UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations E/CN.5/2006/L.4
Economic and Social Council Distr.: Limited
14 February 2006
Original: English
06-24383 (E) 150206
*0624383*
Commission for Social Development
Forty-fourth session
8-17 February 2006
Agenda item 3 (b) (i)
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: World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons
Colombia,* Costa Rica,* Cuba,* Dominican Republic, El Salvador,*
Guatemala,* Israel,* Japan, Mexico,* Morocco,* Paraguay, Philippines,*
South Africa and Uruguay:* draft resolution
Comprehensive and integral international convention
to protect and promote the rights and dignity of persons
with disabilities
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 protect
and promote 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 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 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,
* In accordance with rule 69 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the
Economic and Social Council.

E/CN.5/2006/L.4
“Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2005/10 of
21 July 2005 on a comprehensive and integral international convention to
promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,
“Recalling further General Assembly resolution 60/232 of 23 December
2005,
“Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and
interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need
for their full enjoyment to be guaranteed to persons with disabilities, without
discrimination,
“Convinced of the contribution that a convention will make in this
regard, and welcoming the firm support of the international community for
such a convention and the continued engagement in its elaboration,
“Recognizing the strong commitment and the positive steps taken by
Governments to promote and protect the rights and inherent dignity of persons
with disabilities, including through collaboration and cooperation at the
regional and international levels, with the aim of strengthening national
capacities and supporting national efforts in order to improve the living
conditions of persons with disabilities in all regions,
“Welcoming the important contributions made so far to the work of the
Ad Hoc Committee by all stakeholders,
“1. Welcomes the progress achieved by the Ad Hoc Committee in the
negotiation of a draft convention at its seventh session, and invites Member
States and observers to continue to participate actively and constructively in
the Committee, with the aim of concluding a draft convention and submitting
it to the General Assembly, as a matter of priority, for adoption, at its sixtyfirst
session;
“2. Requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to
contribute to the process of negotiation of a draft international convention,
bearing in mind its area of expertise and the positive impact of a convention in
promoting an inclusive approach to social development;
“3. Welcomes the contributions of the Special Rapporteur on Disability
of the Commission to the process of elaboration of a draft convention, and
requests the Special Rapporteur to contribute further to the work of the Ad
Hoc Committee, drawing from her experience in the monitoring of the
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities;1
“4. Requests the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the
Secretariat and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights to continue to support the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, and
underlines the importance of continuing cooperation and coordination between
the two offices in order to provide substantive and technical support to the
Committee and to promote public awareness regarding its work, including in
collaboration with the Special Rapporteur;
__________________
1 General Assembly resolution 48/96, annex.

E/CN.5/2006/L.4
“5. Requests bodies, organs and entities of the United Nations system
to continue to participate, as appropriate, in the Ad Hoc Committee and to
contribute to its work;
“6. Invites non-governmental organizations, national disability and
human rights institutions and independent experts with an interest in the matter
to continue their active participation and contributions to the Ad Hoc
Committee, and encourages the relevant bodies of the United Nations to
continue to promote and support such active participation of civil society, in
accordance with General Assembly decision 56/510 of 23 July 2002 and
Assembly resolution 57/229 of 18 December 2002;
“7. Requests the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur to
report to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-fifth session on
the implementation of the present resolution.”