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Article 44 [Regional Integration Organizations]

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The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Abstract

Article 44 extends to the “Regional integration organizations” (RIOs) the opportunity to become Party of the CRPD by the signature and the deposit of their acts of formal confirmation or accession. In virtue of the clause provided by Article 44, the CRPD is the first human rights treaty to be opened for signature by a RIO. Under Article 44, the notion of “Regional integration organizations” should be broadly interpreted as to cover all regional organizations having competence as regards the rights protected in the CRPD. Accordingly, this norm does not provide the participation of the EU exclusively, even if, at the date, the EU is the only RIO to have ratified the Convention. The EU was directly involved in the negotiation process and has become a Contracting Party, alongside the EU Member States having ratified it. From the point of view of the EU law, the participation of the Union in the CRPD represents an example of conclusion of a mixed agreement. The EU’s ratification of the CRPD sets a positive precedent in public international law. In this light, new developments in the protection of the rights of disabled people could derive from the accession of other RIOs to the CRPD.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See Gaja (1987), p. 253; Shaw (2014), p. 691. See also, Sands and Klein (2009); and Wolfrum and Röben (2005).

  2. 2.

    See Forastiero (2010), p. 505 et seqq.

  3. 3.

    On these clauses, see Marchisio (2012), p. 94.

  4. 4.

    See Marchisio (2002), pp. 238 et seqq. See also, Marchisio (1993), p. 346 et seqq.

  5. 5.

    Both the then European Community and its Member States signed the WTO Agreement, which is a mixed agreement. In this regard, see Palchetti (2014), pp. 1817 et seqq.; Elias (2012), pp. 73 et seqq., Marchisio (2014), pp. 258 et seqq.

  6. 6.

    See De Búrca (2010), pp. 174 et seqq.

  7. 7.

    It is worth noting that when EC signed the CRPD, the Lisbon Treaty was not yet in force and consequently the EUCFR had no legally binding effects. See Forastiero (2014), pp. 183 et seqq. See also O’Brien (2014), pp. 709–748.

  8. 8.

    Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament of 23 March 2003, Towards a United Nations legally binding instrument to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities COM(2003) 16 final. (2003/C 133/11), http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52003AE0407&rid=1. Accessed 25 September 2015.

  9. 9.

    Daily summary of discussion at the Seventh session on 3 February 2006. http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc7sum03feb.htm. Accessed 25 September 2015.

  10. 10.

    Initial EU position paper for 7th Ad Hoc Committee, AHC 7 EU Position as 16 January 2006. http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc7contgovs.htm. Accessed 25 September 2015.

  11. 11.

    Facilitator’s remarks on the draft final clauses submitted to Ad Hoc Committee at the Eight Session, 9 August 2006. http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc8dfclause9aug.htm. Accessed 25 September 2015.

  12. 12.

    Council Decision of 26 November 2009 concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Annex II “Declaration concerning the Competence of the European Community with regard to Matters Governed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” published in the O.J. L 23, 27 January 2010, pp. 35–36. With regard to mixed agreements, see Hillion and Koutrakos (2010); Gaja and Adinolfi (2014), pp. 223 et seqq. On the conclusion of the CRPD by the EC/EU, see Ferri (2010).

  13. 13.

    The so-called treaty-making power of the European Union is analyzed by many commentators. See, inter alia, Mignolli (2014), pp. 1766 et seqq.; Cremona (2012), pp. 93 et seqq. See also, Bonafè (2014).

  14. 14.

    Final 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, doc. A/61/611. http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahcfinalrepe.htm. Accessed 25 September 2015.

  15. 15.

    For this reason, in the Proposal concerning the conclusion of the Convention, the legal basis was found in many EU provisions, such as former Articles 13, 26, 47, para. 2; 55; 71, para. 1; 80, para. 2; 89; 93; 95; 285 and 300 of TEC corresponding to Articles 19 (Non-discrimination); 31 (Common Customs Tariff); 53 (Restriction concerning medical and allied and pharmaceutical professions); 62 (Services); 91 and 100 (Transport); 109 (Aids); 113 (Harmonization concerning taxes); 114 (Approximation of law); 338 (Statistics); and 218 (International agreements) of the TFEU respectively, as amended by the Lisbon Treaty. In this regard, see Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, of 28 August 2008, COM(2008) 530 final. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2008:0530:FIN. Accessed 30 September 2015.

  16. 16.

    Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament, Towards a United Nations legally binding instrument to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, of 24 January 2003, COM/2003/16 final. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52003DC0016. Accessed 30 September 2015. To this regard, Lisa Waddington commented that “the Commission clearly saw Article 13 EC as giving it ‘access’ to the negotiating table, and that its primary area of concern should be to ensure appropriate references to non-discrimination and equality in the Convention.” See Waddington (2009), p. 119.

  17. 17.

    This in conformity with the requirement of “unity” expressed by the Court in Opinion No. 2/91 of 19 March 1993, Opinion delivered pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 228 (1) of the EEC Treaty. Convention No. 170 of ILO concerning safety in the use of chemicals at work, European Court reports 1993 Page I-01061. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:61991CV0002. Accessed 30 September 2015.

  18. 18.

    CJEU (Grand Chamber), Case C-363/12, Z. v. A Government Department and The Board of management of a community school, Judgment of 18 March 2014, para. 73.

  19. 19.

    See Mignolli (2014), p. 1779; Villani (2013), pp. 255 et seqq.

  20. 20.

    CRPD Committee, Concluding observations on the initial report of the European Union of 4 September 2015 (CRPD/C/EU/CO/1). http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=14429&langId=en. Accessed 10 October 2015. The first Report on the implementation of the CRPD was produced by the EU Commission on 5 June 2014, see Commission Staff Working Document, Report on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by the European Union, SWD(2014) 182 final. http://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/files/swd_2014_182_en.pdf. Accessed 30 September 2015.

  21. 21.

    Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, European Disability Strategy 2010–2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe, COM(2010) 636, 15 November 2010. To this regard, see Lawson (2009), ‘The European Union and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Complexities, Challenges and Opportunities’ in this Commentary.

  22. 22.

    Council, Code of Conduct between the Council, the Member States and the Commission setting out internal arrangements for the implementation by and representation of the European Union relating to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 15 December 2010, published in O.J. C No. 340 of 15 December 2010, pp. 11–15.

  23. 23.

    Council Decision of 14 April 2014 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or otherwise Print Disabled, published in O.J. L No. 115 of 17 April 2014, pp. 1–2.

  24. 24.

    See CRPD Committee, Concluding observations on the initial report of the European Union, cit., para. 8.

  25. 25.

    For an overview on the Inter-American human rights system and the African human rights system , see Bantekas and Oette (2013), pp. 243 et seqq. See also Tomuschat (2014), pp. 38 et seqq.

  26. 26.

    The CoE is a European regional organization established in 1949 that includes 47 Member States, 28 of which are EU Members, this although it constitutes a distinct and separate system from the EU.

  27. 27.

    For an overview, see Lawson (2009), ‘The European Union and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Complexities, Challenges and Opportunities’ in this Commentary.

  28. 28.

    ECtHR (Third Section), Application No. 45744/08, Jasinskis v. Latvia, Judgment of 21 December 2010; ECtHR (Fourth Section), Requête No. 48609/06, Nencheva et Autres c. Bulgarie, Judgment of 18 June 2013.

  29. 29.

    ECtHR (Third Section), Application No. 33394/96, Price v. the United Kingdom, Judgment of 10 July 2001; ECtHR (Fourth Section), Application No. 15351/03, Zarzycki v. Poland, Judgment of 12 March 2013; ECtHR (Second Section), Application No. 43875/09, Asalya v. Turkey, Judgment of 15 April 2014.

  30. 30.

    ECtHR (Second Section), Application No. 13469/06, D.D. v. Lithuania, Judgment of 14 February 2012.

  31. 31.

    ECtHR (First Section), Application No. 44009/05, Shtukaturov v. Russia, Judgment of 27 March 2008.

  32. 32.

    ECtHR (First Section), Application No. 13006/13, Ivinovic v. Croatia, Judgment of 18 September 2014; ECHR Court (Second Section), Application No. 37956/11, A.K. and L. v. Croatia, Judgment of 8 January 2013.

  33. 33.

    ECtHR (First Section), Application No. 33117/02, Lashin v. Russia, Judgment of 22 January 2013.

  34. 34.

    ECtHR (First Section), Application No. 13444/04, Glor v. Switzerland, Judgment of 30 April 2009.

  35. 35.

    In this regard, see Palmisano (2013), pp. 337 et seqq.

  36. 36.

    Recommendation Rec (2006)5 of the Committee of Ministers to Members States on the Council of Europe Action Plan to promote the rights and full participation of people with disabilities in society: improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in Europe 2006–2015, 5 April 2006. http://www.coe.int/t/dg3/disability/ActionPlan/PDF/Rec_2006_5_English.pdf. Accessed 19 October 2015.

  37. 37.

    It entered into force on 2001, the 30th day following the date of deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification by an OAS Member State (Article VIII, para. 3).

  38. 38.

    Resolution No. 118 at the 42nd Ordinary Session held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo from 15–28 November 2007. http://www.achpr.org/sessions/42nd/resolutions/118/. Accessed 23 October 2015.

  39. 39.

    Comments invited on Draft Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (Draft II, 14 March 2014). http://www.achpr.org/news/2014/04/d121. Accessed 23 October 2015.

  40. 40.

    Continental Plan of Action for the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2010–2019. http://sa.au.int/en/sites/default/files/CPoA%20Handbook%20%20AUDP%20English%20-%20Copy.pdf. Accessed 23 October 2015.

  41. 41.

    http://www.asean.org/news/asean-statement-communiques/item/asean-human-rights-declaration. Accessed 23 October 2015.

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  1. Institute for International Legal Studies (ISGI), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy

    Rosita Forastiero

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  1. Institute for International Legal Studies, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy

    Valentina Della Fina

  2. Institute for International Legal Studies, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy

    Rachele Cera

  3. Institute for International Legal Studies, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy

    Giuseppe Palmisano

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Forastiero, R. (2017). Article 44 [Regional Integration Organizations]. 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_44

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