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Proposed changes to draft text - African Group

Article 19 on Accessibility

Inputs of the African Group on Article 19 on Accessibility as indicated during the introduction of the article in the Plenary.

New amendments in bold:

State Parties are requested to take progressive appropriate measures to identify and eliminate barriers and to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities to built environment

1. States parties to this Convention shall take progressive (appropriate-delete) measures to identify and eliminate obstacles and barriers, and to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities to the built environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies, and (to services-delete), in order to ensure the capacity of persons fully in all aspects of life. The focus of these measures shall include inter alia;

(a) The construction and renovation of (public-delete) buildings intended for use by the public, roads and other facilities for public use, including schools, housing, medical facilities, indoor and out-door facilities and (publicly owned-delete) workplaces;

(b) Promoting universal design for mobility aids, devices and assistive yechnologies and encouraging private entities which produce these to take into account all aspects of mobility for persons with disabilities;

(c) The developing and remodelling of public transportation facilities, communications and (other-delete) services, including electronic services.

2. States Parties shall also take appropriate measures to:

(a) Ensure provision in buildings and facilities for public use, audio, signage including in Braille and easy-to-read-and-understand forms;

(b) Ensure the provision of other forms of personal and assistive services abd intermediaries, including guides, readers and sign language interpreters to facilitate accessibility to buildings and facilities for public use;

(c) Develop, promulgate and monitor implementation of minimum national standards and guidelines for the accessibility of public facilities and services intended for use by the public;

(c) bis Facilitating access by persons with disabilities to mobility aids, devices, assistive technologies and forms of live assistance and intermediaries including by making them available at affordable cost;

(d) Ensure private entities that provide public facilties and services to take into account all aspects of accessibility for persons with disabilities; undertaking and promoting research, development and production of new mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies;

(e) Ensure organisations of persons with disabilities are consulted and fully involved from conception when standards and guidelines for accessibility are being developed;

(f) Provide training for all stakeholders including professionals involved in designing structures on accessibility issues for persons with disabilities.

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