The Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities

The full text of the Draft Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted on 25 August 2006 can be viewed at:<http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc8adart.htm> at 18 February 2007.

It is estimated that there are more than half a billion people with disability in the world, with approximately 80 per cent of those people living in developing countries — <http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disun.htm> at 18 February 2007.

The United Nations commitment to the advancement of the status of persons with disability is evidenced by: The International Year of Disabled Persons (1981), the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons (1982), United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983–1992), International Day of Disabled Persons (3 December), the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (1993) and the Special Rapporteur on Disability (1994).

<http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc7chairclose.htm> at 18 February 2007.

Delegation of the Australian Government to the second session of the General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to protect and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities <http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/statements.htm> at 18 February 2007.

Canadian & Australian Government delegation second session of the General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee <http:www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/statements.htm> at 18 February 2007.

Australian Government delegation second session of the General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee <http:www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/statements.htm> at 18 February 2007.

In particular, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Principally via the Disability Services Act 1986 (Cth) and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth).

Above n 4.

Open Letter from His Excellency, Ambassador Don McKay, to the Committee, 7 October 2005.

Australian proposal, Article 1 — Purpose: ‘Disability’ results from the interaction between persons with impairments, conditions or illnesses and the environmental and attitudinal barriers they face. Such impairments, conditions or illnesses may be permanent, temporary, intermittent or imputed, and include those that are physical, sensory, psychosocial, neurological, medical or intellectual. The purpose of the present Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

Disability Discrimination Act 1992 s 11.

Canadian Human Rights Act s 15<http://www.laws.justice.gc.ca/en/h-6/243963.html> at 18 February 2007.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 <http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/ada.html> at 18 February 2007.

Rehabilitation Act 1973 (US), 29 USC 794d. <http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=14> at 18 February 2007.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) art 14.

ICCPR eg, arts 7, 9, 10 of ICCPR.

ICCPR art 12 para 3.

HRC General Comment No 8.

Siewert Senator Rachel , ‘Senate support for UN disabilities convention’ (Media Release 7 February 2007). Siewert has welcomed cross-party support for her motion for Australia to be one of the first countries to sign up to the United Nations Convention on the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. <http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au/600_media_sub.php?deptItemID=254>