Frequently asked questions about the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Draft United Nations International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Summary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The text of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is quite cumbersome and sometimes overloaded with legal details. To make it easier to understand the main provisions of this document, let’s try to consider the most frequently asked questions about the Convention.

What are the rights of people with disabilities?

All members of society have the same human rights - these include civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. Examples of such rights are the following:

Equality before the law and in legal opportunities

Freedom from torture

Freedom of movement and citizenship

Right to life in society

Respect for privacy

Respect for home and family

Right to education

Right to health

Right to work

All persons with disabilities have the right to be free from discrimination in the exercise of their rights. This includes the right to freedom from discrimination on the basis of disability or on any other ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. .

What is the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international treaty that defines the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as the obligations of States Parties to the Convention to promote, protect and ensure these rights. The Convention also establishes two implementation mechanisms: the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, created to monitor implementation, and the Conference of States Parties, created to consider issues related to the implementation of the provisions of the convention.

States are conducting negotiations with the participation of civil society organizations, national human rights institutions and intergovernmental organizations. The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on December 13, 2006 and it opened for signature on March 30, 2007. States that have ratified the Convention are legally bound to comply with the standards of the Convention. The Convention represents an international standard which they must strive to comply with.

What is the Optional Protocol to the Convention?

The Optional Protocol is also an international treaty. The Optional Protocol provides for two procedures aimed at strengthening the implementation and monitoring of the Convention. The first is an individual communications procedure - a procedure that allows people to tell the Committee that their rights have been violated - and the second is an inquiry procedure, giving the Committee powers to investigate gross or systematic violations of the Convention.

What other international instruments recognize the rights of persons with disabilities?

States have adopted special documents to protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities over the past decades. Important milestones include:

Declaration of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (1995)

World Program of Action for Disabled Persons (1981)

Principles for the Protection of Mentally Ill Persons and the Improvement of Mental Health Care (1991)

Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (1993)

Although guidelines, declarations, principles, resolutions and other documents are not legally binding, they express the moral and political obligations of states, and can be used to guide the adoption of laws or the development of policies regarding persons with disabilities. It is important to note that some provisions of the Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Mental Health Care, which were criticized in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, are now replacing those rules where there is any conflict between the two documents.

Are other human rights conventions relevant to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

All human rights conventions apply to everyone, including persons with disabilities. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protect against discrimination on any ground. There are also human rights conventions relating to discrimination against women and specific issues or groups of people such as children and migrant workers

The main human rights treaties are the following:

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Convention against Torture

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Convention on the Rights of the Child

International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families

International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

All human rights conventions include protection against discrimination. However, only one of these Conventions, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, specifically recognizes the need for protection against discrimination on the basis of disability.

However, all conventions consider the concept of “disability” implicitly as a basis for discrimination. Naturally, persons with disabilities should not be discriminated against when these conventions apply. Thus, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, for example, applies to all women, including women with disabilities.

Why is the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities needed?

The Convention is necessary to ensure that the human rights rights of persons with disabilities are protected and that respect for these rights is strengthened. Although existing human rights conventions offer significant potential to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, it is clear that this potential is not being tapped. Indeed, people with disabilities continue to be deprived of their human rights and are kept on the margins of society in all parts of the globe. This ongoing discrimination against persons with disabilities has highlighted the need for legally binding instruments that set out the State's legal obligations to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.

Why is the Convention unique?

The Convention is the first human rights convention of the 21st century and the first legally binding instrument to comprehensively protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Although the Convention does not create new human rights, it sets out with much greater clarity the obligations of States to promote, protect and guarantee the rights of persons with disabilities. Thus, the Convention not only makes clear that states must not discriminate against people with disabilities, it also sets out a number of measures that states must take to create an enabling environment so that persons with disabilities can enjoy substantive equality in society . For example, the Convention requires States to take measures to ensure access to the physical environment and information and communications technologies. In addition, States have obligations to raise awareness, promote access to justice, ensure personal mobility, and collect data relevant to the Convention. The Convention is therefore a much more in-depth document than other human rights treaties, setting out measures that states must take to prohibit discrimination and ensure equality for all.

The convention includes the development of a social perspective. The Convention recognizes the importance of international cooperation and its promotion in support of national efforts to implement the main provisions of the Convention. One innovation in this regard concerns specific references to actions the international community could take to encourage international cooperation, such as:

Providing international development programs, including those accessible to people with disabilities;

Promote and support capacity building;

Promoting cooperation in research and access to scientific and technical knowledge;

Providing technical and economic assistance if necessary.

The Convention defines the rights of people with disabilities, and the obligations of the state to promote, protect and ensure these rights, as well as mechanisms to support implementation and monitoring. The content can be broken down as follows:

Preamble - defines the most important issues in the general context of the Convention.

Purpose - defines the objectives of the Convention, which are to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people with disabilities, and to promote respect and inherent dignity

Definitions - Definition of key terms in the Convention, namely: communication, language, disability discrimination, reasonable accommodation and universal design.

General principles - define the standards and requirements that apply to the implementation of all rights enshrined in the Convention, such as the principle of non-discrimination and the principle of equality

Responsibilities - explain the measures that states must take to promote, protect and ensure the rights enshrined in the Convention

Specific rights - identifying existing civil, cultural, economic, political and social human rights, confirming that persons with disabilities also hold these rights

Definition of measures - identify specific steps that states must take to ensure an enabling environment for the enjoyment of human rights, namely: raising public awareness, ensuring accessibility, protection and security in humanitarian emergencies, promoting access to justice, ensuring individual mobility, which promotes habilitation and rehabilitation, as well as the collection of statistics and information.

International cooperation - recognizes the importance of the international community supporting us to work together to ensure the fullest realization of the rights of people with disabilities

Implementation and monitoring - obliges States to establish a national framework for monitoring and implementation of the Convention, and establishes a Conference of States Parties to consider any issue in connection with the implementation of the provisions of the Convention and a Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to monitor the Convention

Final Provisions - Sets out the procedures for signature, ratification, entry into force, and other procedural requirements relevant to the Convention.

What are the principles of the Convention?

Article 3 defines the general principles that apply to the implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities. They are:

Respect for the inherent dignity of the human person, personal autonomy, including the freedom to make one’s own choices and the independence of persons with disabilities

Non-discrimination

Full and effective integration into society

Respect for differences and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity

Equality of opportunity

Availability

Equality between men and women

Respect for the evolving abilities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to maintain their individuality.

Are the terms "disability" and "persons with disabilities" defined in the Convention?

The Convention does not define the concept of “disability” or “disabled persons” as such. However, the elements of the preamble and Article 1 provide guidance for clarifying the application of the Convention.

. “disability” - The preamble recognizes that “disability is an evolving concept and that disability is the result of the interactions between people with impairments and the behavioral and environmental barriers that prevent them from participating fully and effectively in society on an equal basis with others.”

. “Persons with Disabilities” - Article 1 states that “Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, are likely to prevent their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” .

Some elements of these provisions stand out in particular. First, it recognizes that “disability” is an evolving concept as a result of behavioral and environmental barriers to the participation of people with disabilities in society. Thus, the concept of “disability” is not fixed and can change, depending on the current situation on the part of society and in relation to society.

Secondly, disability is not considered a disease, but rather is seen as the result of an interaction between negative attitudes or environmental rejection of the condition of specific individuals. Attitude towards dismantling environmental barriers - in contrast to treatment of persons with disabilities, these persons can participate as active members of society and exercise the full range of their rights.

Third, the Convention is not limited to addressing the issue of specific individuals, but rather the Convention identifies persons with long-term physical, mental, intellectual and sensory disabilities as beneficiaries under the Convention. The reference to “disability” ensures that there is no need to limit the application of the Convention and that States Parties can also provide protection for others, for example people with short-term disabilities.

What specific rights of persons with disabilities are covered by the Convention?

The Convention affirms that persons with disabilities enjoy the same human rights as all members of society. The specific rights recognized in the Convention are:

Equality before the law without discrimination

Right to life, liberty and security of person

Equality before the law and legal opportunities

Freedom from torture

Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse

The right to respect physical and mental integrity

Freedom of movement and citizenship

Right to live in the community

Freedom of expression and belief

Respect for privacy

Respect for home and family

Right to education

Right to health

Right to work

Right to an adequate standard of living

Right to participate in political and public life

Right to take part in cultural life

What are the obligations of States Parties to the Convention?

The Convention defines the general and specific obligations of States Parties regarding the rights of persons with disabilities. In terms of general obligations, states must:

Take legislative and administrative measures to promote the rights of persons with disabilities;

Take legislative and other measures to eliminate discrimination;

Protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities in all policies and programmes;

Stop any practice of violating the rights of people with disabilities;

Ensure that the public sector respects the rights of people with disabilities;

Ensure that the private sector and individuals respect the rights of persons with disabilities;

Conduct research and development of accessible products, services and technologies for persons with disabilities and encourage others to conduct such research;

Provide access to information about assistive technologies for people with disabilities;

Promote training on Convention rights for professionals and staff who work with persons with disabilities;

Consultation and participation of persons with disabilities in the development and implementation of legislation and policies, as well as in decision-making processes affecting them.

How is compliance with the provisions of the Convention monitored?

The Convention requires monitoring at both national and international levels. The Convention requires States, in accordance with their legal and administrative systems, to support, strengthen, protect and monitor the implementation of the Convention.

At the international level, the Convention establishes the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which has the function of reviewing periodic reports from States on the measures they have taken to implement the Convention. In addition, the Committee has the power to consider individual communications and conduct investigations against those States that have ratified the Optional Protocol.

What are national mechanisms to promote, protect and monitor the implementation of the Convention?

The concept of a national framework for the promotion, protection and monitoring of the Convention is relatively open-ended. The Convention recognizes that such structures may differ from country to country, allowing for flexibility in establishing the framework in accordance with each public legal and administrative system. However, the Convention also provides that any authority must be independent. Typically, the national framework will include at least some form of establishment of an independent national human rights institution, such as a human rights commission or ombudsman. However, the database may contain other elements, such as courts.

What is the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a body where independent experts are tasked with reviewing States' implementation of the provisions of the Convention. These experts will serve in their personal capacity. Initially, the Committee includes twelve independent experts, their number will increase to 18 members after another 60 ratifications or accessions to the Convention. States Parties will select experts on the basis of their competence and experience in the field of human rights and disability, and taking into account equitable geographical representation, representation of different forms of civilization and legal systems, gender balance and the participation of experts with disabilities.

The Committee considers periodic reports prepared by States on the steps they have taken to implement the Convention. For states party to the Optional Protocol, the Committee also has the power to receive complaints from individuals alleging violations of their rights and to conduct investigations into cases of gross or systematic violations of the Convention.

What is the Conference of States Parties?

The Convention also establishes conferences of States Parties, which meet regularly to consider issues related to the implementation of the Convention. The Convention leaves open the exact nature of the role of the Conference of States Parties, although their responsibilities include electing members of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and discussing and adopting proposed amendments to the Convention.

What is periodic reporting?

Each State Party to the Convention must submit an initial comprehensive report to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the measures taken to implement the Convention. Each State must submit its initial report within two years of the entry into force of the Convention for that State. The initial report should:

Establish a constitutional, legal and administrative framework for the implementation of the Convention;

Explain the policies and programs adopted to implement each of the provisions of the Convention;

Identify progress made in realizing the rights of people with disabilities as a result of ratification and implementation of the Convention.

Each State must submit subsequent reports at least once every four years or, where the Committee requests, once a year. Subsequent reports should:

Respond to questions and other issues raised by the Committee in its concluding observations on previous reports;

Indicate the progress made in realizing the rights of people with disabilities during the reporting period;

Highlight any obstacles that the government and other authorities may have encountered in implementing the Convention during the reporting period.

Is it possible to file a complaint with the Committee if rights have been violated?

Yes. The Optional Protocol to the Convention establishes individual communications procedures, which allow individuals and groups of States Parties to the Protocol to lodge a complaint with the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities if the State has violated one of its obligations under the Convention. A complaint is defined as a “message.” The Committee considers complaints and comments from the state and, on this basis, formulates its views and recommendations, if any, forwards them to the state, and makes them public.

Can the committee conduct investigations?

Yes. The Optional Protocol establishes the investigation procedure. If the Committee receives credible information indicating serious or systematic violations by a State party to the Optional Protocol of any of the provisions of the Convention, the Committee may make recommendations to the State on how to respond to such information. After considering the State Party's observations and any other credible information, the Committee may appoint one or more of its members to conduct an investigation and issue a report as a matter of urgency. If the state agrees, the Committee may visit the countries. After conducting its investigation, the Committee transmits its findings to the State, which must provide further comments after six months. The committee summarizes its findings, which it makes available to the public. A State that has ratified the Optional Protocol may “opt out” of the inquiry procedure.

What is the role of civil society in the monitoring process?

Civil society plays an important role in the monitoring process both nationally and internationally. With regard to national monitoring, the Convention explicitly states that civil society, in particular persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, must be involved and fully participate in the monitoring of the process (see Article 33.3 of the Convention). With regard to international monitoring, States Parties are encouraged to give due consideration to the consultation and active participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations when appointing experts to treaty bodies (see Article 34.3 of the Convention). In addition, the experience of other international human rights treaty bodies highlights the important role that civil society can play in periodic reports and individual communications, and in providing reliable information to the Committee on gross or systematic violations of human rights as a basis for inquiry.

What is signing the Convention?

The first step to becoming a party to the Convention is to sign the treaty. States and regional integration organizations (RIOs) may sign the Convention or the Optional Protocol. A State or RIO may sign the Convention at any time. By signing the Convention and the Optional Protocol, States or RIOs may indicate their intention to take steps to comply with treaty obligations at a later date. Signature also creates an obligation, during the period between signature and ratification, to refrain from actions that would render the entity unable to comply with the provisions of the treaty.

What is ratification?

The next step to becoming a party to the Convention and the Optional Protocol is ratification. Ratification is a specific action taken by States that demonstrates the intention to implement the legal rights and obligations contained in the Convention and the Optional Protocol. Regional integration organizations express their consent to be bound by the provisions of the Convention or the optional protocol through “formal confirmation”, an act that has the same effect as ratification.

What is an affiliation?

States or regional integration organizations may express their consent to be bound by the provisions of the Convention and the Optional Protocol through an instrument of accession. Accession has the same legal effect as ratification, however, unlike ratification, which must be preceded by signature creating binding legal obligations under international law, accession requires only one step - the deposit of the instrument of accession.

When will the Convention come into force?

The Convention enters into force on the 30th day after the deposit of the 20th instrument of ratification or accession. The Optional Protocol will enter into force on the 30th day after the deposit of the 10th instrument of ratification or accession. It is likely that both documents will come into force on two different dates. At this point, accession to the Convention and the Optional Protocol becomes legally binding for States Parties.

What will be the role of the United Nations Secretariat in relation to the Convention?

The United Nations has established a joint secretariat for the Convention, consisting of staff from the United Nations, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), based in New York, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) supports the Conferences of States Parties and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), supports the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. DESA and OHCHR work together to support States, civil societies and national human rights institutions to implement and monitor the Convention.

What will be the role of the Special Rapporteur on persons with disabilities?

The Special Rapporteur on Persons with Disabilities is tasked with monitoring the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and the reports of the United Nations Commission on Social Development, which is a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. Although the Special Rapporteur's mandate is vested in specific Standard Rules rather than the Convention, the work of the Special Rapporteur will have direct implications for the implementation of the Convention as a result of the degree of overlap between the content of the Standard Rules and the Convention. The Standard Rules, however, are not legally binding documents.

What negotiations are taking place under the Convention?

The Convention was developed by the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integrated International Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (Ad Hoc Committee), which was established by the United Nations General Assembly. Its composition was open to all members of the United Nations and observers. During its first session, the Ad Hoc Committee decided that representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) accredited to the Ad Hoc Committee could also participate in meetings and make statements, in accordance with United Nations practice.

The Ad Hoc Committee held eight sessions. At its first two sessions in 2002 and 2003, the Committee considered the possibility of developing an international instrument relating to the rights of persons with disabilities, and also discussed the type of instrument and possible elements that should be included. At its second session, the Ad Hoc Committee created a working group to prepare the draft text of the convention. A working group consisting of government and NGO representatives met in January 2004 and prepared a negotiating text. At its third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth sessions, the Ad Hoc Committee continued its negotiations. The text of the Convention was finalized by the Ad Hoc Committee on August 26, 2006.

The drafting group was tasked with ensuring consistency of terminology throughout the text of the draft convention and harmonizing versions in the official languages ​​of the United Nations, and reviewed the text from September to November 2006.

The UN General Assembly adopted the text of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol on December 13, 2006.

Are representatives of civil society involved in negotiations on the Convention?

During its first session, the Ad Hoc Committee decided that representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) accredited to the Ad Hoc Committee could also participate in meetings and make statements in accordance with United Nations practice. Subsequently, the General Assembly repeatedly called for efforts to ensure the active participation of organizations of persons with disabilities in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee.

Throughout the process, disability organizations and other non-governmental organizations played a very active role in providing commentary and information from a disability perspective.

Were national human rights institutions able to participate in the negotiations?

National human rights institutions (NHRIs) also took an active part in the negotiations. Partly as a result of the efforts of representatives of various institutions, states agreed to a special clause on national implementation and monitoring measures, which requires states to have some form of national human rights institution that protects, promotes and monitors implementation of the provisions of the Convention.

Were there consultations at the regional level during the negotiations for the convention?

Regional consultation meetings were held in many regions from 2003 to 2006. Consultative meetings during the preparation of the Convention were held in the form of a dialogue on regional priorities. Meetings, outcome documents, proposals and recommendations presented reflecting national, subregional and regional priorities contributed to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee.

Preamble

The States Parties to this Convention,

a) reminding about those proclaimed in United Nations Charter principles in which the inherent dignity and worth of all members of the human family, and their equal and inalienable rights, are recognized as the basis of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

b) recognizing that the United Nations has proclaimed and enshrined in Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenants on Human Rights, that every person has all the rights and freedoms provided for therein, without distinction of any kind,

c) confirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interconnectedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the need to guarantee persons with disabilities their full enjoyment without discrimination,

d) referring on International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and penalties, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,

e) recognizing that disability is an evolving concept and that disability is the result of interactions that occur between disabled people and attitudinal and environmental barriers that prevent them from fully and effectively participating in society on an equal basis with others,

f) recognizing the importance that the principles and guidelines contained in World Program of Action for Persons with Disabilities and in Standard Rules for the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, have in terms of influence on the promotion, formulation and evaluation of strategies, plans, programs and activities at the national, regional and international levels to further ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities,

g) emphasizing the importance of mainstreaming disability issues as an integral part of relevant sustainable development strategies,

h) recognizing also that discrimination against any person on the basis of disability constitutes an infringement of the inherent dignity and worth of the human person,

j) recognizing the need to promote and protect the human rights of all persons with disabilities, including those in need of greater support,

k) being concerned that despite these various instruments and initiatives, persons with disabilities continue to face barriers to their participation in society as equal members and violations of their human rights in all parts of the world,

l) recognizing the importance of international cooperation to improve the living conditions of persons with disabilities in every country, especially in developing countries,

m) recognizing the valuable current and potential contribution of persons with disabilities to the overall well-being and diversity of their local communities and the fact that promoting the full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the full participation of persons with disabilities, will enhance their sense of belonging and achieve significant human, social and economic development of society and eradication of poverty,

n) recognizing that for people with disabilities their personal autonomy and independence is important, including the freedom to make their own choices,

o) counting that persons with disabilities should be able to be actively involved in decision-making processes regarding policies and programs, including those that directly affect them,

p) being concerned the difficult conditions faced by persons with disabilities who are subject to multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, aboriginal or social origin, property, birth, age or other status ,

q) recognizing that women and girls with disabilities, both at home and outside, are often at greater risk of violence, injury or abuse, neglect or neglect, abuse or exploitation,

r) recognizing that children with disabilities should enjoy full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children, and recalling in this regard the obligations undertaken by States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,

s) emphasizing the need to take a gender perspective into account in all efforts to promote the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities,

t) emphasizing the fact that the majority of persons with disabilities live in conditions of poverty, and recognizing in this regard the urgent need to address the negative impact of poverty on persons with disabilities,

u) pay attention to that an environment of peace and security based on full respect for the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations and compliance with applicable human rights treaties is an indispensable condition for the full protection of persons with disabilities, in particular during armed conflicts and foreign occupation,

v) recognizing that accessibility to the physical, social, economic and cultural environment, health and education, as well as information and communications is important to enable persons with disabilities to fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms,

w) pay attention to that every individual, having responsibilities towards others and the community to which he belongs, must strive to promote and respect the rights recognized in the International Bill of Human Rights,

x) being convinced that the family is the natural and fundamental unit of society and has the right to protection by society and the state, and that persons with disabilities and members of their families should receive the necessary protection and assistance to enable families to contribute to the full and equal enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities,

y) being convinced that a comprehensive and unified international convention on the promotion and protection of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities would make an important contribution to overcoming the profound social disadvantages of persons with disabilities and to enhancing their participation in civil, political, economic, social and cultural life with equal opportunities - as in developed countries , and in developing countries,

have agreed as follows:

Article 1

Target

The purpose of this Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment by all persons with disabilities of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

Persons with disabilities include persons with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments that, when interacting with various barriers, may prevent them from fully and effectively participating in society on an equal basis with others.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Convention:

"communication" includes the use of languages, texts, braille, tactile communication, large print, accessible multimedia as well as printed materials, audio, plain language, readers, and augmentative and alternative methods, modes and formats of communication, including accessible information communication technology;

“language” includes spoken and signed languages ​​and other forms of non-speech languages;

“discrimination on the basis of disability” means any distinction, exclusion or restriction on the basis of disability, the purpose or effect of which is to diminish or deny the recognition, realization or enjoyment on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, whether political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other area. It includes all forms of discrimination, including denial of reasonable accommodation;

“reasonable accommodation” means making, where appropriate in a particular case, necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments, without imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy or enjoy on an equal basis with others all human rights and fundamental freedoms;

“Universal design” means the design of products, environments, programs and services to make them usable by all people to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or special design. “Universal design” does not exclude assistive devices for specific disability groups where needed.

Article 3

General principles

The principles of this Convention are:

a) respect for a person's inherent dignity, personal autonomy, including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence;

b) non-discrimination;

c) full and effective inclusion and participation in society;

d) respect for the characteristics of persons with disabilities and their acceptance as a component of human diversity and part of humanity;

e) equality of opportunity;

f) accessibility;

g) equality between men and women;

h) respect for the developing abilities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to maintain their individuality.

Article 4

General obligations

1. States Parties undertake to ensure and promote the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, without discrimination of any kind on the basis of disability. To this end, participating States undertake:

a) take all appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures to implement the rights recognized in this Convention;

(b) Take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to amend or repeal existing laws, regulations, customs and practices that discriminate against persons with disabilities;

(c) Take into account the protection and promotion of the human rights of persons with disabilities in all policies and programmes;

d) refrain from any actions or methods that are not in accordance with this Convention and ensure that public authorities and institutions act in accordance with this Convention;

e) take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability by any person, organization or private enterprise;

f) conduct or encourage research and development into, promote the availability and use of, products, services, equipment and objects of universal design (as defined in Article 2 of this Convention) that can be tailored to the specific needs of a person with a disability and require the least possible adaptation and minimum cost; also promote the idea of ​​universal design in the development of standards and guidelines;

(g) Conduct or encourage research and development, and promote the availability and use of new technologies, including information and communications technologies, mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, suitable for persons with disabilities, giving priority to low-cost technologies;

(h) Provide accessible information to persons with disabilities on mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, including new technologies, as well as other forms of assistance, support services and facilities;

(i) Encourage the teaching of the rights recognized in this Convention to professionals and staff working with persons with disabilities in order to improve the provision of assistance and services guaranteed by these rights.

2. With regard to economic, social and cultural rights, each State Party undertakes to take, to the fullest extent possible the resources available to it and, where necessary, resort to international cooperation, measures to progressively achieve the full realization of these rights without prejudice to those set out in of this Convention, obligations that are directly applicable under international law.

3. In developing and implementing legislation and policies to implement this Convention and in other decision-making processes on issues affecting persons with disabilities, States Parties shall closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, through their representative organizations .

4. Nothing in this Convention shall affect any provisions which are more conducive to the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities and which may be contained in the laws of a State Party or international law in force in that State. There shall be no limitation or impairment of any human rights or fundamental freedoms recognized or existing in any State Party to this Convention, by virtue of law, convention, regulation or custom, on the pretext that this Convention does not recognize such rights or freedoms or that they are recognized to a lesser extent.

5. The provisions of this Convention shall apply to all parts of federal states without any restrictions or exceptions.

Article 5

Equality and non-discrimination

1. The participating States recognize that all persons are equal before and under the law and are entitled to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without any discrimination.

2. States Parties shall prohibit any discrimination on the basis of disability and shall guarantee persons with disabilities equal and effective legal protection against discrimination on any basis.

3. To promote equality and eliminate discrimination, States Parties shall take all appropriate steps to ensure reasonable accommodation.

4. Specific measures necessary to accelerate or achieve substantive equality for persons with disabilities shall not be considered discrimination within the meaning of this Convention.

Article 6

Disabled women

1. States Parties recognize that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple discrimination and, in this regard, take measures to ensure their full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the full development, advancement and empowerment of women to ensure their enjoyment and enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms set forth in this Convention.

Article 7

Disabled children

1. States Parties shall take all necessary measures to ensure that children with disabilities fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children.

2. In all actions concerning children with disabilities, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

3. States Parties shall ensure that children with disabilities have the right to freely express their views on all matters affecting them, which are given due weight appropriate to their age and maturity, on an equal basis with other children, and to receive disability- and age-appropriate assistance in doing so. rights.

Article 8

Educational work

1. States Parties undertake to take prompt, effective and appropriate measures to:

(a) Raise awareness of disability issues throughout society, including at the family level, and strengthen respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities;

(b) Combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices against persons with disabilities, including those based on gender and age, in all areas of life;

c) Promote the potential and contributions of persons with disabilities.

2. Measures taken for this purpose include:

a) launching and maintaining effective public education campaigns designed to:

i) develop sensitivity to the rights of persons with disabilities;

ii) promote positive images of persons with disabilities and greater public understanding of them;

iii) promote recognition of the skills, strengths and abilities of persons with disabilities and their contributions in the workplace and labor market;

b) education at all levels of the education system, including among all children from an early age, respect for the rights of persons with disabilities;

c) encouraging all media to portray persons with disabilities in a manner consistent with the purpose of this Convention;

d) promoting educational and awareness-raising programs on persons with disabilities and their rights.

Article 9

Availability

1. To enable persons with disabilities to lead independent lives and participate fully in all aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access on an equal basis with others to the physical environment, to transport, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems , as well as other facilities and services open or provided to the public, in both urban and rural areas. These measures, which include identifying and eliminating obstacles and barriers to accessibility, should cover, in particular:

a) on buildings, roads, transport and other internal and external objects, including schools, residential buildings, medical institutions and workplaces;

b) information, communication and other services, including electronic services and emergency services.

2. States Parties shall also take appropriate measures to:

a) develop, implement and monitor compliance with minimum standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and services open or provided to the public;

(b) Ensure that private enterprises that offer facilities and services open to or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for persons with disabilities;

c) provide training to all parties involved on accessibility issues faced by persons with disabilities;

d) equip buildings and other facilities open to the public with signs in Braille and in an easily readable and understandable form;

e) provide various types of assistant and intermediary services, including guides, readers and professional sign language interpreters, to facilitate accessibility to buildings and other facilities open to the public;

f) develop other appropriate forms of assistance and support for persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information;

(g) Promote access of persons with disabilities to new information and communication technologies and systems, including the Internet;

h) encourage the design, development, production and dissemination of natively accessible information and communications technologies and systems so that the availability of these technologies and systems is achieved at minimal cost.

Article 10

The right to live

States Parties reaffirm the inalienable right of every person to life and take all necessary measures to ensure its effective enjoyment by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.

Article 11

Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies

States Parties shall take, consistent with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including armed conflicts, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters.

Article 12

Equality before the law

1. The participating States reaffirm that everyone with disabilities, wherever they may be, has the right to equal legal protection.

2. States Parties recognize that persons with disabilities have legal capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life.

3. States Parties shall take appropriate measures to provide persons with disabilities with access to the support they may require in exercising their legal capacity.

4. States Parties shall ensure that all measures relating to the exercise of legal capacity include appropriate and effective safeguards to prevent abuses, in accordance with international human rights law. Such safeguards should ensure that measures relating to the exercise of legal capacity respect the person's rights, will and preferences, are free from conflicts of interest and undue influence, are proportionate and tailored to the person's circumstances, are applied for the shortest possible time and regularly reviewed by a competent, independent and impartial authority or court. These guarantees must be proportionate to the extent to which such measures affect the rights and interests of the person concerned.

5. Subject to the provisions of this article, States Parties shall take all appropriate and effective measures to ensure the equal rights of persons with disabilities to own and inherit property, to manage their own financial affairs, and to equal access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit. and ensure that persons with disabilities are not arbitrarily deprived of their property.

Article 13

Access to justice

1. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities have, on an equal basis with others, effective access to justice, including by providing procedural and age-appropriate accommodations to facilitate their effective roles as direct and indirect participants, including witnesses, in all stages of the legal process, including the investigative stage. and other pre-production stages.

2. To facilitate effective access to justice for persons with disabilities, States Parties shall promote appropriate training for persons working in the administration of justice, including in the police and prison systems.

Article 14

Freedom and Personal Security

1. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others:

a) enjoy the right to freedom and security of person;

b) have not been deprived of liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily and that any deprivation of liberty is in accordance with the law and that the presence of a disability in no case becomes a basis for deprivation of liberty.

2. States Parties shall ensure that, where persons with disabilities are deprived of their liberty under any procedure, they are entitled, on an equal basis with others, to guarantees consistent with international human rights law and that their treatment is consistent with the purposes and principles of this Convention, including providing reasonable accommodation.

Article 15

Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

1. No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no person shall be subjected to medical or scientific experiment without his free consent.

2. States Parties shall take all effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to ensure that persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, are not subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 16

Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse

1. States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social, educational and other measures to protect persons with disabilities, both at home and outside, from all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, including those aspects that are gender-based.

2. States Parties shall also take all appropriate measures to prevent all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, including by ensuring appropriate forms of age- and gender-sensitive assistance and support to persons with disabilities, their families and carers of persons with disabilities, including including through awareness and education on how to avoid, identify and report exploitation, violence and abuse. States Parties shall ensure that protection services are provided in an age-, gender- and disability-sensitive manner.

3. In an effort to prevent all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, States Parties shall ensure that all institutions and programs serving persons with disabilities are subject to effective oversight by independent authorities.

4. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote the physical, cognitive and psychological recovery, rehabilitation and social reintegration of persons with disabilities who are victims of any form of exploitation, violence or abuse, including through the provision of protection services. Such recovery and reintegration takes place in an environment that promotes the health, well-being, self-respect, dignity and autonomy of the person concerned, and is carried out in an age- and gender-specific way.

5. States Parties shall adopt effective legislation and policies, including those targeting women and children, to ensure that exploitation, violence and abuse of persons with disabilities are identified, investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted.

Article 17

Protecting Personal Integrity

Every person with disabilities has the right to have their physical and mental integrity respected on an equal basis with others.

Article 18

Freedom of movement and citizenship

1. States Parties recognize the rights of persons with disabilities to freedom of movement, freedom of choice of residence and citizenship on an equal basis with others, including by ensuring that persons with disabilities:

a) have the right to acquire and change nationality and have not been deprived of their nationality arbitrarily or because of disability;

(b) are not prevented, by reason of disability, from obtaining, possessing and using documents confirming their citizenship or other identification of their identity, or from using appropriate procedures, such as immigration, that may be necessary to facilitate the exercise of the right to freedom of movement;

c) had the right to freely leave any country, including their own;

d) have not been arbitrarily or on account of disability deprived of the right to enter their own country.

2. Disabled children are registered immediately after birth and from the moment of birth have the right to a name and to acquire a nationality and, to the greatest extent possible, the right to know their parents and the right to be cared for by them.

Article 19

Independent living and involvement in the local community

States Parties to this Convention recognize the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in their usual place of residence, with the same choices as others, and take effective and appropriate measures to promote the full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of this right and their full inclusion and inclusion in the local community, including ensuring that:

a) persons with disabilities had the opportunity, on an equal basis with other people, to choose their place of residence and where and with whom to live, and were not obliged to live in any specific living conditions;

b) persons with disabilities have access to a range of home-based, community-based and other community-based support services, including personal assistance necessary to support living in and inclusion in the community and to avoid isolation or segregation from the community ;

(c) services and public facilities intended for the general population are equally accessible to persons with disabilities and meet their needs.

Article 20

Individual mobility

States Parties shall take effective measures to ensure individual mobility for persons with disabilities with the greatest possible degree of independence, including by:

a) promoting individual mobility of persons with disabilities in the way, at the time, and at an affordable price;

(b) Facilitating access for persons with disabilities to quality mobility aids, devices, assistive technologies and assistive services, including by making them available at an affordable price;

c) training people with disabilities and specialists working with them in mobility skills;

(d) Encouraging businesses that produce mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies to take into account all aspects of the mobility of persons with disabilities.

Article 21

Freedom of expression and belief and access to information

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can enjoy the right to freedom of expression and belief, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others, through all forms of communication of their choice, as defined in article 2 of this Conventions including:

a) providing persons with disabilities with information intended for the general public, in accessible formats and using technologies that take different forms of disability into account, in a timely manner and at no additional cost;

b) acceptance and promotion of the use in official communications of: sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative modes of communication and all other accessible modes, methods and formats of communication of the choice of persons with disabilities;

(c) Actively encouraging private enterprises providing services to the general public, including via the Internet, to provide information and services in accessible and accessible formats for persons with disabilities;

d) encouraging the media, including those providing information via the Internet, to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities;

e) recognition and encouragement of the use of sign languages.

Article 22

Privacy

1. Regardless of place of residence or living conditions, no disabled person shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful attacks on the inviolability of his private life, family, home or correspondence and other types of communication, or to unlawful attacks on his honor and reputation. Persons with disabilities have the right to the protection of the law against such attacks or attacks.

2. The participating states shall protect the confidentiality of information about the identity, state of health and rehabilitation of disabled people on an equal basis with others.

Article 23

Respect for home and family

1. States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities in all matters relating to marriage, family, parenthood and personal relationships, on an equal basis with others, while endeavoring to ensure that:

a) the right of all persons with disabilities who have reached marriageable age to marry and create a family is recognized on the basis of the free and full consent of the spouses;

(b) Recognize the rights of persons with disabilities to make free and responsible decisions about the number and spacing of children and to access age-appropriate information and education about reproductive behavior and family planning, and provide means to enable them to exercise these rights;

c) persons with disabilities, including children, retain their fertility on an equal basis with others.

2. States Parties shall ensure the rights and obligations of persons with disabilities in relation to guardianship, trusteeship, guardianship, adoption of children or similar institutions, when these concepts are present in national legislation; In all cases, the best interests of the child are paramount. States Parties shall provide persons with disabilities with adequate assistance in fulfilling their child-rearing responsibilities.

3. States Parties shall ensure that children with disabilities have equal rights in relation to family life. To realize these rights and prevent children with disabilities from being hidden, abandoned, evaded or segregated, States Parties commit to providing children with disabilities and their families with comprehensive information, services and support from the outset.

4. States Parties shall ensure that a child is not separated from his or her parents against their will unless competent authorities subject to judicial review, in accordance with applicable laws and procedures, determine that such separation is necessary in the best interests of the child. Under no circumstances may a child be separated from his parents because of the disability of either the child or one or both parents.

5. States Parties undertake, in the event that immediate relatives are unable to provide care for a disabled child, to make every effort to organize alternative care through the involvement of more distant relatives, and if this is not possible, through the creation of family conditions for the child to live in the local community.

Article 24

Education

1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. In order to realize this right without discrimination and on the basis of equality of opportunity, States Parties shall provide inclusive education at all levels and lifelong learning, while seeking to:

a) to the full development of human potential, as well as a sense of dignity and self-respect and to strengthening respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human diversity;

b) to develop the personality, talents and creativity of persons with disabilities, as well as their mental and physical abilities to the fullest extent;

c) to enable persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a free society.

2. In exercising this right, States Parties shall ensure that:

a) people with disabilities were not excluded because of disability from the general education system, and disabled children were not excluded from the system of free and compulsory primary education or secondary education;

(b) Persons with disabilities have equal access to inclusive, quality and free primary and secondary education in their areas of residence;

c) reasonable accommodation is provided to suit individual needs;

d) persons with disabilities receive the required support within the general education system to facilitate their effective learning;

(e) In an environment that maximizes learning and social development, effective individualized support is provided to ensure full inclusion.

3. States Parties shall provide persons with disabilities with the opportunity to learn life and socialization skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as members of the local community. The participating States are taking appropriate measures in this regard, including:

a) promote the acquisition of Braille, alternative scripts, augmentative and alternative methods, modes and formats of communication, as well as orientation and mobility skills, and promote peer support and mentoring;

b) promote the acquisition of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of deaf people;

(c) Ensure that the education of persons, in particular children, who are blind, deaf or deaf-blind, is provided through the languages ​​and methods of communication most appropriate to the individual and in an environment that is most conducive to learning and social development.

4. To help ensure the realization of this right, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to recruit teachers, including teachers with disabilities, who are proficient in sign language and/or Braille, and to train professionals and staff working at all levels of the education system. . Such training covers disability education and the use of appropriate augmentative and alternative methods, communication methods and formats, teaching methods and materials to support persons with disabilities.

5. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities have access to general higher education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning without discrimination and on an equal basis with others. To this end, States Parties shall ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided for persons with disabilities.

Article 25

Health

States Parties recognize that persons with disabilities have the right to the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to gender-sensitive health services, including rehabilitation for health reasons. In particular, participating States:

a) provide persons with disabilities with the same range, quality and level of free or low-cost health services and programs as other persons, including in the field of sexual and reproductive health and through government health programs offered to the population;

(b) provide those health services that are needed by persons with disabilities as a direct result of their disability, including early diagnosis and, where appropriate, intervention and services designed to minimize and prevent the further occurrence of disability, including among children and the elderly;

c) organize these health services as close as possible to where these people live, including in rural areas;

d) require health care professionals to provide services to persons with disabilities of the same quality as those provided to others, including on the basis of free and informed consent by, inter alia, raising awareness of the human rights, dignity, autonomy and needs of persons with disabilities through education and acceptance ethical standards for public and private health care;

(e) prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in the provision of health and life insurance, where the latter is permitted by national law, and provide that it is provided on a fair and reasonable basis;

f) do not discriminately deny health care or health care services or food or fluids on the basis of disability.

Article 26

Habilitation and rehabilitation

1. States Parties shall take, including with the support of other persons with disabilities, effective and appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to achieve and maintain maximum independence, full physical, mental, social and vocational capabilities and full inclusion and participation in all aspects of life. To this end, participating States shall organize, strengthen and expand comprehensive habilitation and rehabilitation services and programs, especially in the fields of health, employment, education and social services, in such a way that these services and programs:

a) began to be implemented as early as possible and were based on a multidisciplinary assessment of the needs and strengths of the individual;

b) promote participation and inclusion in the local community and in all aspects of social life, are voluntary in nature and are accessible to persons with disabilities as close as possible to their immediate place of residence, including in rural areas.

2. The participating States shall encourage the development of initial and continuing training of specialists and personnel working in the field of habilitation and rehabilitation services.

3. States Parties shall promote the availability, knowledge and use of assistive devices and technologies for persons with disabilities related to habilitation and rehabilitation.

Article 27

Labor and employment

1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others; it includes the right to the opportunity to earn a living by work that a person with disabilities freely chooses or accepts, in conditions where the labor market and work environment are open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. States Parties shall ensure and encourage the realization of the right to work, including by those persons who become disabled during their work activities, by taking, including through legislation, appropriate measures aimed, in particular, at the following:

(a) Prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability in all matters relating to all forms of employment, including conditions of recruitment, hiring and employment, job retention, promotion and safe and healthy working conditions;

(b) protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, to just and favorable conditions of work, including equal opportunity and equal remuneration for work of equal value, safe and healthy working conditions, including protection from harassment, and redress of grievances;

(c) ensuring that persons with disabilities can exercise their labor and trade union rights on an equal basis with others;

d) enabling persons with disabilities to effectively access general technical and vocational guidance programmes, employment services and vocational and continuing education;

(e) expanding labor market opportunities for employment and advancement of persons with disabilities, as well as providing assistance in finding, obtaining, maintaining and re-entering employment;

f) expanding opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship, development of cooperatives and organizing your own business;

g) employment of persons with disabilities in the public sector;

(h) Encouraging the hiring of persons with disabilities in the private sector through appropriate policies and measures, which may include affirmative action programs, incentives and other measures;

i) providing persons with disabilities with reasonable accommodation in the workplace;

j) encouraging persons with disabilities to gain work experience in an open labor market;

k) promoting vocational and skill rehabilitation, job retention and return to work programs for persons with disabilities.

2. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are not held in slavery or servitude and are protected on an equal basis with others from forced or compulsory labor.

Article 28

Adequate standard of living and social protection

1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continued improvement of living conditions, and take appropriate measures to ensure and promote the realization of this right without discrimination on the basis of disability.

2. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to social protection and to enjoy this right without discrimination on the basis of disability and take appropriate measures to ensure and promote the realization of this right, including measures to:

a) to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to clean water and to ensure access to adequate and affordable services, devices and other assistance to meet disability-related needs;

(b) to ensure that persons with disabilities, in particular women, girls and older persons with disabilities, have access to social protection and poverty reduction programmes;

(c) To ensure that persons with disabilities and their families living in poverty have access to government assistance to cover disability-related costs, including appropriate training, counseling, financial assistance and respite care;

d) to ensure access to public housing programs for persons with disabilities;

e) to ensure that people with disabilities have access to pension benefits and programs.

Article 29

Participation in political and public life

States Parties guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others and undertake to:

(a) Ensure that persons with disabilities are able to participate effectively and fully, directly or through freely chosen representatives, in political and public life on an equal basis with others, including the right and opportunity to vote and be elected, in particular through:

i) ensuring that voting procedures, facilities and materials are suitable, accessible and easy to understand and use;

ii) protecting the right of persons with disabilities to vote by secret ballot in elections and public referendums without intimidation and to stand for election, to actually hold office and to perform all public functions at all levels of government - promoting the use of assistive and new technologies where applicable appropriate;

(iii) guaranteeing the free expression of the will of persons with disabilities as voters and, to this end, granting, where necessary, their requests for assistance with voting by a person of their choice;

(b) Actively promote the creation of an environment in which persons with disabilities can participate effectively and fully in the management of public affairs without discrimination and on an equal basis with others, and encourage their participation in public affairs, including:

i) participation in non-governmental organizations and associations whose work is related to the state and political life of the country, including in the activities of political parties and their leadership;

ii) creating and joining organizations of persons with disabilities to represent persons with disabilities at the international, national, regional and local levels.

Article 30

Participation in cultural life, leisure and recreation and sports

1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in cultural life and shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities:

a) had access to cultural works in accessible formats;

b) had access to television programmes, films, theater and other cultural events in accessible formats;

c) have access to cultural venues or services such as theatres, museums, cinemas, libraries and tourism services, and to the greatest extent possible have access to monuments and sites of national cultural significance.

2. States Parties shall take appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to develop and use their creative, artistic and intellectual potential, not only for their own benefit, but also for the enrichment of society as a whole.

3. States Parties shall take all appropriate steps, consistent with international law, to ensure that laws protecting intellectual property rights do not constitute an undue or discriminatory barrier to access to cultural works by persons with disabilities.

4. Persons with disabilities have the right on an equal basis with others to have their distinct cultural and linguistic identities recognized and supported, including sign languages ​​and deaf culture.

5. To enable persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in leisure, recreation and sporting activities, States Parties shall take appropriate measures:

a) to encourage and promote the fullest possible participation of persons with disabilities in general sporting events at all levels;

(b) to ensure that persons with disabilities have the opportunity to organize, develop and participate in sports and leisure activities specifically for persons with disabilities, and to promote in this regard that they are provided with appropriate education, training and resources on an equal basis with others;

c) to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to sports, recreational and tourism facilities;

d) to ensure that children with disabilities have equal access to participation in play, leisure and sporting activities, including activities within the school system, as other children;

e) to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to the services of those involved in organizing leisure, tourism, recreation and sporting events.

Article 31

Statistics and data collection

1. States Parties undertake to collect adequate information, including statistical and research data, to enable them to develop and implement strategies for the implementation of this Convention. In the process of collecting and storing this information, you should:

(a) Comply with legally established safeguards, including data protection legislation, to ensure the confidentiality and privacy of persons with disabilities;

b) comply with internationally recognized standards regarding the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as ethical principles in the collection and use of statistical data.

2. Information collected in accordance with this article shall be disaggregated as appropriate and used to facilitate the assessment of how States Parties are fulfilling their obligations under this Convention and to identify and address barriers that persons with disabilities face in the enjoyment of their rights.

3. States Parties take responsibility for disseminating these statistics and ensuring their accessibility to persons with disabilities and others.

Article 32

The international cooperation

1. States Parties recognize the importance of international cooperation and its promotion in support of national efforts to achieve the goals and objectives of this Convention and take appropriate and effective measures in this regard interstate and, where appropriate, in partnership with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society, in particular organizations of people with disabilities. Such measures could include, in particular:

(a) Ensuring that international cooperation, including international development programmes, is inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities;

b) facilitating and supporting the strengthening of existing capabilities, including through the mutual exchange of information, experiences, programs and best practices;

c) promoting cooperation in the field of research and access to scientific and technical knowledge;

d) providing, where appropriate, technical and economic assistance, including through facilitating access to and sharing of accessible and assistive technologies, as well as through technology transfer.

2. The provisions of this article shall not affect the obligations of each State Party to fulfill its obligations under this Convention.

Article 33

National implementation and monitoring

1. States Parties, in accordance with their organizational structure, shall designate one or more authorities within government responsible for matters related to the implementation of this Convention and shall give due consideration to the possibility of establishing or designating a coordination mechanism within government to facilitate related work in various sectors and areas. levels.

2. States Parties, in accordance with their legal and administrative structures, shall maintain, strengthen, designate or establish a structure, including, where appropriate, one or more independent mechanisms, for the promotion, protection and monitoring of the implementation of this Convention. In designating or establishing such a mechanism, States Parties shall take into account the principles relating to the status and functioning of national institutions charged with the protection and promotion of human rights.

3. Civil society, in particular people with disabilities and their representative organizations, are fully involved in and participate in the monitoring process.

Article 34

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

1. There shall be established a Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”), which shall perform the functions provided for below.

2. At the time of entry into force of this Convention, the Committee shall consist of twelve experts. After another sixty ratifications of or accessions to the Convention, the membership of the Committee increases by six persons, reaching a maximum of eighteen members.

3. The members of the Committee shall serve in their personal capacity and shall be of high moral character and recognized competence and experience in the field covered by this Convention. When nominating their candidates, States Parties are requested to give due consideration to the provisions set out in Article 4, paragraph 3, of this Convention.

4. The members of the Committee are elected by the States Parties, with due regard to equitable geographical distribution, representation of different forms of civilization and major legal systems, gender balance and the participation of experts with disabilities.

5. Members of the Committee are elected by secret ballot from a list of candidates nominated by States Parties from among their citizens at meetings of the Conference of States Parties. At these meetings, at which two-thirds of the States Parties constitute a quorum, those elected to the Committee are those who receive the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of the States Parties present and voting.

6. Initial elections shall be held no later than six months from the date of entry into force of this Convention. At least four months before the date of each election, the Secretary-General of the United Nations writes to participating States inviting them to submit nominations within two months. The Secretary-General shall then draw up, in alphabetical order, a list of all candidates so nominated, indicating the States Parties which nominated them, and transmit it to the States Parties to this Convention.

7. Members of the Committee are elected for a four-year term. They are eligible to be re-elected only once. However, the terms of six of the members elected in the first election expire at the end of the two-year period; Immediately after the first election, the names of these six members shall be determined by lot by the presiding officer at the meeting referred to in paragraph 5 of this article.

8. The election of six additional members of the Committee shall be held in conjunction with regular elections governed by the relevant provisions of this article.

9. If any member of the Committee dies or resigns or declares that he is no longer able to perform his duties for any other reason, the State Party that nominated that member shall nominate another expert qualified to serve for the remainder of his term of office. and meeting the requirements provided for in the relevant provisions of this article.

10. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure.

11. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary personnel and facilities for the effective performance by the Committee of its functions under this Convention and shall convene its first meeting.

12. The members of the Committee established in accordance with this Convention shall receive remuneration approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations from the funds of the United Nations in the manner and under the conditions established by the Assembly, having regard to the importance of the duties of the Committee.

13. Members of the Committee are entitled to the benefits, privileges and immunities of experts on mission on behalf of the United Nations, as set forth in the relevant sections of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

Article 35

Reports of States Parties

1. Each State Party shall submit to the Committee, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a comprehensive report on the measures taken to implement its obligations under this Convention and on the progress made in this regard, within two years after the entry into force of this Convention for the relevant State Party.

2. States parties shall then submit subsequent reports at least once every four years, and whenever requested by the Committee.

3. The Committee shall establish guidelines governing the content of reports.

4. A State Party that has submitted a comprehensive initial report to the Committee need not repeat in its subsequent reports information previously provided. States Parties are invited to consider making the preparation of reports to the Committee an open and transparent process and to give due regard to the provisions set out in article 4, paragraph 3, of this Convention.

5. The reports may indicate factors and difficulties affecting the degree of fulfillment of the obligations under this Convention.

Article 36

Review of reports

1. Each report is examined by the Committee, which makes proposals and general recommendations on it that it considers appropriate and forwards them to the State Party concerned. A State Party may, by way of response, forward to the Committee any information it chooses. The Committee may request from States Parties additional information relevant to the implementation of this Convention.

2. When a State Party is significantly late in submitting a report, the Committee may notify the State Party concerned that if no report is submitted within three months of such notification, the implementation of this Convention in that State Party will need to be reviewed based on reliable information available to the Committee. The Committee invites the State party concerned to participate in such a review. If a State Party submits a corresponding report in response, the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article shall apply.

3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations makes the reports available to all participating States.

4. States Parties shall ensure that their reports are widely available to the public in their own countries and that proposals and general recommendations relating to these reports can be made readily available.

5. Whenever the Committee considers it appropriate, it shall transmit reports of States Parties to the specialized agencies, funds and programs of the United Nations and other competent bodies for their attention to the request for technical advice or assistance contained therein or to the need for the latter, together with the Committee's observations and recommendations (if any) regarding these requests or instructions.

Article 37

Cooperation between States Parties and the Committee

1. Each State Party shall cooperate with the Committee and provide assistance to its members in carrying out their mandate.

2. In its relations with States Parties, the Committee shall give due consideration to ways and means of strengthening national capacities to implement this Convention, including through international cooperation.

Article 38

Relations of the Committee with other bodies

To facilitate the effective implementation of this Convention and to encourage international cooperation in the field covered by it:

(a) The specialized agencies and other organs of the United Nations shall have the right to be represented when considering the implementation of such provisions of this Convention as fall within their mandate. Whenever the Committee considers it appropriate, it may invite specialized agencies and other competent bodies to provide expert advice on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within their respective mandates. The Committee may invite specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies to submit reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas within the scope of their activities;

(b) In carrying out its mandate, the Committee shall consult, as appropriate, with other relevant bodies established by international human rights treaties to ensure consistency in their respective reporting guidelines, proposals and general recommendations and avoid duplication and parallelism in the implementation of their functions.

Article 39

Report of the Committee

The Committee submits a report on its activities to the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council every two years and may make proposals and general recommendations based on its consideration of reports and information received from States Parties. Such proposals and general recommendations are included in the Committee's report along with comments (if any) from States Parties.

Article 40

Conference of States Parties

1. States Parties shall meet regularly in a Conference of States Parties to consider any matter relating to the implementation of this Convention.

2. Not later than six months after the entry into force of this Convention, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene a Conference of States Parties. Subsequent meetings are convened by the Secretary-General every two years or as decided by the Conference of States Parties.

Article 41

Depository

The Depositary of this Convention is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 42

Signing

This Convention has been open for signature by all States and regional integration organizations at United Nations Headquarters in New York since 30 March 2007.

Article 43

Consent to be bound

This Convention is subject to ratification by signatory States and formal confirmation by signatory regional integration organizations. It is open to accession by any state or regional integration organization that has not signed this Convention.

Article 44

Regional integration organizations

1. "Regional Integration Organization" means an organization established by the sovereign States of a particular region to which its member States have transferred competence in relation to matters governed by this Convention. Such organizations shall indicate in their instruments of formal confirmation or accession the extent of their competence with respect to matters governed by this Convention. They shall subsequently inform the depositary of any significant changes in the scope of their competence.

3. For the purposes of paragraph 1 of Article 45 and paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 47 of this Convention, no document deposited by a regional integration organization shall be counted.

4. In matters within their competence, regional integration organizations may exercise their right to vote at the Conference of States Parties with a number of votes equal to the number of their member States that are parties to this Convention. Such an organization shall not exercise its right to vote if any of its member states exercises its right, and vice versa.

Article 45

Entry into force

1. This Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession.

2. For each State or regional integration organization ratifying, formally confirming or acceding to this Convention after the deposit of the twentieth such instrument, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit of its such instrument.

Article 46

Reservations

1. Reservations inconsistent with the object and purpose of this Convention are not permitted.

Article 47

Amendments

1. Any State Party may propose an amendment to this Convention and submit it to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General shall communicate any proposed amendments to States Parties, asking them to notify him whether they favor a conference of States Parties to consider and decide on the proposals. If, within four months from the date of such communication, at least one third of the States Parties are in favor of holding such a conference, the Secretary-General shall convene a conference under the auspices of the United Nations. Any amendment approved by a two-thirds majority of States Parties present and voting shall be sent by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly of the United Nations for approval and then to all States Parties for acceptance.

3. If the Conference of States Parties so decides by consensus, the amendment approved and approved in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article, which relates exclusively to Articles 34, 38, 39 and 40, shall enter into force for all States Parties on the thirtieth day after as the number of deposited instruments of acceptance reaches two-thirds of the number from States Parties on the date of approval of this amendment.

Article 48

Denunciation

A State Party may denounce this Convention by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The denunciation shall take effect one year after the date of receipt by the Secretary-General of such notification.

Article 49

Available format

The text of this Convention must be made available in accessible formats.

Article 50

Authentic texts

The texts of this Convention in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish are equally authentic.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention.

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The States Parties to this Protocol have agreed as follows:

Article 1

1. A State Party to this Protocol (“State Party”) recognizes the competence of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (“the Committee”) to receive and consider communications from persons or groups of persons within its jurisdiction who claim to be victims of a violation by that State Party provisions of the Convention, or on their behalf.

2. A communication shall not be accepted by the Committee if it concerns a State party to the Convention that is not a party to this Protocol.

Article 2

The Committee considers a communication inadmissible when:

a) the message is anonymous;

b) the communication constitutes an abuse of the right to make such communications or is incompatible with the provisions of the Convention;

(c) the same matter has already been considered by the Committee or has been or is being considered under another procedure of international investigation or settlement;

d) not all available internal remedies have been exhausted. This rule does not apply when the application of remedies is unreasonably delayed or is unlikely to have an effective effect;

e) it is clearly unfounded or insufficiently substantiated, or

f) the facts which are the subject of the communication occurred before the entry into force of this Protocol for the State Party concerned, unless these facts continued after that date.

Article 3

Subject to the provisions of article 2 of this Protocol, the Committee shall bring any communications submitted to it to the attention of the State Party in confidence. Within six months, the notified State shall submit to the Committee written explanations or statements clarifying the issue or remedy (if any) that the State may have pursued.

Article 4

1. At any time between receipt of a communication and its determination on the merits, the Committee may submit to the State Party concerned, for its urgent consideration, a request that that State Party take such interim measures as may be necessary to avoid possible irreparable harm to the victim or victims alleged violation.

2. When the Committee exercises its discretion in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article, this does not mean that it has made a decision regarding the admissibility of the merits of the communication.

Article 5

When considering communications in accordance with this Protocol, the Committee holds closed meetings. After examining the communication, the Committee forwards its proposals and recommendations (if any) to the State party and complainant concerned.

Article 6

1. If the Committee receives reliable information indicating serious or systematic violations by a State party of the rights enshrined in the Convention, it invites that State party to cooperate in examining the information and, for that purpose, to submit observations on the information in question.

2. Taking into account any observations that may be submitted by the State Party concerned, as well as any other reliable information in its possession, the Committee may instruct one or more of its members to conduct an investigation and report promptly to the Committee. Where warranted and with the consent of the State Party, the investigation may include a visit to its territory.

3. After examining the results of such an investigation, the Committee shall transmit those results to the State Party concerned, together with any comments and recommendations.

4. Within six months of receipt of the findings, comments and recommendations transmitted by the Committee, the State Party shall submit its observations to it.

5. Such investigations will be conducted in a confidential manner and the cooperation of the State Party will be sought at all stages of the process.

Article 7

1. The Committee may invite the State Party concerned to include in its report under article 35 of the Convention information on any measures taken in response to an investigation conducted pursuant to article 6 of this Protocol.

2. If necessary, the Committee may, after the expiration of the six-month period referred to in article 6, paragraph 4, invite the State Party concerned to inform it of the measures taken in response to such an investigation.

Article 8

Each State Party may, at the time of signature, ratification or accession to this Protocol, declare that it does not recognize the competence of the Committee provided for in articles 6 and 7.

Article 9

The Depositary of this Protocol is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 10

This Protocol has been open for signature by signatory States and regional integration organizations at United Nations Headquarters in New York since 30 March 2007.

Article 11

This Protocol is subject to ratification by signatory States that have ratified or acceded to the Convention. It is subject to formal confirmation by signatory regional integration organizations that have formally endorsed or acceded to the Convention. It is open to accession by any State or regional integration organization that has ratified, formally confirmed or acceded to the Convention and which has not signed this Protocol.

Article 12

1. “Regional Integration Organization” means an organization established by the sovereign States of a particular region to which its member States have transferred competence in matters governed by the Convention and this Protocol. Such organizations shall indicate in their instruments of formal confirmation or accession the scope of their competence with respect to matters governed by the Convention and this Protocol. They shall subsequently inform the depositary of any significant changes in the scope of their competence.

3. For the purposes of paragraph 1 of Article 13 and paragraph 2 of Article 15 of this Protocol, no document deposited by a regional integration organization shall be counted.

4. In matters within their competence, regional integration organizations may exercise their right to vote at a meeting of States Parties with a number of votes equal to the number of their Member States that are parties to this Protocol. Such an organization shall not exercise its right to vote if any of its member states exercises its right, and vice versa.

Article 13

1. Subject to the entry into force of the Convention, this Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification or accession.

2. For each State or regional integration organization ratifying, formally confirming or acceding to this Protocol after the deposit of the tenth such instrument, the Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit of its such instrument.

Article 14

1. Reservations incompatible with the object and purpose of this Protocol are not permitted.

2. Reservations can be withdrawn at any time.

Article 15

1. Any State Party may propose an amendment to this Protocol and submit it to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General shall communicate any proposed amendments to States Parties, asking them to notify him whether they favor a meeting of States Parties to consider and decide on the proposals. If, within four months from the date of such communication, at least a third of the participating States are in favor of holding such a meeting, the Secretary-General shall convene the meeting under the auspices of the United Nations. Any amendment approved by a two-thirds majority of States Parties present and voting shall be sent by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly of the United Nations for approval and then to all States Parties for acceptance.

2. An amendment approved and approved in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the number of instruments of acceptance deposited reaches two-thirds of the number of States Parties on the date of approval of the amendment. The amendment shall subsequently enter into force for any State Party on the thirtieth day after the deposit of its instrument of acceptance. The amendment is binding only on those member states that have accepted it.

Article 16

A State Party may denounce this Protocol by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The denunciation shall take effect one year after the date of receipt by the Secretary-General of such notification.

Article 17

The text of this Protocol must be made available in accessible formats.

Article 18

The texts of this Protocol in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish are equally authentic.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Protocol.

The document is published based on site materials

Reading time: ~7 minutes Marina Semenova 294

International legislation regulating relations between states is based on the principles of freedom from discrimination for all people in the exercise of their rights. Along with generally accepted standards, there are separate documents that directly relate to people with disabilities.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international law treaty that defines the rights of persons with disabilities and the obligations of participating countries to promote, protect and ensure these rights. Includes the development of a social perspective, which recognizes the importance of international cooperation.

International law

Over the years of work of the UN, many regulations have been developed in the interests of disabled people. In creating legal protection, various aspects of the lives and hardships of the world's disabled population were studied. As a result, there are several dozen documents regulating the benefits of special people.

The main ones include:

• 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• The rights of the child, collected in the 1959 declaration.
• International Covenants of 1966.
• Document on social progress and development.
• The 1975 Declaration of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the first international treaty. Dedicated to unhealthy people of all categories. Considered the founder of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of December 13, 2006.

In order to become a party to the Agreement, the state signs the agreement. Signature creates an obligation to ratify it. During the period between the consolidation of the treaty and the implementation of ratification, the country must refrain from actions that would prevent the target from complying with the provisions of the treaty.

Signing and ratification can take place at any time; the deadlines are observed by the candidate country to the extent of its internal preparedness for this event. Thus, the Republic of Belarus ratified the treaty only in 2016

The next step to becoming a party to the Agreement is ratification, which has specific measures confirming the intention to implement the legal rights and obligations contained in the international position.

Another action could be joining. It has the same legal effect as ratification, but if the country has signed the accession, then only one thing is required - the deposit of the instrument of accession.

What is the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

With the adoption of the 1975 Declaration, the term “disabled person” received an expanded definition. Later, during the development of the Convention, the existing definition was clarified to mean that a person has a permanent physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which, when interacted with various barriers, is likely to interfere with his or her full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

The standard enshrines the privilege of each UN member state to make its own adjustments to the existing definition and clarify disability by dividing it into groups. Currently in the Russian Federation there are officially recognized 3 groups for the adult population and the category “disabled children”, which is given to minors with any of the three disability groups.

What is the Convention? This is the text of the treatise itself and the Optional Protocol supplementing it. The signing of the document for the UN member countries took place in New York in 2006. The rules allow ratification of a document in any combination.

States that have ratified the settlement are legally required to comply with the standards set out in the Persons with Disabilities Convention

2008 was the moment when the international standard was signed. Since May 2012, Federal Law No. 46, this act has been widespread in the Russian Federation, and this is expressed by the fact that the actions of individuals, legal entities and the state itself must take into account the principles of the Convention. According to the Constitution, all international covenants adopted by the country are superior to any domestic law.

In Russia, only the Convention was adopted without the Optional Protocol. Failure to adopt the Optional Protocol limits the freedom of disabled persons to appeal against privileges violated by government agencies after exhaustion of all domestic remedies in Russia.

Why is it needed?

The need for global standards is important to clearly communicate the protection of the socially disabled people's opportunities and to reinforce the weight of these privileges. Previously adopted standards protecting unhealthy people, and the very attitude of healthy people towards inferior citizens should have brought relief to the life of the vulnerable population.

But when looking at the picture of the life existence of disabled people, it becomes clear that this potential does not work. People with various disabilities continue to be dispossessed and kept behind by the rest of society in almost all parts of the globe.

Discrimination against people with disabilities has led to the need for a legally binding document

Outlining the legal and moral obligations of the state to its citizens with disabilities to encourage and create privileges for them.

Certain elements of these obligations should be emphasized, namely:

• Recognizing that “disability” is an evolving concept associated with behavioral and emotional barriers that prevent disabled people from participating in society. This means that disability is not fixed and can change depending on the attitude of society.
• Disability is not considered a disease, and as evidence, these individuals can be admitted as active members of society. At the same time, using the full range of its advantages. An example is the tried and tested inclusive education that confirms this element.
• The State does not address the issue of a specific individual, but rather, through the treaty, identifies persons with long-term physical, mental, intellectual and sensory disabilities as beneficiaries, in accordance with the standard approach.

The Common Standard creates incentives to support national efforts to implement core commitments.

• A preamble that gives a decoding of the most important aspects in a general context.
• A purpose that reveals the need for a document.
• Basic provisions that provide a comprehensive disclosure of primary terms.
• General principles applied to the implementation of all rights enshrined in the global standard.
• Responsibilities of the state that must be carried out in relation to special people.
• The benefits of disabled persons, designated in such a way that they are equalized with the existing civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights of the ordinary person.
• Identification of measures that signatory countries must take to ensure favorable conditions for the realization of human potential.
• Framework for global cooperation.
• Implementation and control, which obliges to create boundaries for monitoring and implementation of the treatise.
• Final procedural points relevant to the Agreement.

An important article contained in the Covenant is the decision in all actions regarding children with disabilities to give primary consideration to the best interests of the child.

Obligations of participating States

The global standard defines general and specific obligations for participants in relation to the implementation of the rights of incapacitated persons. Based on the general obligations, signatory countries must:

• Take measures of legislative and administrative resources aimed at promoting the privileges of disabled members of society.
• Eliminate discrimination through the implementation of legislative acts.
• To protect and encourage unhealthy people through the implementation of government programs.
• Eliminate any practice of violating the privileges of people with disabilities.
• Ensure that the benefits of special people are respected at public and private levels.
• Provide access to assistive technology and training for the disabled and those helping them.
• Conduct consulting and information work in decision-making processes affecting the interests of needy disabled persons. In the Russian Federation there is a legal platform “Consultant Plus”, which works precisely in this direction.

The performance of all duties requires supervision. The treatise lays down the principle of regulation at the national and global level. For this purpose, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is being established at the international level. It is entrusted with the functions of reviewing periodic reports from countries on the measures they have taken to implement the chapters of the document. The Committee is also empowered to consider individual communications and conduct investigations against parties that have ratified the Optional Protocol.

Implementation of the national protection and monitoring framework of the Agreement is open. The Global Standard recognizes that such structures may vary among countries, allowing for their own framework to be established in accordance with the legal and administrative system of the state. But the Pact stipulates that any body must be independent. And the national framework must include independent national institutions on human capabilities.

Although the Treaty does not establish new privileges for the individual, it calls on countries to protect and guarantee to people with disabilities their benefits. This not only clarifies that the participant excludes discrimination against people with disabilities, but also sets out a number of measures that members of world relations must take to create favorable conditions for real equality in society. The Agreement is a much more comprehensive document than other human benefits provisions, prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equality.

Video on the topic

Optimism is the motto of our life,
Listen, you, my friend, and all of you, my friends.
Let your motto be love and faith.
The merciful God gave life
To all beings in heaven and on earth.
If you have disabled friends,
Be close to them to give them protection,
Instill in them optimism and love for life,
Tell them only cowards get discouraged
Brave people are stubborn and persistent.
We live for hope.
A kind smile will unite us.
There is no place for despair in life and you cannot live in despair.

Javan Jihad Medhat, 13, Iraq

Contains a lot of promise. The 50 articles of the Convention make clear what these promises are. In the following, the word “government” will mean the governments of those countries that have ratified the Convention (they are also called “state parties”).

Article 1: Purpose

What are laws?

Laws are rules that everyone must follow so that people live in mutual respect and safety.

What does it mean to ratify?

Governments that ratify the Convention agree to do everything possible to give effect to its provisions. Check if your state has this Convention. If so, you may want to remind government officials of their obligations. The United Nations publishes a list of states that have signed the Convention and agreed to its provisions.

This article sets out the main purpose of the Convention, which is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment by all persons with disabilities, including children, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Article 2: Definitions

This article provides a list of words that have specific definitions in the context of this Convention. For example, "language" means spoken and signed languages ​​and other forms of non-speech languages. “Communication” includes the use of languages, texts, Braille (which uses raised dots to represent letters and numbers), tactile communication, large print, and accessible multimedia (such as Internet sites and audio recordings).

Article 3: Basic principles

The principles (basic provisions) of this Convention are as follows:

• respect for a person's inherent dignity, personal autonomy, including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence;
• non-discrimination (equal treatment for everyone);
• full and effective involvement and inclusion in society;
• respect for the characteristics of persons with disabilities and their acceptance as a component of human diversity and part of humanity;
• equality of opportunity;
• accessibility (ready access to vehicles, places and information and not being denied access on the basis of disability);
• equality between men and women (boys and girls also have equal opportunities);
• respect for the developing abilities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to maintain their individuality (the right to have your abilities respected and the right to be proud of yourself).

Article 4: General obligations

Legislation should not include laws that discriminate against persons with disabilities. Where necessary, the government should develop new laws to protect the rights of people with disabilities and implement these laws in practice. If previous laws are discriminatory, the government should change them. Governments should consult with persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, when developing new laws and policies.

Article 5: Equality and non-discrimination

If there are laws that limit the opportunities for children with disabilities compared to other children, those laws need to be changed. The Government should consult with organizations on children with disabilities when introducing amendments to such laws and policies.

Governments recognize that all persons have the right to the protection and equal benefit of the law within the country in which they live.

Article 6: Women with disabilities

Governments are aware that women and girls with disabilities face multiple discrimination. They undertake to protect their human rights and freedoms.

Article 7: Disabled children

Governments shall take all necessary measures to ensure that children with disabilities fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children. They also ensure that children with disabilities have the right to freely express their views on all issues that affect them. What is best for each child should always come first.

Article 8: Educational work

Disabled boys and girls have the same rights as all children. For example, all children have the right to go to school, to play and to be protected from violence, and to participate in decision-making on issues that affect them. Governments must provide this information, as well as the necessary support to realize the rights of children with disabilities.

The media should report on injustices towards children and adults with disabilities.

Governments should work to ensure that the entire society is educated about the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, as well as their achievements and skills. They commit to combating stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices against persons with disabilities. For example, your school should encourage respect for people with disabilities, and even young children should learn this.

Article 9: Accessibility

Governments are committed to providing people with disabilities with the opportunity to live independently and participate in their communities. Any public place, including buildings, roads, schools and hospitals, must be accessible to persons with disabilities, including disabled children. If you are in a public building and need assistance, you should have a guide, reader or professional fingerprint interpreter at your disposal to help you.

Article 10: Right to life

Every person is born with the right to life. Governments guarantee persons with disabilities the inalienable right to life on an equal basis with others.

Article 11: Situations of risk and emergency situations

Persons with disabilities, like all other people, have the right to protection and safety in the event of war, an emergency, or a natural disaster such as a hurricane. By law, you cannot be turned away from a shelter or left alone while rescuing other people simply because you are disabled.

Article 12: Equality before the law

Persons with disabilities have the same legal capacity as other people. This means that when you grow up, whether you are disabled or not, you will be able to get student loans or sign a lease to rent an apartment. You may also be the owner or heir of the property.

Article 13: Access to justice

How can technology help?

Telephones, computers and other technical means must be such that people with disabilities can easily use them. For example, websites should be designed to allow the information they contain to be used by people who have difficulty using a keyboard, vision or hearing, or in another format. The computer may be equipped with a Braille keyboard or a speech synthesizer that speaks words that appear on the screen.

If you have been the victim of a crime, seen others harmed, or have been accused of committing an illegal act, you have the right to receive impartial treatment in the investigation and adjudication of your case. You must be provided with assistance so that you can participate in all stages of the legal process.

Article 14: Liberty and security of person

Governments should ensure that the freedom of people with disabilities, like the freedom of everyone else, is protected by law.

Article 15: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

No one should be subjected to torture or ill-treatment. Every person also has the right to refuse to undergo medical or scientific experiments on him.

Article 16: Protection from violence and abuse

Children with disabilities should be protected from violence and abuse. They must be protected from abuse both at home and outside. If you have been abused or mistreated, you have the right to help to stop the abuse and get back to health.

Article 17: Personal protection

No one can treat you poorly because of your physical or mental characteristics. You have the right to be respected for who you are.

Article 18: Freedom of movement and citizenship

Every child has the right to a legally registered name, nationality, and, to the greatest extent possible, the right to know and be cared for by his parents. It is also impossible to prohibit a person from entering or leaving a country because of his disability.

Article 19: Independent living and community involvement

People have the right to choose where they live, whether they are disabled or not. When you grow up, you will have the right to live independently if you want to, as well as the right to be involved in your local community. You must also be given access to the support services needed to support living in the community, including help at home and personal assistance.

Article 20: Individual mobility

Children with disabilities have the right to move freely and independently. Governments must assist them in this.

Article 21: Freedom of expression and belief and access to information

People have the right to express their opinions, to seek, receive and impart information, and to receive information in forms that can be used and understood.

Article 22: Privacy

No one has the right to interfere in the privacy of people, regardless of whether they are disabled or not. People who have information about others, such as health information, should not disclose this information.

Article 23: Respect for home and family

People have the right to live in their families. If you are disabled, the government should support your family through disability-related costs, information and services. You cannot be separated from your parents because of your disability! If you cannot live with your immediate family, the government should provide care for you through extended family or the community. Young people with disabilities have the same right as others to receive information about reproductive health, as well as the right to marry and start a family.

Article 24: Education

All people have the right to go to school. Just because you are disabled doesn't mean you shouldn't get an education. You don't need to go to special schools. You have the right to go to the same school and study the same subjects as other children, the government is obliged to provide you with the necessary help. For example, it should provide you with the ability to communicate so that your teachers understand how to respond to your needs.

Articles 25 and 26: Health and rehabilitation

Persons with disabilities have the right to receive health care services of the same quality and standard as others. If you have a disability, you also have the right to receive medical and rehabilitation services.

Article 27: Labor and employment

Persons with disabilities have an equal right to freely choose their place of work without being discriminated against.

Article 28: Adequate standard of living and social protection

Persons with disabilities have the right to receive food, clean water, clothing and housing without discrimination on the basis of disability. The government should help disabled children living in poverty.

Article 29: Participation in political and public life

Persons with disabilities have the right to take part in political and public life. When you reach the legal age in your country, you will be able to form political or community groups, serve the public, have access to voting booths, vote and be elected to government office, whether you are disabled or not.

Article 30: Participation in cultural life, leisure and recreation and sports

Disabled people, on an equal basis with others, have the right to engage in art, sports, take part in various games, act in films, etc. Therefore, theatres, museums, playgrounds and libraries must be accessible to everyone, including children with disabilities.

Article 31: Statistics and data collection

States Parties should collect data on persons with disabilities to improve programs and services. Persons with disabilities participating in research have the right to be treated with respect and humanity. Any private information coming from them must be kept confidential. The statistics collected must be accessible to persons with disabilities and others.

Article 32: International cooperation

States Parties should assist each other in implementing the provisions of the Convention. States that have more resources (such as scientific information, useful technologies) are shared with other states so that more people can enjoy the rights enshrined in the Convention.

Articles 33 to 50: Provisions on cooperation, monitoring and implementation of the Convention

In total it consists of 50 articles. Articles 33 to 50 address how adults, particularly persons with disabilities and their organizations, and governments should cooperate to ensure that the rights of all persons with disabilities are fully respected.

Two worlds…
The world of sounds and the world of silence,
Ghostly, and unable to unite...
Tears are rolling...
Without asking, both worlds reject
Forcing you to feel your innocence...
Tears are rolling...
However, hands
Repel, attract and support
Incessantly...
Tears are rolling, a smile is visible through them...
I'm still between two worlds
But I'm loved...

Sarah Leslie, 16 years old, USA

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Preamble

The States Parties to this Convention,

(a) Recalling the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, which recognize the inherent dignity and worth and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the basis of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

b) Recognizing that the United Nations has declared and established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind,

c) Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interconnectedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the need to guarantee persons with disabilities their full enjoyment without discrimination,

d) Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,

(e) Recognizing that disability is an evolving concept and that disability is the result of interactions that occur between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that prevent their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others,

f) Recognizing the importance that the principles and guidelines contained in the World Program of Action for Persons with Disabilities and the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities have in influencing the promotion, formulation and evaluation of policies, plans, programs and activities at the national level, regional and international levels to further ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities,

g) emphasizing the importance of mainstreaming disability issues as an integral part of relevant sustainable development strategies,

h) Recognizing also that discrimination against any person on the basis of disability constitutes an infringement of the inherent dignity and worth of the human person,

j) Recognizing the need to promote and protect the human rights of all persons with disabilities, including those in need of enhanced support,

k) Concerned that, despite these various instruments and initiatives, persons with disabilities continue to face barriers to their participation as equal members of society and violations of their human rights in all parts of the world,

l) Recognizing the importance of international cooperation to improve the living conditions of persons with disabilities in every country, especially in developing countries,

m) Recognizing the valuable current and potential contribution of persons with disabilities to the overall well-being and diversity of their local communities and that promoting the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, as well as the full participation of persons with disabilities, will enhance their sense of belonging and achieve significant human achievements , social and economic development of society and poverty eradication,

n) Recognizing that personal autonomy and independence are important to persons with disabilities, including the freedom to make their own choices,

o) Considering that persons with disabilities should have the opportunity to be actively involved in decision-making processes regarding policies and programs, including those that directly affect them,

p) Concerned about the difficult conditions faced by persons with disabilities who are subject to multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, aboriginal or social origin, property, birth, age or other circumstances,

q) Recognizing that women and girls with disabilities, both at home and outside, are often at greater risk of violence, injury or abuse, neglect or abuse, abuse or exploitation,

(r) Recognizing that children with disabilities should enjoy full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children, and recalling in this regard the obligations undertaken by States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,

s) Emphasizing the need to take a gender perspective into account in all efforts to promote the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities,

t) Emphasizing the fact that the majority of persons with disabilities live in conditions of poverty, and recognizing in this regard the urgent need to address the negative impact of poverty on persons with disabilities,

u) Whereas an environment of peace and security based on full respect for the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations and compliance with applicable human rights treaties is a precondition for the full protection of persons with disabilities, in particular in times of armed conflict; conflicts and foreign occupation,

v) Recognizing that accessibility to the physical, social, economic and cultural environment, health and education, as well as information and communications is important to enable persons with disabilities to fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms,

(w) Whereas every individual, having responsibilities towards others and the community to which he belongs, must strive to promote and respect the rights recognized in the International Bill of Human Rights,

x) Convinced that the family is the natural and fundamental unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State, and that persons with disabilities and members of their families should receive the necessary protection and assistance to enable families to contribute to the full and equal enjoyment of rights disabled people,

y) Convinced that a comprehensive and unified international convention on the promotion and protection of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities will make an important contribution to overcoming the profound social disadvantages of persons with disabilities and to enhancing their participation in civil, political, economic, social and cultural life with equal opportunities - both in developed and developing countries,

have agreed as follows:

Article 1 Purpose

The purpose of this Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment by all persons with disabilities of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

Persons with disabilities include persons with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments that, when interacting with various barriers, may prevent them from fully and effectively participating in society on an equal basis with others.

Article 2 Definitions

For the purposes of this Convention:

“communication” includes the use of languages, texts, Braille, tactile communication, large print, accessible multimedia as well as printed materials, audio, plain language, readers, and augmentative and alternative methods, modes and formats of communication, including accessible information communication technology;

“language” includes spoken and signed languages ​​and other forms of non-speech languages;

“discrimination on the basis of disability” means any distinction, exclusion or restriction on the basis of disability, the purpose or effect of which is to diminish or deny the recognition, realization or enjoyment on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, whether political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other area. It includes all forms of discrimination, including denial of reasonable accommodation;

“reasonable accommodation” means making, when necessary in a particular case, necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments, without imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy or enjoy on an equal basis with others all human rights and fundamental freedoms;

“Universal design” means the design of products, environments, programs and services to make them usable by all people to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or special design. “Universal design” does not exclude assistive devices for specific disability groups where needed.

Article 3 General principles

The principles of this Convention are:

a) respect for a person's inherent dignity, personal autonomy, including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence;

b) non-discrimination;

c) full and effective inclusion and participation in society;

d) respect for the characteristics of persons with disabilities and their acceptance as a component of human diversity and part of humanity;

e) equality of opportunity;

f) accessibility;

g) equality between men and women;

h) respect for the developing abilities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to maintain their individuality.

Article 4 General obligations

1. States Parties undertake to ensure and promote the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, without discrimination of any kind on the basis of disability. To this end, participating States undertake:

a) take all appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures to implement the rights recognized in this Convention;

(b) Take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to amend or repeal existing laws, regulations, customs and practices that discriminate against persons with disabilities;

(c) Take into account the protection and promotion of the human rights of persons with disabilities in all policies and programmes;

d) refrain from any actions or methods that are not in accordance with this Convention and ensure that public authorities and institutions act in accordance with this Convention;

e) take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability by any person, organization or private enterprise;

f) conduct or encourage research and development into, promote the availability and use of, products, services, equipment and objects of universal design (as defined in Article 2 of this Convention) that can be tailored to the specific needs of a person with a disability and require the least possible adaptation and minimum cost; also promote the idea of ​​universal design in the development of standards and guidelines;

(g) Conduct or encourage research and development, and promote the availability and use of new technologies, including information and communications technologies, mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, suitable for persons with disabilities, giving priority to low-cost technologies;

(h) Provide accessible information to persons with disabilities on mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, including new technologies, as well as other forms of assistance, support services and facilities;

(i) Encourage the teaching of the rights recognized in this Convention to professionals and staff working with persons with disabilities in order to improve the provision of assistance and services guaranteed by these rights.

2. With regard to economic, social and cultural rights, each State Party undertakes to take, to the fullest extent possible the resources available to it and, where necessary, resort to international cooperation, measures to progressively achieve the full realization of these rights without prejudice to those set out in of this Convention, obligations that are directly applicable under international law.

3. In developing and implementing legislation and policies to implement this Convention and in other decision-making processes on issues affecting persons with disabilities, States Parties shall closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, through their representative organizations .

4. Nothing in this Convention shall affect any provisions which are more conducive to the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities and which may be contained in the laws of a State Party or international law in force in that State. There shall be no limitation or impairment of any human rights or fundamental freedoms recognized or existing in any State Party to this Convention, by virtue of law, convention, regulation or custom, on the pretext that this Convention does not recognize such rights or freedoms or that they are recognized to a lesser extent.

5. The provisions of this Convention shall apply to all parts of federal states without any restrictions or exceptions.

Article 5 Equality and non-discrimination

1. The participating States recognize that all persons are equal before and under the law and are entitled to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without any discrimination.

2. States Parties shall prohibit any discrimination on the basis of disability and shall guarantee persons with disabilities equal and effective legal protection against discrimination on any basis.

3. To promote equality and eliminate discrimination, States Parties shall take all appropriate steps to ensure reasonable accommodation.

4. Specific measures necessary to accelerate or achieve substantive equality for persons with disabilities shall not be considered discrimination within the meaning of this Convention.

Article 6 Women with disabilities

1. States Parties recognize that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple discrimination and, in this regard, take measures to ensure their full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the full development, advancement and empowerment of women to ensure their enjoyment and enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms set forth in this Convention.

Article 7 Disabled children

1. States Parties shall take all necessary measures to ensure that children with disabilities fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children.

2. In all actions concerning children with disabilities, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

3. States Parties shall ensure that children with disabilities have the right to freely express their views on all matters affecting them, which are given due weight appropriate to their age and maturity, on an equal basis with other children, and to receive disability- and age-appropriate assistance in doing so. rights.

Article 8 Educational work

1. States Parties undertake to take prompt, effective and appropriate measures to:

(a) Raise awareness of disability issues throughout society, including at the family level, and strengthen respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities;

(b) Combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices against persons with disabilities, including those based on gender and age, in all areas of life;

c) Promote the potential and contributions of persons with disabilities.

2. Measures taken for this purpose include:

a) launching and maintaining effective public education campaigns designed to:

i) develop sensitivity to the rights of persons with disabilities;

ii) promote positive images of persons with disabilities and greater public understanding of them;

iii) promote recognition of the skills, strengths and abilities of persons with disabilities and their contributions in the workplace and labor market;

b) education at all levels of the education system, including among all children from an early age, respect for the rights of persons with disabilities;

c) encouraging all media to portray persons with disabilities in a manner consistent with the purpose of this Convention;

d) promoting educational and awareness-raising programs on persons with disabilities and their rights.

Article 9 Availability

1. To enable persons with disabilities to lead independent lives and participate fully in all aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access on an equal basis with others to the physical environment, to transport, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems , as well as other facilities and services open or provided to the public, in both urban and rural areas. These measures, which include identifying and eliminating obstacles and barriers to accessibility, should cover, in particular:

a) on buildings, roads, transport and other internal and external objects, including schools, residential buildings, medical institutions and workplaces;

b) information, communication and other services, including electronic services and emergency services.

2. States Parties shall also take appropriate measures to:

a) develop, implement and monitor compliance with minimum standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and services open or provided to the public;

(b) Ensure that private enterprises that offer facilities and services open to or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for persons with disabilities;

c) provide training to all parties involved on accessibility issues faced by persons with disabilities;

d) equip buildings and other facilities open to the public with signs in Braille and in an easily readable and understandable form;

e) provide various types of assistant and intermediary services, including guides, readers and professional sign language interpreters, to facilitate accessibility to buildings and other facilities open to the public;

f) develop other appropriate forms of assistance and support for persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information;

(g) Promote access of persons with disabilities to new information and communication technologies and systems, including the Internet;

h) encourage the design, development, production and dissemination of natively accessible information and communications technologies and systems so that the availability of these technologies and systems is achieved at minimal cost.

Article 10 Right to life

States Parties reaffirm the inalienable right of every person to life and take all necessary measures to ensure its effective enjoyment by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.

Article 11 Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies

States Parties shall take, consistent with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including armed conflicts, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters.

Article 12 Equality before the law

1. The participating States reaffirm that everyone with disabilities, wherever they may be, has the right to equal legal protection.

2. States Parties recognize that persons with disabilities have legal capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life.

3. States Parties shall take appropriate measures to provide persons with disabilities with access to the support they may require in exercising their legal capacity.

4. States Parties shall ensure that all measures relating to the exercise of legal capacity include appropriate and effective safeguards to prevent abuses, in accordance with international human rights law. Such safeguards should ensure that measures relating to the exercise of legal capacity respect the person's rights, will and preferences, are free from conflicts of interest and undue influence, are proportionate and tailored to the person's circumstances, are applied for the shortest possible time and regularly reviewed by a competent, independent and impartial authority or court.

These guarantees must be proportionate to the extent to which such measures affect the rights and interests of the person concerned.

5. Subject to the provisions of this article, States Parties shall take all appropriate and effective measures to ensure the equal rights of persons with disabilities to own and inherit property, to manage their own financial affairs, and to equal access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit. and ensure that persons with disabilities are not arbitrarily deprived of their property.

Article 13 Access to justice

1. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities have, on an equal basis with others, effective access to justice, including by providing procedural and age-appropriate accommodations to facilitate their effective roles as direct and indirect participants, including witnesses, in all stages of the legal process, including the investigative stage. and other pre-production stages.

2. To facilitate effective access to justice for persons with disabilities, States Parties shall promote appropriate training for persons working in the administration of justice, including in the police and prison systems.

Article 14 Freedom and security of person

1. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others:

a) enjoy the right to freedom and security of person;

b) have not been deprived of liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily and that any deprivation of liberty is in accordance with the law and that the presence of a disability in no case becomes a basis for deprivation of liberty.

2. States Parties shall ensure that, where persons with disabilities are deprived of their liberty under any procedure, they are entitled, on an equal basis with others, to guarantees consistent with international human rights law and that their treatment is consistent with the purposes and principles of this Convention, including providing reasonable accommodation.

Article 15 Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

1. No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no person shall be subjected to medical or scientific experiment without his free consent.

2. States Parties shall take all effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to ensure that persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, are not subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 16 Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse

1. States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social, educational and other measures to protect persons with disabilities, both at home and outside, from all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, including those aspects that are gender-based.

2. States Parties shall also take all appropriate measures to prevent all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, including by ensuring appropriate forms of age- and gender-sensitive assistance and support to persons with disabilities, their families and carers of persons with disabilities, including including through awareness and education on how to avoid, identify and report exploitation, violence and abuse. States Parties shall ensure that protection services are provided in an age-, gender- and disability-sensitive manner.

3. In an effort to prevent all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, States Parties shall ensure that all institutions and programs serving persons with disabilities are subject to effective oversight by independent authorities.

4. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote the physical, cognitive and psychological recovery, rehabilitation and social reintegration of persons with disabilities who are victims of any form of exploitation, violence or abuse, including through the provision of protection services. Such recovery and reintegration takes place in an environment that promotes the health, well-being, self-respect, dignity and autonomy of the person concerned, and is carried out in an age- and gender-specific way.

5. States Parties shall adopt effective legislation and policies, including those targeting women and children, to ensure that exploitation, violence and abuse of persons with disabilities are identified, investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted.

Article 17 Protection of Personal Integrity

Every person with disabilities has the right to have their physical and mental integrity respected on an equal basis with others.

Article 18 Freedom of movement and citizenship

1. States Parties recognize the rights of persons with disabilities to freedom of movement, freedom of choice of residence and citizenship on an equal basis with others, including by ensuring that persons with disabilities:

a) have the right to acquire and change nationality and have not been deprived of their nationality arbitrarily or because of disability;

(b) are not prevented, by reason of disability, from obtaining, possessing and using documents confirming their citizenship or other identification of their identity, or from using appropriate procedures, such as immigration, that may be necessary to facilitate the exercise of the right to freedom of movement;

c) had the right to freely leave any country, including their own;

d) have not been arbitrarily or on account of disability deprived of the right to enter their own country.

2. Disabled children are registered immediately after birth and from the moment of birth have the right to a name and to acquire a nationality and, to the greatest extent possible, the right to know their parents and the right to be cared for by them.

Article 19 Independent living and involvement in the local community

States Parties to this Convention recognize the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in their usual place of residence, with the same choices as others, and take effective and appropriate measures to promote the full enjoyment of this right by persons with disabilities and their full inclusion and inclusion in the local community, including ensuring that:

a) persons with disabilities had the opportunity, on an equal basis with other people, to choose their place of residence and where and with whom to live, and were not obliged to live in any specific living conditions;

b) persons with disabilities have access to a range of home-based, community-based and other community-based support services, including personal assistance necessary to support living in and inclusion in the community and to avoid isolation or segregation from the community ;

(c) services and public facilities intended for the general population are equally accessible to persons with disabilities and meet their needs.

Article 20 Individual mobility

States Parties shall take effective measures to ensure individual mobility for persons with disabilities with the greatest possible degree of independence, including by:

a) promoting individual mobility of persons with disabilities in the way, at the time, and at an affordable price;

(b) Facilitating access for persons with disabilities to quality mobility aids, devices, assistive technologies and assistive services, including by making them available at an affordable price;

c) training people with disabilities and specialists working with them in mobility skills;
(d) Encouraging businesses that produce mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies to take into account all aspects of the mobility of persons with disabilities.

Article 21 Freedom of expression and belief and access to information

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can enjoy the right to freedom of expression and belief, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others, through all forms of communication of their choice, as defined in article 2 of this Conventions including:

a) providing persons with disabilities with information intended for the general public, in accessible formats and using technologies that take different forms of disability into account, in a timely manner and at no additional cost;

b) acceptance and promotion of the use in official communications of: sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative modes of communication and all other accessible modes, methods and formats of communication of the choice of persons with disabilities;

(c) Actively encouraging private enterprises providing services to the general public, including via the Internet, to provide information and services in accessible and accessible formats for persons with disabilities;

d) encouraging the media, including those providing information via the Internet, to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities;

e) recognition and encouragement of the use of sign languages.

Article 22 Privacy

1. Regardless of place of residence or living conditions, no disabled person shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful attacks on the inviolability of his private life, family, home or correspondence and other types of communication, or to unlawful attacks on his honor and reputation. Persons with disabilities have the right to the protection of the law against such attacks or attacks.

2. The participating states shall protect the confidentiality of information about the identity, state of health and rehabilitation of disabled people on an equal basis with others.

Article 23 Respect for home and family

1. States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities in all matters relating to marriage, family, parenthood and personal relationships, on an equal basis with others, while endeavoring to ensure that:

a) the right of all persons with disabilities who have reached marriageable age to marry and create a family is recognized on the basis of the free and full consent of the spouses;

(b) Recognize the rights of persons with disabilities to make free and responsible decisions about the number and spacing of children and to access age-appropriate information and education about reproductive behavior and family planning, and provide means to enable them to exercise these rights;

c) persons with disabilities, including children, retain their fertility on an equal basis with others.

2. States Parties shall ensure the rights and obligations of persons with disabilities in relation to guardianship, trusteeship, guardianship, adoption of children or similar institutions, when these concepts are present in national legislation; In all cases, the best interests of the child are paramount. States Parties shall provide persons with disabilities with adequate assistance in fulfilling their child-rearing responsibilities.

3. States Parties shall ensure that children with disabilities have equal rights in relation to family life. To realize these rights and prevent children with disabilities from being hidden, abandoned, evaded or segregated, States Parties commit to providing children with disabilities and their families with comprehensive information, services and support from the outset.

4. States Parties shall ensure that a child is not separated from his or her parents against their will unless competent authorities subject to judicial review, in accordance with applicable laws and procedures, determine that such separation is necessary in the best interests of the child. Under no circumstances may a child be separated from his parents because of the disability of either the child or one or both parents.

5. States Parties undertake, in the event that immediate relatives are unable to provide care for a disabled child, to make every effort to organize alternative care through the involvement of more distant relatives, and if this is not possible, through the creation of family conditions for the child to live in the local community.

Article 24 Education

1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. In order to realize this right without discrimination and on the basis of equality of opportunity, States Parties shall provide inclusive education at all levels and lifelong learning, while seeking to:

a) to the full development of human potential, as well as of dignity and self-respect, and to strengthening respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human diversity;

b) to develop the personality, talents and creativity of persons with disabilities, as well as their mental and physical abilities to the fullest extent;

c) to enable persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a free society.

2. In exercising this right, States Parties shall ensure that:

a) persons with disabilities are not excluded on the basis of disability from the general education system, and disabled children are not excluded from the system of free and compulsory primary or secondary education;

(b) Persons with disabilities have equal access to inclusive, quality and free primary and secondary education in their areas of residence;

c) reasonable accommodation is provided to suit individual needs;

d) persons with disabilities receive the required support within the general education system to facilitate their effective learning;

(e) In an environment that maximizes learning and social development, effective individualized support is provided to ensure full inclusion.

3. States Parties shall provide persons with disabilities with the opportunity to learn life and socialization skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as members of the local community. The participating States are taking appropriate measures in this regard, including:

a) promote the acquisition of Braille, alternative scripts, augmentative and alternative methods, modes and formats of communication, as well as orientation and mobility skills, and promote peer support and mentoring;

b) promote the acquisition of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of deaf people;

(c) Ensure that the education of persons, in particular children, who are blind, deaf or deaf-blind, is provided through the languages ​​and methods of communication most appropriate to the individual and in an environment that is most conducive to learning and social development.

4. To help ensure the realization of this right, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to recruit teachers, including teachers with disabilities, who are proficient in sign language and/or Braille, and to train professionals and staff working at all levels of the education system. . Such training covers disability education and the use of appropriate augmentative and alternative methods, communication methods and formats, teaching methods and materials to support persons with disabilities.

5. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities have access to general higher education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning without discrimination and on an equal basis with others. To this end, States Parties shall ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided for persons with disabilities.

Article 25 Health

States Parties recognize that persons with disabilities have the right to the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to gender-sensitive health services, including rehabilitation for health reasons. In particular, participating States:

a) provide persons with disabilities with the same range, quality and level of free or low-cost health services and programs as other persons, including in the area of ​​sexual and reproductive health and through public health programs offered to the population;

(b) provide those health services that are needed by persons with disabilities as a direct result of their disability, including early diagnosis and, where appropriate, intervention and services designed to minimize and prevent the further occurrence of disability, including among children and the elderly;

c) organize these health services as close as possible to where these people live, including in rural areas;

d) require health care professionals to provide services to persons with disabilities of the same quality as those provided to others, including on the basis of free and informed consent by, inter alia, raising awareness of the human rights, dignity, autonomy and needs of persons with disabilities through education and acceptance ethical standards for public and private health care;

(e) Prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in the provision of health and life insurance, where the latter is permitted by national law, and provide that it is provided on a fair and reasonable basis;

f) do not discriminately deny health care or health care services or food or fluids on the basis of disability.

Article 26 Habilitation and rehabilitation

1. States Parties shall take, including with the support of other persons with disabilities, effective and appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to achieve and maintain maximum independence, full physical, mental, social and vocational capabilities and full inclusion and participation in all aspects of life. To this end, participating States shall organize, strengthen and expand comprehensive habilitation and rehabilitation services and programs, especially in the fields of health, employment, education and social services, in such a way that these services and programs:

a) were implemented as early as possible and were based on a multidisciplinary assessment of the individual's needs and strengths;

b) promote participation and inclusion in the local community and in all aspects of social life, are voluntary in nature and are accessible to persons with disabilities as close as possible to their immediate place of residence, including in rural areas.

2. The participating States shall encourage the development of initial and continuing training of specialists and personnel working in the field of habilitation and rehabilitation services.

3. States Parties shall promote the availability, knowledge and use of assistive devices and technologies for persons with disabilities related to habilitation and rehabilitation.

Article 27 Labor and employment

1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others; it includes the right to the opportunity to earn a living by work that a person with disabilities freely chooses or accepts, in conditions where the labor market and work environment are open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. States Parties shall ensure and encourage the realization of the right to work, including by those persons who become disabled during their work activities, by taking, including through legislation, appropriate measures aimed, in particular, at the following:

(a) Prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability in all matters relating to all forms of employment, including conditions of recruitment, hiring and employment, job retention, promotion and safe and healthy working conditions;

(b) protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, to just and favorable conditions of work, including equal opportunity and equal remuneration for work of equal value, safe and healthy working conditions, including protection from harassment, and redress of grievances;

(c) ensuring that persons with disabilities can exercise their labor and trade union rights on an equal basis with others;

d) enabling persons with disabilities to effectively access general technical and vocational guidance programmes, employment services and vocational and continuing education;

(e) expanding labor market opportunities for employment and advancement of persons with disabilities, as well as providing assistance in finding, obtaining, maintaining and re-entering employment;

f) expanding opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship, development of cooperatives and organizing your own business;

g) employment of persons with disabilities in the public sector;

(h) Encouraging the hiring of persons with disabilities in the private sector through appropriate policies and measures, which may include affirmative action programs, incentives and other measures;

i) providing persons with disabilities with reasonable accommodation in the workplace;

j) encouraging persons with disabilities to gain work experience in an open labor market;

k) promoting vocational and skill rehabilitation, job retention and return to work programs for persons with disabilities.

2. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are not held in slavery or servitude and are protected on an equal basis with others from forced or compulsory labor.

Article 28 Adequate standard of living and social protection

1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continued improvement of living conditions, and take appropriate measures to ensure and promote the realization of this right without discrimination on the basis of disability.

2. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to social protection and to enjoy this right without discrimination on the basis of disability and take appropriate measures to ensure and promote the realization of this right, including measures to:

a) to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to clean water and to ensure access to adequate and affordable services, devices and other assistance to meet disability-related needs;

(b) to ensure that persons with disabilities, in particular women, girls and older persons with disabilities, have access to social protection and poverty reduction programmes;

(c) To ensure that persons with disabilities and their families living in poverty have access to government assistance to cover disability-related costs, including appropriate training, counseling, financial assistance and respite care;

d) to ensure access to public housing programs for persons with disabilities;

e) to ensure that people with disabilities have access to pension benefits and programs.

Article 29 Participation in political and public life

States Parties guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others and undertake to:

(a) Ensure that persons with disabilities are able to participate effectively and fully, directly or through freely chosen representatives, in political and public life on an equal basis with others, including the right and opportunity to vote and be elected, in particular through:

i) ensuring that voting procedures, facilities and materials are suitable, accessible and easy to understand and use;

ii) protecting the right of persons with disabilities to vote by secret ballot in elections and public referendums without intimidation and to stand for election, to actually hold office and to perform all public functions at all levels of government - while promoting the use of assistive and new technologies where applicable appropriate;

(iii) guaranteeing the free expression of the will of persons with disabilities as voters and, to this end, granting, where necessary, their requests for assistance with voting by a person of their choice;

(b) Actively promote the creation of an environment in which persons with disabilities can participate effectively and fully in the management of public affairs without discrimination and on an equal basis with others, and encourage their participation in public affairs, including:

i) participation in non-governmental organizations and associations whose work is related to the state and political life of the country, including in the activities of political parties and their leadership;

ii) creating and joining organizations of persons with disabilities to represent persons with disabilities at the international, national, regional and local levels.

Article 30 Participation in cultural life, leisure and recreation and sports

1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in cultural life and shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities:

a) have access to cultural works in accessible formats;

b) had access to television programmes, films, theater and other cultural events in accessible formats;

c) have access to cultural venues or services such as theatres, museums, cinemas, libraries and tourism services, and to the greatest extent possible have access to monuments and sites of national cultural significance.

2. States Parties shall take appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to develop and use their creative, artistic and intellectual potential, not only for their own benefit, but also for the enrichment of society as a whole.

3. States Parties shall take all appropriate steps, consistent with international law, to ensure that laws protecting intellectual property rights do not constitute an undue or discriminatory barrier to access to cultural works by persons with disabilities.

4. Persons with disabilities have the right on an equal basis with others to have their distinct cultural and linguistic identities recognized and supported, including sign languages ​​and deaf culture.

5. To enable persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in leisure, recreation and sporting activities, States Parties shall take appropriate measures:

a) to encourage and promote the fullest possible participation of persons with disabilities in general sporting activities at all levels;

(b) to ensure that persons with disabilities have the opportunity to organize, develop and participate in sports and leisure activities specifically for persons with disabilities, and to promote in this regard that they are provided with appropriate education, training and resources on an equal basis with others;

c) to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to sports, recreational and tourism facilities;

d) to ensure that children with disabilities have equal access to participation in play, leisure and sporting activities, including activities within the school system, as other children;

e) to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to the services of those involved in organizing leisure, tourism, recreation and sporting events.

Article 31 Statistics and data collection

1. States Parties undertake to collect adequate information, including statistical and research data, to enable them to develop and implement strategies for the implementation of this Convention. In the process of collecting and storing this information, you should:

a) Comply with legally established safeguards, including data protection legislation, to ensure the confidentiality and privacy of persons with disabilities;

b) comply with internationally recognized standards regarding the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as ethical principles in the collection and use of statistical data.

2. Information collected in accordance with this article shall be disaggregated as appropriate and used to facilitate the assessment of how States Parties are fulfilling their obligations under this Convention and to identify and address barriers that persons with disabilities face in the enjoyment of their rights.

3. States Parties take responsibility for disseminating these statistics and ensuring their accessibility to persons with disabilities and others.

Article 32 International cooperation

1. States Parties recognize the importance of international cooperation and its promotion in support of national efforts to achieve the goals and objectives of this Convention and take appropriate and effective measures in this regard interstate and, where appropriate, in partnership with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society, in particular organizations of people with disabilities. Such measures could include, in particular:

(a) Ensuring that international cooperation, including international development programmes, is inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities;

b) facilitating and supporting the strengthening of existing capabilities, including through the mutual exchange of information, experiences, programs and best practices;

c) promoting cooperation in the field of research and access to scientific and technical knowledge;

d) providing, where appropriate, technical and economic assistance, including through facilitating access to and sharing of accessible and assistive technologies, as well as through technology transfer.

2. The provisions of this article shall not affect the obligations of each State Party to fulfill its obligations under this Convention.

Article 33 National implementation and monitoring

1. States Parties, in accordance with their organizational structure, shall designate one or more authorities within government responsible for matters related to the implementation of this Convention and shall give due consideration to the possibility of establishing or designating a coordination mechanism within government to facilitate related work in various sectors and areas. levels.

2. States Parties, in accordance with their legal and administrative structures, shall maintain, strengthen, designate or establish a structure, including, where appropriate, one or more independent mechanisms, for the promotion, protection and monitoring of the implementation of this Convention. In designating or establishing such a mechanism, States Parties shall take into account the principles relating to the status and functioning of national institutions charged with the protection and promotion of human rights.

3. Civil society, in particular people with disabilities and their representative organizations, are fully involved in and participate in the monitoring process.

Article 34 Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

1. A Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”) shall be established to perform the functions provided for below.

2. At the time of entry into force of this Convention, the Committee shall consist of twelve experts. After another sixty ratifications of or accessions to the Convention, the membership of the Committee increases by six people, reaching a maximum of eighteen members.

3. The members of the Committee shall serve in their personal capacity and shall be of high moral character and recognized competence and experience in the field covered by this Convention. When nominating their candidates, States Parties are requested to give due consideration to the provisions set out in Article 4, paragraph 3, of this Convention.

4. The members of the Committee are elected by the States Parties, with due regard to equitable geographical distribution, representation of different forms of civilization and major legal systems, gender balance and the participation of experts with disabilities.

5. Members of the Committee are elected by secret ballot from a list of candidates nominated by States Parties from among their citizens at meetings of the Conference of States Parties. At these meetings, at which two-thirds of the States Parties constitute a quorum, those elected to the Committee are those who receive the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of the States Parties present and voting.

6. Initial elections shall be held no later than six months from the date of entry into force of this Convention. At least four months before the date of each election, the Secretary-General of the United Nations writes to participating States inviting them to submit nominations within two months. The Secretary-General shall then compile, in alphabetical order, a list of all candidates so nominated, indicating the States Parties which nominated them, and transmit it to the States Parties to this Convention.

7. Members of the Committee are elected for a four-year term. They are eligible to be re-elected only once. However, the terms of six of the members elected in the first election expire at the end of the two-year period; Immediately after the first election, the names of these six members shall be determined by lot by the presiding officer at the meeting referred to in paragraph 5 of this article.

8. The election of six additional members of the Committee shall be held in conjunction with regular elections governed by the relevant provisions of this article.

9. If any member of the Committee dies or resigns or declares that he is no longer able to perform his duties for any other reason, the State Party that nominated that member shall nominate another expert qualified to serve for the remainder of his term of office. and meeting the requirements provided for in the relevant provisions of this article.

10. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure.

11. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary personnel and facilities for the effective performance by the Committee of its functions under this Convention and shall convene its first meeting.

12. The members of the Committee established in accordance with this Convention shall receive remuneration approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations from the funds of the United Nations in the manner and under the conditions established by the Assembly, having regard to the importance of the duties of the Committee.

13. Members of the Committee are entitled to the benefits, privileges and immunities of experts on mission on behalf of the United Nations, as set forth in the relevant sections of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

Article 35 Reports of States Parties

1. Each State Party shall submit to the Committee, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a comprehensive report on the measures taken to implement its obligations under this Convention and on the progress made in this regard, within two years after the entry into force of this Convention for the relevant State Party.

2. States parties shall then submit subsequent reports at least once every four years, and whenever requested by the Committee.

3. The Committee shall establish guidelines governing the content of reports.

4. A State Party that has submitted a comprehensive initial report to the Committee need not repeat in its subsequent reports information previously provided. States Parties are invited to consider making the preparation of reports to the Committee an open and transparent process and to give due regard to the provisions set out in article 4, paragraph 3, of this Convention.

5. The reports may indicate factors and difficulties affecting the degree of fulfillment of the obligations under this Convention.

Article 36 Consideration of reports

1. Each report is examined by the Committee, which makes proposals and general recommendations on it that it considers appropriate and forwards them to the State Party concerned. A State Party may, by way of response, forward to the Committee any information it chooses. The Committee may request from States Parties additional information relevant to the implementation of this Convention.

2. When a State Party is significantly late in submitting a report, the Committee may notify the State Party concerned that if no report is submitted within three months of such notification, the implementation of this Convention in that State Party will need to be reviewed based on reliable information available to the Committee.

The Committee invites the State party concerned to participate in such a review. If a State Party submits a corresponding report in response, the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article shall apply.

3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations makes the reports available to all participating States.

4. States Parties shall ensure that their reports are widely available to the public in their own countries and that proposals and general recommendations relating to these reports can be made readily available.

5. Whenever the Committee considers it appropriate, it shall transmit reports of States Parties to the specialized agencies, funds and programs of the United Nations and other competent bodies for their attention to the request for technical advice or assistance contained therein or to the need for the latter, together with the Committee's observations and recommendations (if any) regarding these requests or instructions.

Article 37 Cooperation between States Parties and the Committee

1. Each State Party shall cooperate with the Committee and provide assistance to its members in carrying out their mandate.

2. In its relations with States Parties, the Committee shall give due consideration to ways and means of strengthening national capacities to implement this Convention, including through international cooperation.

Article 38 Relations of the Committee with other bodies

To facilitate the effective implementation of this Convention and to encourage international cooperation in the field covered by it:

(a) The specialized agencies and other organs of the United Nations shall have the right to be represented when considering the implementation of such provisions of this Convention as fall within their mandate. Whenever the Committee considers it appropriate, it may invite specialized agencies and other competent bodies to provide expert advice on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within their respective mandates. The Committee may invite specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies to submit reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas within the scope of their activities;

(b) In carrying out its mandate, the Committee shall consult, as appropriate, with other relevant bodies established by international human rights treaties to ensure consistency in their respective reporting guidelines, proposals and general recommendations and avoid duplication and parallelism in the implementation of their functions.

Article 39 Report of the Committee

The Committee submits a report on its activities to the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council every two years and may make proposals and general recommendations based on its consideration of reports and information received from States Parties. Such proposals and general recommendations are included in the Committee's report along with comments (if any) from States Parties.

Article 40 Conference of States Parties

1. States Parties shall meet regularly in a Conference of States Parties to consider any matter relating to the implementation of this Convention.

2. Not later than six months after the entry into force of this Convention, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene a Conference of States Parties. Subsequent meetings are convened by the Secretary-General every two years or as decided by the Conference of States Parties.

Article 41 Depository

The Depositary of this Convention is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 42 Signature

This Convention has been open for signature by all States and regional integration organizations at United Nations Headquarters in New York since 30 March 2007.

Article 43 Consent to be bound

This Convention is subject to ratification by signatory States and formal confirmation by signatory regional integration organizations. It is open to accession by any state or regional integration organization that has not signed this Convention.

Article 44 Regional Integration Organizations

1. “Regional Integration Organization” means an organization established by the sovereign States of a particular region to which its member States have transferred competence in relation to matters governed by this Convention. Such organizations shall indicate in their instruments of formal confirmation or accession the extent of their competence with respect to matters governed by this Convention. They shall subsequently inform the depositary of any significant changes in the scope of their competence.

3. For the purposes of paragraph 1 of Article 45 and paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 47 of this Convention, no document deposited by a regional integration organization shall be counted.

4. In matters within their competence, regional integration organizations may exercise their right to vote at the Conference of States Parties with a number of votes equal to the number of their member States that are parties to this Convention. Such an organization shall not exercise its right to vote if any of its member states exercises its right, and vice versa.

Article 45 Entry into force

1. This Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession.

2. For each State or regional integration organization ratifying, formally confirming or acceding to this Convention after the deposit of the twentieth such instrument, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit of its such instrument.

Article 46 Reservations

1. Reservations inconsistent with the object and purpose of this Convention are not permitted.

2. Reservations can be withdrawn at any time.

Article 47 Amendments

1. Any State Party may propose an amendment to this Convention and submit it to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General shall communicate any proposed amendments to States Parties, asking them to notify him whether they favor a conference of States Parties to consider and decide on the proposals.

If, within four months from the date of such communication, at least one third of the States Parties are in favor of holding such a conference, the Secretary-General shall convene a conference under the auspices of the United Nations. Any amendment approved by a two-thirds majority of States Parties present and voting shall be sent by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly of the United Nations for approval and then to all States Parties for acceptance.

2. An amendment approved and approved in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the number of instruments of acceptance deposited reaches two-thirds of the number of States Parties on the date of approval of the amendment. The amendment shall subsequently enter into force for any State Party on the thirtieth day after the deposit of its instrument of acceptance. The amendment is binding only on those member states that have accepted it.

3. If the Conference of States Parties so decides by consensus, the amendment approved and approved in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article, which relates exclusively to Articles 34, 38, 39 and 40, shall enter into force for all States Parties on the thirtieth day after as the number of deposited instruments of acceptance reaches two-thirds of the number from States Parties on the date of approval of this amendment.

Article 48 Denunciation

A State Party may denounce this Convention by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The denunciation shall take effect one year after the date of receipt by the Secretary-General of such notification.

Article 49 Accessible format

The text of this Convention must be made available in accessible formats.

Article 50 Authentic texts

The texts of this Convention in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish are equally authentic.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention.

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