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ADHOC COMMITTEE
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| Documents and contributions |
| NGO Participation |
Ad Hoc Committee :
Contributions :
Intergovernmental OrganizationsCouncil of Arab Ministers of Social AffairsBackground paper on the international convention
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With a view to keeping abreast of international developments relating to disability and in the context of the current discussions regarding the drafting of a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, the Arab countries (relevant ministries, non-governmental associations and organizations of disabled persons) held a conference in Beirut in October 2002 in which more than 300 persons participated, over 60 per cent of whom were disabled persons. The conference examined two main issues:
(a) The launching of an Arab Decade of Disabled Persons, 2004-2013;
(b) A comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and
protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Following five days of discussions during which a number of papers by experts were presented, a draft was prepared concerning an Arab Decade of Disabled Persons, including 10 main themes dealing with all issues relating to disabled persons, namely: legislation; health; education; rehabilitation and employment; facilities and transport; disabled women; disabled children; the media and social consciousness-raising; globalization, poverty and disability; recreation and sports.
The Secretary-General of the League concerned himself with the Decade and sent messages to the Ministers of Social Affairs of all the Arab States in order to obtain endorsement for it. The administration concerned obtained a number of comments, including a proposal that an additional theme on disabled elderly persons should be added. The work of redrafting is currently in progress, with a view to the presentation of the draft to the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs for approval and its submission to the next Arab Summit for adoption.
The Arab Decade of Disabled Persons will foster greater concern among the Arab States with the question of disability and contribute to the promotion of equal opportunities for disabled persons in obtaining health care and education and the establishment of programmes to provide permanent suitable employment. These goals are considered as top-ranking public-policy priorities in the area of social development. The Decade is also aimed at providing effective support for intervention and for dealing with disability-related issues, especially within the framework of the current crises stemming from Israel's continued occupation of Arab territories, with the consequent disabling of large numbers of Palestinian youths, and the ongoing sanctions against a number of Arab peoples, in particular the people of Iraq. These situations, which have given rise to various types of disability, increasing the numbers of disabled persons in the Arab world, require a redoubling of governmental and non-governmental efforts, and the question of disability must therefore be viewed as the problem of an entire society. These conditions also make it incumbent on international community and humanitarian organizations, especially organizations, federations and associations of disabled persons, to examine this issue within the framework of international covenants and practices, in particular those relating to human rights and a life of dignity.
During its examination of the question of the comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, the Arab conference stressed the need for Arab countries to take part in the discussions taking place regarding the convention and to strive, together with regional and international institutions and persons with disabilities, to expedite its adoption.
The Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs has taken a decision requesting the Arab States to grant disabled persons who are nationals of those States a discount of not less than 50 per cent on domestic transportation and on travel between Arab countries by land, sea and air.
In order to meet the needs of integration of deaf persons into society and pursuant to a decision of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, an Arabic sign-language dictionary for the deaf has been published. The dictionary, which has been adopted by all the Arab States and is used by Arab satellite television broadcasting stations, includes 1500 sign-language terms. The General Secretariat has organized numerous training sessions for sign-language interpreters working in this field. New terms will be added, covering various aspects of life, with a view to ensuring the full integration of deaf persons into the community.
An Arab conference organized by the Federation of Agencies for Special Groups was held in Egypt and was attended by representatives of most of the Arab States. The purpose of the conference was to discuss the experience of the Arab countries in the field of integration of disabled persons into the education system. The conference concluded that continued efforts should be made to eliminate all obstacles standing in the way of the integration of disabled persons into the educational system.
Within the framework of the implementation of the regional support project for non-governmental associations, the media and local administrations, numerous workshops were held in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan with the assistance of the European Union. The aim of the workshops was to provide training in defence and advocacy skills and those relating to administration, communications and information. One of the requirements of the programme, which was intended to improve the links between grass-roots associations and municipal councils, was that not less than 50 percent of those participating in the training sessions and workshops must be women. A further requirement was that 60 per cent of the sessions should be held outside the capitals.
A number of workshops on the designing of Internet sites were organized in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. Participants received training in building web sites and in conducting research on the Internet, as well as in web site writing and editing proficiency. Web site creation skills were reviewed with regard to fundamentals, output design and coordination methods.
An Arab training session on self-organization for disabled persons was held in Jordan. Delegations from a number of Arab countries participated. The session covered special training in elements and means of communication and contact, as well as in community development, administrative skills and self-development for disabled persons.
A declaration referred to as the "Manama Declaration" was issued at an Arab meeting held in Bahrain. The declaration calls on Arab States to sign the international convention on disability. It further emphasizes the need to adhere to the concept of the rights of disabled persons as an inseparable part of human rights and the notion that no discussion or decision relating to disability must take place without the participation of those primarily concerned.
Cooperation and coordination on matters relating to disability are ongoing between the relevant administration of the League of Arab States and the Arab Organization for the Disabled, as representative of disabled persons. Indeed, meetings are continually being held to discuss anything likely to enable disabled persons to obtain their rights and maintain their dignity and to facilitate their self-reliance and their involvement in development.
Administration of the Technical Secretariat
of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs