Comments, proposals and amendments submitted electronically

National Human Rights Institutions

ASIA PACIFIC FORUM

International Cooperation

25. The inclusion of international cooperation needs to be an explicit provision worded in a broad sense as suggested by members of the Working Group (i.e. annex 2 paragraph 4). A broad understanding of international cooperation is an essential requirement for successful implementation. Possible elements include the harmonisation and development of standards and incorporating the principle of non-discrimination to the provision of aid and services. The UN and its agencies should have a central role in promoting cooperation.

The objectives of the Convention could be pursued through member States agreeing to ensure priority in trade liberalisation agendas for measures to improve access to facilities and services for people with disabilities. The promotion of stronger regional and international relationships and cooperation between national human rights institutions and with other relevant agencies should also be explored as a means to developing capacity and facilitating implementation.

Non-governmental organizations

EUROPEAN DISABILITY FORUM

International cooperation

EDF considers that international cooperation can never be used as an excuse for inaction by developing countries.

However, EDF also considers it unacceptable that development cooperation funds will continue to ignore the human rights of disabled people. In other words, disabled people must be fully included in all aspects of international co-operation and international funding agreements. They have to be considered a target group of international cooperation.

EDF supports the obligation of all States to mainstream disability in all policy areas as a General State Obligation, as stated in draft article 4.

This obligation should also include the provision of development cooperation funds (donor countries) as well as the use of development cooperation funds (recipient country). EDF therefore proposes to make a reference to this in the draft article 4 on General State Obligations. It is also proposed to include a reference to international cooperation in the preamble, like in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

JAPAN DISABILITY FORUM

<INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION >(ANNEX II)

JDF’s Comment 1
Inclusion of international cooperation in this Convention is important. Without it, meaningful discussions about the needs for international cooperation in disability field do not occur.

JDF’s Comment 2
It is necessary to take into account international cooperation provision under International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights Article 2(1) and Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 4, and as to the monitoring, Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 45.

Related Provision: International Covenant for Economic and Social Rights Article 2
1. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to take steps, individually and through international assistance and co-operation, especially economic and technical, to the maximum of its available resources, with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the rights recognized in the present Covenant by all appropriate means, including particularly the adoption of legislative measures.

Related Provision: Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 4
States Parties shall undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative, and other measures for the implementation of the rights recognized in the present Convention. With regard to economic, social and cultural rights, States Parties shall undertake such measures to the maximum extent of their available resources and, where needed, within the framework of international co-operation.

JDF’s Comment 3
As to the international cooperation, implementation by ILO of Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for The Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor (ILO Convention No. 182. Such worst forms of child labor include sexual slavery and compulsory recruitment for use in armed conflict) and (ILO Convention No. 138) shall be referred. State Parties are to take immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor as a matter of urgency (No. 182 Convention). In order to prohibit and eliminate such worst forms of child labor within “five years,” especially in developing countries, technical cooperation has been in effect financed by governments of developed countries and by bodies of employers and workers. (Accordingly, methods adopted by ILO may be referred in terms of international cooperation in eliminating discrimination against persons with disabilities in developing countries.)

JDF’s Comment 4
Current official development assistance presents a problem that the projects are separated to those for only persons with disabilities and those for general population, of which latter lacks consideration to persons with disabilities. Not only international cooperation projects solely for persons with disabilities, but also projects for general population should benefit persons with disabilities. Therefore, establishment of a guideline for disability inclusive development cooperation and is compliance by donor and recipient countries should be the principle of international cooperation