ADHOC COMMITTEE
ON AN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

We, the members of the Network of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights of the Americas, meeting in San José, Costa Rica, on 28 March 2003, for the Second General Assembly of the Network and for the Workshop on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Aware that the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948 proclaims that its contents apply to all human beings "without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language [...] or other status".

Aware that the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights dated 22 November 1969 constitutes an important international and regional instrument for a more effective implementation of those rights.

Emphasizing that the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities set out basic principles for the equality of persons with disabilities.

Recognizing that the Inter-American Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities of the Organization of American States dated 7 June 1999 emphasizes protection of the human rights of this vulnerable group.

Recognizing the moral strength of the commitments assumed in the various intergovernmental forums, as well as the urgent need to honour those commitments.

Concerned over the persistent discrimination in the region in the exercise of universal, indivisible, inalienable and interdependent human rights.

Restating that the recognition of equal rights must be accompanied by positive support actions that take into account the diversity of this group, as well as the eradication of all discriminatory policies, rules and practices.

AGREE

1. To promote the adoption, implementation, respect and application of existing national and international instruments in the area of human rights, including the Inter-American Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities.
2. To urge the governments of the respective countries to evaluate the possibility of supporting the drafting and, if applicable, the approval of an international convention on disability, as well as the participation of national institutions and non-governmental organizations in the ad hoc committee established for that purpose.
3. Recommend to the governments of the respective countries that they institutionalize the perspective of persons with disabilities and promote studies that identify legal and cultural obstacles to the full respect of human rights.
4. Promote the establishment and strengthening of specialized internal structures in the National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to ensure an interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of human rights of persons with disabilities.
5. Promote and strengthen the relationship between civil society organizations for persons with disabilities and the National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
6. Entrust to the Network of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights of the Americas the task of promoting bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as initiatives and projects in the area of human rights of persons with disabilities, with a view to making the pursuit of financing for those initiatives and projects and their implementation as effective as possible.
7. Draft a work proposal for the Network on the topic of the rights of persons with disabilities for submission to the Network Coordinating Committee for dissemination to and approval by all its members and subsequent implementation.

San José, Costa Rica, 28 March 2003.

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