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Draft resolution II
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling relevant provisions of the major United Nations conferences and summits, and their respective follow-up reviews, for the promotion of the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities on an equal and participatory basis,
Encouraged by the increased interest of the international community in the promotion and protection of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities under a comprehensive and integral approach,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, by which the Assembly established an Ad Hoc Committee 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 General Assembly resolution 57/229 of 18 December 2002, in which the Assembly took note with appreciation of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on its first session3 and reaffirmed the need to promote and protect the equal and effective enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, aware of the contribution that a convention could make in that regard and thus convinced of the need to continue to consider proposals,
Recalling further Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/7 of 24 July 2002 on a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities,
Stressing the primary responsibility of Governments in the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and their full enjoyment by persons with disabilities,
Welcoming the work of national, regional and international meetings of Governments, experts and non-governmental organizations that contribute to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, including the regional initiatives taken previous to the second session of the Ad Hoc Committee in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General4 on the fourth quinquennial review and appraisal of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,5
Stressing 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,
Deeply concerned about the disadvantaged and vulnerable situation faced by six hundred million persons with disabilities around the world,
1. Acknowledges the contributions of the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development to the process established by the General Assembly in resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001 on a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to contribute to this process in accordance with Assembly resolution 57/229 of 18 December 2002;
2. Also acknowledges the contributions of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat to the process established by the General Assembly in resolution 56/168, and encourages them to continue to contribute to this process;
3. Requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to contribute to the process established by the General Assembly in resolution 56/168 by, inter alia, providing its views regarding the social development of persons with disabilities, bearing in mind the experience in the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities6 and the World Program of Action concerning Disabled Persons;5
4. 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, as well as non-governmental organizations, national disability and human rights institutions and independent experts with an interest in the matter, to make available to the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities suggestions and possible elements to be considered in proposals for a convention;
5. Encourages the relevant bodies of the United Nations to continue to promote and support the active participation of civil society, including interested non-governmental organizations, in the process established by the General Assembly in resolution 56/168, in accordance with Assembly resolutions 56/510 of 23 July 2002 and 57/229, and requests the Secretary-General to disseminate widely to the community of non-governmental organizations all available information on accreditation procedures as well as information on supportive measures and modalities for their participation in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee;
6. 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;
7. Underlines the importance of strengthening the United Nations Programme
on Disability in order to provide support to the Ad Hoc Committee, as requested
by the General Assembly in resolution 57/229.
Footnotes:
*. For the discussion, see chap. II,
paras. 43-46.
3. See A/57/357.
4. A/58/61-E/2003/5.
5. A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (iv).
6. General Assembly resolution 48/96, annex.