes the right to the opportunity to gain a living by
work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment that is
open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. States Parties shall
safeguard and promote the realization of the right to work, including for those who
acquire a disability during the course of employment, by taking appropriate steps,
including through legislation, inter alia:
(a) To prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to all
matters concerning employment, including conditions of recruitment, hiring and
employment, continuance of employment, career advancement, and working
conditions;
(b) To protect the rights of persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with
others, to just and favourable conditions of work, including equal opportunities and
equal remuneration for work of equal value, safe and healthy working conditions,
including protection from harassment, and the redressing of grievances;
(c) To ensure that persons with disabilities are able to exercise their labour
and trade union rights [on an equal basis with others and in accordance with national
laws of general application];
__________________
5 Members of the Ad Hoc Committee may wish to consider whether to delete paragraph 2
following the discussion of a general obligation on training in draft article 4.

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(d) To enable persons with disabilities to have effective access to general
technical and vocational guidance programmes, placement services and vocational
and continuing training;
(e) To promote employment opportunities and career advancement for
persons with disabilities in the labour market, as well as assistance in finding,
obtaining and maintaining and returning to employment;
(f) To promote opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship and
starting one’s own business;
(g) To employ persons with disabilities in the public sector;
(h) To promote the employment of persons with disabilities in the private
sector through appropriate policies and measures, which may include affirmative
action programmes, incentives and other measures;
(i) To ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons with
disabilities in the workplace;
(j) To promote the acquisition by persons with disabilities of work
experience in the open labour market;
(k) To promote vocational and professional rehabilitation, job retention and
return-to-work programmes for persons with disabilities.
2. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are not held in slavery
or in servitude, and are protected, on an equal basis with others, from forced or
compulsory labour.
Article 28
Adequate standard of living and social [protection]6
1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to an adequate
standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food,
clothing and housing and to the continuous improvement of living conditions,
including equal access to clean water, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard
and promote the realization of this right without discrimination on the basis of
disability.
2. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to social
[protection], and to the enjoyment of that right without discrimination on the basis
of disability, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the
realization of this right, including measures:
(a) To ensure access by persons with disabilities to appropriate and
affordable services, devices and other assistance for disability-related needs;
(b) To ensure access by persons with disabilities, [in particular women and
girls with disabilities and the aged with disabilities,] to social [protection]
programmes and poverty reduction programmes;
__________________
6 The Ad Hoc Committee has used the term social protection on the understanding that it has a
broad interpretation, as contained in the report of the Secretary-General to the Commission for
Social Development at its thirty-ninth session (E/CN.5/2001/2).

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(c) To ensure access by persons with disabilities and their families living in
situations of poverty to assistance from the State with disability-related expenses
(including adequate training, counselling, financial assistance and respite care);
(d) To ensure access by persons with disabilities to public housing
programmes.
[(e) To ensure equal access by persons with disabilities to retirement benefits
and programmes.]
Article 29
Participation in political and public life
States Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities their political rights
and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others, and shall
undertake:
(a) To ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully
participate in political and public life [on an equal basis with others in accordance
with national laws of general application], directly or through freely chosen
representatives, including the right and opportunity for persons with disabilities to
vote and be elected, inter alia, by:
(i) Ensuring that voting procedures, facilities and materials are appropriate,
accessible and easy to understand and use;
(ii) Protecting the right of persons with disabilities to vote by secret ballot in
elections and public referendums, without intimidation, and to stand for
elections and to effectively hold office and perform all public functions at all
levels of government, facilitating the use of assistive and new technologies
where appropriate;
(iii) Guaranteeing the free expression of the will of persons with disabilities
as electors and to this end, where necessary, at their request, allowing
assistance in voting by a person of their own choice;
(b) To promote actively an environment in which persons with disabilities
can effectively and fully participate in the conduct of public affairs, without
discrimination and on an equal basis with others, and encourage their participation
in public affairs, including:
(i) Participation in non-governmental organizations and associations
concerned with the public and political life of the country, and in the activities
and administration of political parties;
(ii) Forming and joining organizations of persons with disabilities to
represent persons with disabilities at international, national, regional and local
levels.
Article 30
Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport
1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to take part on an
equal basis with others in cultural life, and shall take all appropriate measures to
ensure that persons with disabilities:

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(a) Enjoy access to cultural materials in accessible formats;
(b) Enjoy access to television programmes, films, theatre and other cultural
activities, in accessible formats;
(c) Enjoy access to places for cultural performances or services, such as
theatres, museums, cinemas, libraries and tourism services, and, as far as possible,
enjoy access to monuments and sites of national cultural importance.
2. States Parties shall take appropriate measures to enable persons with
disabilities to have the opportunity to develop and utilize their creative, artistic and
intellectual potential, not only for their own benefit, but also for the enrichment of
society.
3. States Parties shall take all appropriate steps, in accordance with international
law, to ensure that laws protecting intellectual property rights do not constitute an
unreasonable or discriminatory barrier to access by persons with disabilities to
cultural materials.
4. Persons with disabilities shall be entitled, on an equal basis with others, to
recognition and support of their specific cultural and linguistic identity, including
sign languages and deaf culture.
5. With a view to enabling persons with disabilities to participate on an equal
basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, States Parties shall
take appropriate measures:
(a) To encourage and promote the participation, to the fullest extent possible,
of persons with disabilities in mainstream sporting activities at all levels;
(b) To ensure that persons with disabilities have an opportunity to organize,
develop and participate in disability-specific sporting and recreational activities, and
to this end, encourage the provision, on an equal basis with others, of appropriate
instruction, training and resources;
(c) To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to sporting and
recreational and tourism venues;
(d) To ensure that children with disabilities have equal access to
participation in play, recreation, and leisure and sporting activities, including those
activities in the school system;
(e) To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to services from
those involved in the organization of recreational, tourism, leisure and sporting
activities.
Article 31
Statistics and data collection
1. States Parties undertake to collect appropriate information, including statistical
and research data, to enable them to formulate and implement policies to give effect
to the present Convention. The process of collecting and maintaining this
information shall:
(a) Comply with legally established safeguards, including legislation on data
protection, to ensure confidentiality and respect for the privacy of persons with
disabilities;

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(b) Comply with internationally accepted norms to protect human rights and
fundamental freedoms and ethical principles of statistics.
2. The information collected in accordance with this article shall be
disaggregated as appropriate and used to help assess the implementation of States
Parties’ obligations under the present Convention, and to identify and address the
barriers faced by persons with disabilities in exercising their rights.
3. States Parties shall assume the responsibility for the dissemination of these
statistics and ensure their accessibility to people with disabilities and others.
[Article 32
International cooperation]
1. States Parties recognize the importance of international cooperation and its
promotion, in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and
objectives of the present Convention, and will undertake appropriate and effective
measures in this regard, between and among States and, as appropriate, in
partnership with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society,
in particular organizations of persons with disabilities. Such measures could include,
inter alia:
(a) Ensuring that international cooperation, including international
development programmes, are inclusive of, and accessible to, persons with
disabilities;
(b) Facilitating and supporting capacity-building, including through the
exchange and sharing of information, experiences, training programmes and best
practices;
(c) Facilitating cooperation in research and access to scientific and technical
knowledge;
(d) Providing, as appropriate, technical and economic assistance, including
by facilitating access to and the sharing of accessible and assistive technologies, and
through the transfer of technologies.
[2. States Parties recognize further that while international cooperation plays a
supplementary and supportive role, each State Party undertakes to fulfil its
obligations under the present Convention.]
[2. Each State Party undertakes to fulfil its obligations under the present
Convention, irrespective of international cooperation.]
Article 33
National implementation and monitoring
1. States Parties shall designate one or more focal points within government for
matters relating to the implementation of the present Convention, and shall give due
consideration to the establishment or designation of a coordination mechanism to
facilitate related action in different sectors and at different levels.
2. States Parties shall, in accordance with their legal and administrative systems,
maintain, strengthen, designate or establish at the national level an independent
mechanism to promote, protect and monitor implementation of the present
Convention, taking into account, where necessary, gender- and age-specific issues.

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When designating or establishing such a mechanism, States Parties shall take into
account the principles relating to the status and functioning of national institutions
for protection and promotion of human rights.
3. Civil society, in particular persons with disabilities and their representative
organizations, shall be involved and participate fully in the monitoring process.

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