UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)
by Julie Ann Racino October 4, 2015
On September 30, 2015 the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN, 2006) bringing the total signatores to the international treaty to 160 nations and ratifications to an additional 159 (UN Enable, 2015). The new infographic for nation use is at: http://www.un.org/disabilities/ The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) represents an international civil rights treaty representing critical rights similar to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Similar to the status released in Steven Brown's Chapter on International agenda on disability and human rights (in Public Administration and Disability: Community Services Administration in the US, Racino, 2014 at http://www.crcpress.com/9781466579811), the US still has not ratified the treaty. However, President Barack Obama has signed on behalf of the US (Susan Rice, US Ambassador to the UN, 2009). The full agenda of the treaty and its significance involves:
* Article 5: Equality and Non-Discrimination
* Article 6: Women with Disabilities
* Article 7: Children with Disabilities
* Article 8: Awareness-Raising
* Article 9: Accessibility
* Article 10: Right to Life
* Article 11: Situations of Risk and Humanitarian Emergencies
* Article 12: Equal Recognition Before the Law
* Article 13: Access to Justice
* Article 14: Liberty and Security of Person
* Article 15: Freedom from Torture or Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punijshment
* Article 16: Freedom from Exploitation, Violence and Abuse
* Article 17: Protecting the Integrity of the Person
* Article 18: Liberty of Movement and Nationality
* Article 19: Living Independently and Being Included in the Community
* Article 20: Personal Mobility (and Transportation)
* Article 21: Freedom of Expression and Opinion, and Access to Information
* Article 22: Respect for Privacy
* Article 23: Respect for Home and Family
* Article 24: Education
* Article 25: Health
* Article 26: Rehabilitation and Habilitation
* Article 27: Work and Employment
* Article 28: Adequate Standard of Living and Social Protection
* Article 29: Participation in Political and Public Life
* Article 30: Participation in Cultural Life, Recreation, Leisure and Sport
* Article 31: Statistics and Data Collection
* Article 32: International Cooperation
* Article 33: National Implementation and Monitoring
Printed from http://www.un.org/disabilities on November 13, 2013.
The UN Resolution adopted on December 8 2014 welcomes an Accessibility Centre at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, New York, USA.
The World Health Organization
The UN ENABLE site also links to the World Health Organization (WHO) which highlights the October 10, 2015 World Mental Health Day and its Mental Health Action Programme from 2013-2020. The programme was adopted at the 66th World Health Assembly with Ministers of Health in 194 member states. Mental health is critical and the UN Convention on Persons with Disabilities (2006) considers "this population group" (e.g., autism spectrum, behavioral health, individuals experiencing depression) in all its articles (1-50).
Selected References:
Brehemer-Rinderer, B., Zigrovic, L., Naue, U., & Weber, G. (2013, March). Promoting health of persons with intellectual disabilities using the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:Early implementation assessment in Spain and Hungary. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 10(1): 25-36.
Brown, S. E. (2014). International agenda on disability and human rights. In: J. Racino, Public Administration and Disability: Community Services Administration in the US. (pp.279-293).
London and NY, NY: CRC Press, Francis and Taylor.
Harpur, P. (2012, January). Embracing the new disability rights paradigm: the importance of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Disability and Society, 27(1): 1-14.
Pleva, L. (2010, July 30). Convention is signed, but still waiting ratification. The Obameter at http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter.
Racino, J. (2015, March 9). UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Status. Announced to the International Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration. ASPA Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois.
Towell, D. (2009). Achieving equal citizenship: Meeting the challenge of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Tizard Learning Disability Review, 14: 4-9.
United Nations General Assembly. (2015, January 22). 69/142. Realizing the Millenium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities towards 2015 and beyond. Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly on December 8 2014. NY, NY: UN General Assembly.
World Health Organization. (2010). Mental Health and Development: Targeting People with Mental Health Conditions as a Vulnerable Group. Geneva, Switzerland: Author.
Another good international article which cites the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is the bedrock of many careers in social sciences, services and human rights:
ReplyDeleteYamin, A. E. (2005, July). The right to health under international law and its relevance to the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 95(7): 1156-1161. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2004.055111
The article itself reviews over 1,000 major studies on health disparities in the US and found "consistent, credible, and robust evidence of differences based on race and ethnicity in diagnostic procedures as well as therapeautic interventions". Authored by Harvard School of Public Health.
Current in the US Presidential Primaries is the Concept of Universal Health Coverage for all Americans building upon the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
This is an excellent guide. Good work!
ReplyDeleteComing in with transportation and public transit at blue collar employment and Executive housing development in the southwestern American states (also at the metropolis, and "suburban growth"and exurban developments). Transportation and the right to transportation preceeds (or more accurately, concurrently)the right to accessible transportation also is key for "coming up from poverty", especially at the local employment and quality of schools; where transportation is located (e.g., walkability to the public transit stop) and the cost to the service user (double cost for transfer, one event - 4 tickets)are two basic issues that are addressed by social equity and inclusion groups who form transportation advocacy or (due to the size, same groups which build and compete for funds for highways) political action groups in America. Also due to the "lack of planning" or "competitive groups", organizations may spring up "congestion management agencies" next to prior and current leadership of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs).
ReplyDelete