| 1. The Working Group
held a discussion regarding the role of international cooperation in the
light of an international convention for persons with disabilities.
2. It was recognized that the implementation of the Convention will be
primarily a national responsibility. There was agreement that national
compliance with the provisions of the Convention should not be conditional
on receiving international development aid or assistance.
3. In that regard, several members of the Working Group expressed the
view that international cooperation should be considered as an important
means to support national efforts for the realization of the goals and
objectives of the Convention and facilitate its implementation. In that
context, a spirit of international cooperation, solidarity and partnership
among States should be reflected in the Convention.
4. Several members of the Working Group considered that international
cooperation should be analysed in a broad sense, to include elements such
as the exchange of information and best practices, scientific research,
training, awareness-raising, cooperation between organizations of persons
with disabilities, the development of technology, and capacity-building;
not interpreting international cooperation as the transfer of economic
resources, economic aid or assistance. International cooperation should
also be carried out in bilateral, regional and other multilateral forums,
including through specialized agencies and financial institutions.
5. Some members expressed particular concern about creating international
obligations with regard to international cooperation, development aid
or assistance in the context of a binding instrument, although they actively
engaged in international cooperation. Other members considered that the
issue should not be interpreted as imposing obligations beyond any other
existing model of international cooperation.
6. Some members of the Working Group recognized the challenge for the
new century to incorporate the disability dimension in the mainstream
of international cooperation activities and agreements, in order to contribute
to the elimination of discrimination against persons with disabilities.
In that regard, while recognizing that the major responsibility lay with
the recipient countries, some delegations were of the view that both donor
and recipient countries shared the responsibility for determining how
development resources were allocated. Other members did not agree with
that statement.
7. Subject to the provisions agreed for the content of the International
Convention during the negotiations that will take place, the Ad Hoc Committee
may wish to consider the issue of international cooperation, taking into
account the various views and specific texts of proposals that have been
presented as contributions to its work.
8. The Ad Hoc Committee may wish to take into account existing provisions
on international cooperation in other international documents and treaties,
such as:
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (articles
2(3), 22 and 23);
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (preamble and article 4);
- The Standard Rules (rule 22);
- General Comment No. 5 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights;
- Environmental treaties; the Convention against Corruption; and the
Ottawa Convention on prohibition of landmines, among others.
9. In terms of placement, the following options were considered:
In the preamble;
Among the General Principles;
In the General Obligations;
As a separate article;
As a separate article, along with a provision either in the General Obligations,
in the preamble or
In the General Principles.
10. Some members suggested that the issue could be included in the purposes
of the Convention; others rejected that idea.
11. Some members considered that the issue should not be dealt with or
included in the Convention. One expressed the view that the matter of
international cooperation should be considered in the General Assembly.
12. The Working Group agreed that the phrasing of any provision regarding
international cooperation should be careful and balanced in order to avoid
misunderstandings with regard to the views mentioned above, and to clarify
the scope of international cooperation in the context of this Convention.
Return to top
|
