UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations A/RES/56/168
General Assembly Distr.: General
26 February 2002
Fifty-sixth session
Agenda item 119 (b)
01 48876
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/56/583/Add.2)]
56/168. Comprehensive and integral international convention to
promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with
disabilities
The General Assembly,
Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations
and the obligations contained in the relevant human rights instruments,
Reaffirming also that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights1 proclaims
that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and that
everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction
of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion,
national or social origin, property, birth or other status,
Recalling its resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted the
World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,2 its resolution 48/96 of
20 December 1993, by which it adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and its resolution 54/121 of
17 December 1999,
Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/10 of 27 July
2000 on further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons
with disabilities, as well as other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the
Economic and Social Council and the functional commissions of the Council,
Reaffirming the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and
summits and their respective follow-up reviews, in particular as they pertain to the
promotion of the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities on an equal and
participatory basis,
Noting with satisfaction that the Standard Rules play an important role in
influencing the promotion, formulation and evaluation of policies, plans,
programmes and actions at the national, regional and international levels to further
the equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities,
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1 Resolution 217 A (III).
2 A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV).

A/RES/56/168
Recognizing that, despite different efforts made to increase cooperation and
integration and increasing awareness of and sensitivity to disability issues since the
adoption of the World Programme of Action by Governments, bodies and relevant
organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations,
these efforts have not been sufficient to promote full and effective participation by
and opportunities for persons with disabilities in economic, social, cultural and
political life,
Encouraged by the increasing interest of the international community in the
promotion and protection of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in the
world under a comprehensive and integral approach,
Deeply concerned about the disadvantaged and vulnerable situation faced by
600 million persons with disabilities around the world, and conscious of the need to
advance in the elaboration of an international instrument,
Looking forward to the final reports of the Special Rapporteur on disability of
the Commission for Social Development to be presented to that Commission, and
also the outcome of the study currently being undertaken pursuant to Commission
on Human Rights resolution 2000/51 of 25 April 20003 on the adequacy of
instruments in respect of the protection and monitoring of the human rights of
persons with disabilities,
Taking into account the recommendation of the World Conference against
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in
Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, to the General
Assembly to consider elaborating a comprehensive and integral international
convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,
including special provisions that address the discriminatory practices and treatment
that affect them,4
1. Decides to establish an Ad Hoc Committee, open to the participation of
all Member States and observers of 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 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. Also decides that, prior to the fifty-seventh session of the General
Assembly the Ad Hoc Committee shall hold at least one meeting of a duration of ten
working days;
3. Invites States, relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations
system, including relevant human rights treaty bodies, the regional commissions, the
Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development, as well
as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations with an interest in the
matter to make contributions to the work entrusted to the Ad Hoc Committee, based
on the practice of the United Nations;
4. Requests the Secretary-General, with the support of the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Division for Social
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3 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum
(E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A.
4 See A/CONF.189/12, chap. I, para. 180.

A/RES/56/168
Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the
Secretariat, to submit to the Ad Hoc Committee prior to its first session a
compilation of existing international legal instruments, documents and programmes
which directly or indirectly address the situation of persons with disabilities,
including, inter alia, those of conferences, summits, meetings or international or
regional seminars convened by the United Nations and intergovernmental and nongovernmental
organizations;
5. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide the Ad Hoc Committee
with the outcome of the study undertaken pursuant to Commission on Human Rights
resolution 2000/51 and the final reports that will be presented by the Special
Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development to that
Commission;
6. Calls upon States, in cooperation with regional commissions, the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Division for Social Policy and
Development and the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social
Development, to hold regional meetings or seminars to contribute to the work of the
Ad Hoc Committee by making recommendations regarding the content and practical
measures that should be considered in the international convention;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with
the facilities necessary for the performance of its work;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report to
the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the progress made by the
Ad Hoc Committee.
88th plenary meeting
19 December 2001