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Contribution by Governments

Japan

Proposed modifications to draft Article 9
EQUAL RECOGNITION AS A PERSON BEFORE THE LAW

As stated in the course of the current session, the Government of Japan wishes to see that our proposal on article 9 paragraph (g) tabled in the 3rd and 4th AHC will now find a place under article 9 bis [Access to Justice] proposed by Chile, as a separate paragraph, which reads :

"Take appropriate and effective measures to eliminate physical and communication barriers and to reduce understanding difficulty of persons with disabilities in order to exercise the rights provided in Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."

(rationale)
To facilitate the effective role of the persons with disabilities in legal proceedings as stated in Art.9 bis, on an equal basis with others, reduction or removal of physical and communication barriers as well as understanding difficulty is fundamental for all persons with disabilities regardless their type of disability.

Article 9 bis is well drafted as a general statement, but has a room to be a bit further elaborated how we should facilitate their effective role, although we should avoid over-prescriptive languages.