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ADHOC COMMITTEE ON
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| Documents and contributions |
| NGO Participation |
Ad Hoc Committee :
Contributions :
NGOsThe Arab
Region Document
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The participants from the Arab countries in the workshop (The rights of the Disabled in the Arab World) confirm the principles of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights and the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (United Nation, 1993). We also refer to the appointment of the UN special rapporteur for the disabled in 1994, and the General Assembly of Rehabilitation International asking member countries to support UN convention on the rights of disabled persons in September 1999. Emphasizing on the recommendation of the world Summit of Non Governmental Organizations in Beijing, which calls for setting an International convention for the right of the Disabled.
Taking into account, the approval of the UN General Assembly on the resolution (56/168), which demands the establishment of AD-HOC committee to study the proposed suggestion on establishing an International Convention for the right of the disabled. Thanking the Mexican government on its initiative to host the meeting of the international experts to discuss the convention in June 2002. And also welcomes the recommendation of the first Ad-hoc committee to the UN General Assembly (A/57/357).
The participants realize that nearly 10% of the population in the Arab World (which is estimated to be 25 million) are disabled person or suffer from some kind of disability, therefore we are: -
FIRST: - Asking for a comprehensive and integrated International Convention on the right of disabled persons.
SECOND: - Asking for the participation of governments and NGO's from the Arab region in the second ad-hoc committee which will be held in New York 16-27, June, 2003.
THIRD: - Asking the Arab governments to encourage the participation of the disabled and the experts working with NGOs to be part of this meeting.
FOURTH: - The following subject should be taken into account in the suggested convention:
1) Setting up legislations and special policies aiming at guaranteeing the right of the disabled and equal opportunities, and activating the current legislation and it's applications in order to provide the best services for the disabled.
2) Eliminating all kinds of discrimination against the disabled by counting on the principle of equality and promoting self reliance of the disabled, their independence and their full participation in all fields of life.
3) Encouraging the governments in the Arab region to participate the disabled in contributing to national strategies and policies concerning disability.
4) Encouraging the governments to participate in creating a barrier free environment with less obstacles for the disabled by which they can live, move and have easy access to various means of communication.
5) The governments in the region should recognize the disabled need to adequate education, which improve their abilities and their development, by providing adequate and inclusive environment which contains various aids, workers and rehabilitation materials.
6) Encouraging the participating countries to improve medical, therapeutic, rehabilitation, healthcare and health services for the disabled people without any obligation by the disabled or his family.
7) Granting the disabled the right to have access to all kind and means of technical aids.
8) Recognizing the right for the disabled to choose their suitable jobs according to their disability with the right training and rehabilitation.
9) Finding ways to facilitate the disabled integration into the society's culture such as sport, arts, religion and entertainment.
10) Giving attention to the family social awareness and family guidance aiming at changing the prevailing negative concept of disability in which change the societal attitude and the use of media to make this change.
11) Ensuring that the programs of eradicating poverty should be aimed at the disabled due to the fact that they always amount the poorest of the poor.
12) Preparing and implementing special research projects in various relevant fields of disability and establishing a database for the disabled community.
We all hope that an International Convention on the right of the disabled will ensure that the disabled gets their full rights in life.
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
8-9 MARCH 2003