Abstract
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was negotiated in 4 years—in UN terms that is lightening quick. It took decades, however, to prepare the political and legal ground for the Convention. Earlier attempts to convince the General Assembly to open the gate for a convention focusing on persons with disabilities failed. According to modern human rights theory, the struggle for new rights is determined by several factors, such as an organised social movement that defines collective grievance as normative claims and convincing gate keepers in major rights organisations, governments and United Nations organisations.
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Notes
- 1.
Degener (1995), p. 12.
- 2.
Bob (2009), p. 4 et seq.
- 3.
Quinn and Degener (2002).
- 4.
UDHR, Resolution A/RES/3/217A, December 10, 1948, Art. 25.
- 5.
Scott (2011).
- 6.
Social Rehabilitation of the Physically Handicapped, Report of the Secretary General to the Social Commission, E/CN.5/197, March 22, 1950.
- 7.
Social Rehabilitation of the Physically Handicapped, Resolution E/RES/309E (XI), July 13, 1950.
- 8.
http://www.afb.org/blog/afb-blog/helen-keller-at-the-united-nations/12. Accessed March 20, 2015.
- 9.
Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons, Resolution A/RES/26/2856 (XXVI), December 20, 1971.
- 10.
Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, Resolution A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), December 9, 1975.
- 11.
- 12.
A/RES/26/2856 (XXVI), cit., Preamble.
- 13.
A/RES/26/2856 (XXVI), cit., para. 1.
- 14.
A/RES/26/2856 (XXVI), cit., para. 5.
- 15.
A/RES/26/2856 (XXVI), cit., para. 3.
- 16.
A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), cit., para. 3.
- 17.
A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), cit., para. 4.
- 18.
A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), cit., para. 3.
- 19.
A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), cit., para. 9.
- 20.
A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), cit., para. 4: ‘Paragraph 7 of the Declaration of the Mentally Retarded Persons applies to any possible limitation or suppression of those rights for mentally retarded persons.’
- 21.
A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), cit., para. 3.
- 22.
A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), cit., para. 9.
- 23.
A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), cit., para. 9.
- 24.
A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), cit., Preamble.
- 25.
A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), cit., Preamble.
- 26.
A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), cit., para. 1.
- 27.
A/RES/30/3447 (XXX), cit., para. 12.
- 28.
International Year for Disabled Persons, Resolution A/RES/31/123, December 16, 1976.
- 29.
World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons, Resolution A/RES/37/52, December 3, 1982.
- 30.
Keeping the promise: Realizing the Millennium Development Goals for persons with disabilities towards 2015 and beyond, Report of the Secretary General to the General Assembly, A/65/173, July 26, 2010.
- 31.
A/RES/37/52, cit., paras. 108–137.
- 32.
A/RES/37/52, cit., paras. 162–169.
- 33.
Implementation of the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons, Resolution A/RES/37/53, December 3, 1982, para. 11.
- 34.
Convention (No. 159) concerning vocational rehabilitation and employment (disabled persons), entered into force June 20 1985, UN Treaty Series, Volume 1401, 23439, Article 4.
- 35.
Convention (No. 159), cit., Articles 2 and 3.
- 36.
Convention (No. 159), cit., Article 5.
- 37.
Principles, Guidelines and Guarantees for the Protection of Persons Detained on Grounds of Mental–Ill Health or Suffering from Mental Disorder, Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, 1986, E/CN.4/Sub.2/1983/17/Rev.1, Annex II.
- 38.
E.g., Principle 11 (Consent to treatment) para. 12 reads: “Sterilization shall never be carried out as a treatment for mental illness.”
- 39.
- 40.
UN publications, Sales No. E.92.XIV.4.
- 41.
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, Resolution A/RES/48/96, Annex, December 20, 1993, para. 9. Interestingly, Italy was represented by Maria Rita Saulle according to Nagase (1995), pp. 36–40.
- 42.
Dito Despouy (1993), paras. 280–281.
- 43.
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, Resolution A/RES/48/96, December 20, 1993.
- 44.
A/RES/48/96, cit., Rule 4; for a more detailed analysis in this regard, Degener (1995), pp. 14–15.
- 45.
- 46.
Michailakis (1999), p. 122.
- 47.
- 48.
Disabled Peoples’ International, Rehabilitation International, the World Federation of the Deaf, the World Blind Union, and Inclusion International, cf. Michailakis (1999).
- 49.
- 50.
Driedger (1989).
- 51.
Groce (2002), p. 75.
- 52.
E.g., Rehabilitation International; see Groce (2002), 66 et seq.
- 53.
Inclusion International, for example, changed its name from the International League of Societies for Persons with Mental Handicap.
- 54.
Disabled Peoples’ International, Rehabilitation International, the World Federation of the Deaf, the World Blind Union, Inclusion International, the World Federation of the Deafblind and the European Disability Forum.
- 55.
Quinn and Degener (2002), p. 181.
- 56.
Report of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, December 8 2001, A/CONF.189/12, Programme of Action, para. 180.
- 57.
Quinn (2009), p. 96.
- 58.
Address of President Vincente Fox to the General Debate, 56th Session of the General Assembly, 10 November 2001.
- 59.
Comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, December 19 2001, Resolution A/RES/56/168, para. 1.
- 60.
New Zealand Disability Strategy, Action 2.5, Minister of Social Development, April 2001.
- 61.
Quinn and Degener (2002).
- 62.
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, A/CONF.157/23, June 25, 1993, para. 63–64.
- 63.
Sabatello (2014).
- 64.
Degener (1999).
- 65.
Lord (2009), p. 90.
- 66.
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, Resolution WHA54.21, May 22, 2001.
- 67.
Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, A/57/357, August 27, 2002, para. 5.
- 68.
The Chair and Vice-Chairs collectively formed the Bureau of the meeting responsible for setting the agenda, organising the programme of work and the general running of the Ad Hoc Committee. Later in the process, Sweden resigned as Vice Chair to allow New Zealand to assume the Chair, Costa Rica assumed a Vice Chair role to replace Ecuador and the Philippines was replaced by Jordan.
- 69.
Position paper by the European Union, A/AC.265/WP.2, July 31, 2002.
- 70.
Working Paper by Mexico, A/AC.265/WP.1, July 15, 2002.
- 71.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 1 No. 1, July 29, 2002, and Vol. 1 No. 2, July 30, 2002.
- 72.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 1 No. 2, July 30, 2002, and Vol. 1 No. 3, July 31, 2002.
- 73.
Position paper by the People’s Republic of China, A/AC.265/WP.3, August 1, 2002.
- 74.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 1 No. 3, July 31, 2002.
- 75.
Disability Negotiations Bulletin Vol. 1 No. 3, August 1, 2002.
- 76.
Bangkok recommendations on the elaboration of a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, A/AC.265/CRP.10, June 4, 2003.
- 77.
Beirut Declaration and Recommendations on the elaboration of a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, A/AC.265/CRP.12, May 29, 2003.
- 78.
Compilation of proposals for a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, A/AC.265/CRP.13, Add.1 and 2.
- 79.
Issues and emerging trends related to the advancement of persons with disabilities, A/AC.265/2003/1, April 7, 2003; Overview of issues and trends related to the advancement of persons with disabilities, A/AC.265/2003/2, April 7, 2003; Progress in the equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities, A/AC.265/2003/3, April 7, 2003; Views submitted by governments, intergovernmental organisations and United Nations bodies concerning a comprehensive and integral international convention on the protection and promotion of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, A/AC.265/2003/4, Corr.1 and Add.1, May 6, 2003.
- 80.
Letter dated 18 June 2003 from the Deputy Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, A/AC.265/2003/WP.1, June 18, 2003.
- 81.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 2 No. 1, June 16, 2003.
- 82.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 2 No. 3, June 18, 2003.
- 83.
The International Disability Caucus was formed by disabled persons’ organisations specifically to coordinate positions for the drafting of the Convention.
- 84.
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden: draft resolution, A/AC.265/2003/L.3, June 19, 2003.
- 85.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 2 No. 3, June 13, 2003.
- 86.
Disability Negotiations Bulletin Vol. 2 No. 6, June 23, 2003.
- 87.
Disability Negotiations Bulletin Vol. 2 No. 6, June 23, 2003.
- 88.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 2 No. 8, June 25, 2003.
- 89.
Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, A/58/118, July 3, 2003, para. 15.
- 90.
These contributions were not issued as official UN documents, but were listed in paragraph 7 of the report of the Working Group (A/AC.265/2004/WG.1), issued in an informal compilation at the meeting in hard copy and CD Rom, and made available on the UN Enable website, http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/comp-element0.htm. Accessed April 30, 2015.
- 91.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 3 No. 8, January 14, 2004.
- 92.
A/AC.265/2004/WG.1, Annex I, cit., Article 9, para. (c) (ii).
- 93.
Report of the third session of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, A/AC.265/2004/5, Annex II, June 9, 2004, Article 9.
- 94.
A/AC.265/2004/5, Annex II, cit., Article 21, para. (j).
- 95.
A/AC.265/2004/5, Annex II, cit., Article 21, para. (k).
- 96.
Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities on its fifth session, February 23, 2005, A/AC.265/2005/2, Annex II, para. 15.
- 97.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 6 No. 2, January 25, 2005.
- 98.
A/AC.265/2005/2, Annex II, cit., note b.
- 99.
A/AC.265/2005/2, Annex II, cit., para. 22.
- 100.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 3 No. 8, January 14, 2004.
- 101.
A/AC.265/2004/WG.1, Annex I, cit., Article 10, para. 1 (b) said that “any deprivation of liberty shall be in conformity with the law, and in no case shall be based on disability.”
- 102.
A/AC.265/2004/WG.1, Annex I, cit., Article 21, paras. (j) and (k).
- 103.
A/AC.265/2005/2, Annex II, cit., para. 58.
- 104.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 4 No. 3, May 26, 2004.
- 105.
A/AC.265/2005/2, Annex II, cit., para. 67.
- 106.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 3 No. 5, January 9, 2005.
- 107.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 3 No. 6, January 12, 2004.
- 108.
A/AC.265/2004/5, Annex II, cit., Article 14, para. 2.
- 109.
A/AC.265/2004/5, Annex II, cit., Article 14, para. 2 (a).
- 110.
A/AC.265/2005/2, Annex II, cit., para. 94.
- 111.
A/AC.265/2005/2, Annex II, cit., paras. 96 and 124, and Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities on its sixth session, A/60/266, Annex II, August 17, 2005, para. 85.
- 112.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 3, No. 6, January 12, 2004.
- 113.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 3, No. 6, January 12, 2004.
- 114.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 3, No. 6, January 12, 2004.
- 115.
A/AC.265/2004/WG.1, Annex I, cit.
- 116.
A/AC.265/2004/5, Annex II, cit., Article 17, para. 3.
- 117.
A/AC.265/2004/5, Annex II, cit., Article 17, para. 4.
- 118.
A/60/266, Annex II, cit., para. 36.
- 119.
Statement on Inclusive Education for Persons who are Deaf, Blind and Deafblind: The rational for choice in education, issued by the World Federation of the Deaf, the World Blind Union and the World Federation of the Deafblind, August 2, 2005.
- 120.
A/60/266, Annex II, cit., para. 40.
- 121.
A/AC.265/2004/5, Annex II, cit., Article 22.
- 122.
A/60/266, Annex II, cit., para. 96.
- 123.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 7 No. 8, August 10, 2005.
- 124.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 3 No. 5, January 9, 2004. It was noted, in fact, that because the Convention on the Rights of the Child had almost been universally ratified, with only Somalia and the United States not already bound by it, there would be no practical effect in repeating it.
- 125.
A/AC.265/2004/5, Annex II, cit., Article 16.
- 126.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 7 No. 2, August 2, 2005.
- 127.
A/AC.265/2004/5, Annex II, cit., Article 2.
- 128.
Informal proposal distributed by the International Disability Caucus, August 4, 2005.
- 129.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 6 No. 10, February 4, 2005.
- 130.
Letter dated 7 October 2005 from the Chairman to all members of the Committee, A/AC.265/2006/1, Annex II, October 14, 2005.
- 131.
A/AC.265/2006/1, cit., paras. 6 and 7.
- 132.
A/AC.265/2006/1, cit., para. 53.
- 133.
Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities on its seventh session, A/AC.265/2006/2, February 13, 2006, Article 12, para. 2.
- 134.
A/AC.265/2006/1, cit., para. 54.
- 135.
A/AC.265/2006/2, cit., Article 12.
- 136.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 8 No. 4, January 19, 2006.
- 137.
A/AC.265/2006/1, cit., para. 86.
- 138.
Disability Negotiations Daily Summary, Vol. 8 No. 6, January 23, 2006, and Vol. 8 No. 7, January 24, 2006.
- 139.
A/AC.265/2006/2, Annex II, cit., Article 23, para. 1.
- 140.
A/AC.265/2006/1, Annex I, Article 24, para. 2 (d).
- 141.
A/AC.265/2006/1, paras. 41 and 44.
- 142.
Informal compilation of proposals on monitoring, prepared by the Mexican Mission, May 18, 2006.
- 143.
Disabilities and Rights, UNTV, August 25, 2006, UN Audiovisual Library, http://www.unmultimedia.org/avlibrary/asset/U060/U060825c/. Accessed 30 April, 2007.
- 144.
Removing Article 12 Footnote, Letter from the International Disability caucus to Government delegates to the Ad Hoc Committee, September 5, 2006.
- 145.
Statement by Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee, Resumed 8th session, New York, 5 December 2006.
- 146.
- 147.
CRPD Committee, General comment No. 1, Article 12: Equal recognition before the law, CRPD/C/GC/1, May 19, 2014.
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Degener, T., Begg, A. (2017). From Invisible Citizens to Agents of Change: A Short History of the Struggle for the Recognition of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations. In: Della Fina, V., Cera, R., Palmisano, G. (eds) The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43790-3_1
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