What is the UN doing to protect persons with disabilities?
01:37 Watch what the UN had to say about the UK's treatment of disabled people A damning UN report released last year stated that the UK Government enacted ‘systematic violations’ of …
What does the UN disability Treaty mean to you?
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities was adopted by the United Nations on December 13, 2006. It is the first comprehensive international treaty that specifically protects the human rights of people with disabilities. The Convention contains 50 articles that address all areas of life – civil, political, social, economic, education and culture – …
How are people with disabilities treated in developing countries?
Mar 19, 2020 · For daily news updates from UN News, click here. Ms. Lee, who uses a wheelchair, explained that health care access is already difficult for some people with disabilities, even in …
What is the UN report on disability welfare reform all about?
[49] “must ……. repeal … provisions authorizing institutionalization of persons with disabilities for their care and treatment without their free and informed consent, as well as provisions authorizing the preventive detention of persons with disabilities on grounds such as the likelihood of them posing a danger to themselves or others, in all cases in which such grounds of care, treatment …
Who monitors the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities monitors the Convention. Governments that ratify the Convention are legally bound to treat persons with disabilities as citizens with clearly defined rights.
What is the importance of equal opportunity?
Article 13 states that: States Parties shall ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others , including the provision ...
What is equal opportunity?
The importance of justice and equal opportunity is mentioned through the Convention. However, access to equal justice is specifically covered in Article 13. Article 13 states that: 1 States Parties shall ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others, including the provision of procedural and age-appropriate accommodations, in order to facilitate their effective role as direct and indirect participants, including as witnesses, in all legal proceedings, including at investigative and other preliminary stages. 2 In order to help ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities, States Parties shall promote appropriate training for those working in the field of administration of justice, including police and prison staff.
How many people in the world have disability?
Globally, an estimated one billion people – roughly 15 per cent of the world’s population – live with some form of disability, according to WHO, which is leading the fight to halt further spread of the novel coronavirus disease.
What barriers are there to accessing healthcare?
Other barriers include physical obstacles, discriminatory laws and existing stigma.
Why are reasonable accommodation measures essential during the outbreak?
Devandas underlined that reasonable accommodation measures are essential during the outbreak to enable people with disabilities to reduce contacts and the risk of contamination. The same also should apply to family members and caregivers who support them.
Why should restrictions be narrowly tailored and non-intrusive?
Devandas suggested that restrictions to protect public health should be narrowly tailored and non-intrusive as limiting contact with loved ones leaves people with disabilities “totally unprotected” from abuse or neglect in these settings.
Do people with disabilities deserve to be reassured?
As countries continue to battle the pandemic, people with disabilities deserve to be reassured that their survival is a priority, a UN independent human rights expert has stated.
Can a person with disabilities get a virus?
Additionally, some persons with disabilities who contract the virus could develop a severe case of the disease as it can worsen existing health conditions, particularly related to immune response or respiratory function.
Should people with disabilities be allowed to work from home?
Furthermore, people with disabilities should be allowed to work from home, or be granted paid leave, to guarantee their income security . “Access to additional financial aid is also vital to reduce the risk of people with disabilities and their families falling into greater vulnerability or poverty,” she added.
What is the meaning of Article 4 of the Mental Health Act?
Conventional mental health legislation, such as the Mental Health Act (England and Wales) appears to violate, for example, Article 4 (‘no discrimination of any kind on the basis of disability’ ), Article 12 (persons shall ‘enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life’) and Article 14 (‘the existence of a disability shall in no case justify a deprivation of liberty’).
What are the obligations of countries?
Countries are placed under a variety of obligations to take measures to modify or abolish existing discriminatory laws, regulations and practices, as well as to provide programmes to support the rights of persons with disabilities (Article 4). These obligations include, for example, a duty to provide appropriate training regarding disability issues to those involved in the administration of justice (Article 13), concrete programmes to assist people with disabilities and their caregivers to recognise and combat exploitation (Article 16), obligations to provide community support services (Article 19), and overarching duties on states to raise awareness of dis ability issues (Article 8) and to combat discrimination (Article 5).
What does the last sentence mean in the CRPD?
The last sentence indicates that it is the High Commissioner's opinion that the CRPD does not completely exclude involuntary treatment. If it were excluded altogether it would be seriously at variance with a widespread moral intuition (expressed in rights to life and health) that there are certain circumstances (including, for example, coma) in which treatment should be provided to a person who as a result of an impairment of mental functioning cannot make treatment decisions for himself or herself.
What is the purpose of the CRPD?
It sets out key rights that citizens with a disability should enjoy in a fair society. It is one of the nine core human rights treaties of the UN. The overall purpose, stated in Article 1, is to “promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity”. The elimination of discrimination by ensuring that rights may be enjoyed on an equal basis with others is a fundamental aim. While, arguably, most of the rights in the CRPD are already protected by other UN treaties, the CRPD frames rights in a way that is specific for people with disabilities, a group of persons rarely referred to in those other treaties (Bartlett, 2012, Lawson, 2006). Noteworthy was the formal, active involvement of disabled people's organisations, including the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, in the drafting and negotiations behind the CRPD.
What is the second issue in the CRPD?
The second issue caused much controversy in the development of the CRPD, especially the framing of what eventually became Article 12, dealing with ‘legal capacity’ — that persons shall ‘enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life’ . Direct reference to the possibility of decision-making by another person on behalf of a disabled person, even as a last resort, is not made, though there were arguments that it should be. Article 12(4), the result of attempts at achieving consensus, perhaps by remaining silent on some issues, is ambiguous but can, arguably, be read as implying that such interventions are not entirely excluded. It refers to safeguards that
Is mental illness a CRPD?
People with a mental illness may be subject to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), depending on definitions of terms such as ‘impairment’, ‘ long-term’ and the capaciousness of the word ‘includes’ in the Convention's characterisation of persons with disabilities. Particularly challenging under the CRPD is the scope, if any, for involuntary treatment.
Is mental illness a condition of involuntary detention?
On this account, ‘mental disorder’ or ‘mental illness’, even if it comprises only one of a number of necessary criteria for involuntary detention, makes that set of criteria incompatible with Article 14, that a disability shall in no case justify a deprivation of liberty.
How many people with disabilities live in developing countries?
Eighty per cent of persons with disabilities live in developing countries, according to the UN Development Programme. ( WHO) Disability rates are significantly higher among groups with lower educational attainment in the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), says the OECD Secretariat.
How many people in the world have disabilities?
Around 15 per cent of the world’s population, or estimated 1 billion people, live with disabilities. They are the world’s largest minority. ( WHO)
What percentage of children with disabilities do not attend school?
Ninety per cent of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school, says UNESCO. ( UNESCO) The global literacy rate for adults with disabilities is as low as 3 per cent, and 1 per cent for women with disabilities, according to a 1998 UNDP study. ( UNDP)
What percentage of people with disabilities are less educated?
On average, 19 per cent of less educated people have disabilities, compared to 11 per cent among the better educated. In most OECD countries, women report higher incidents of disability than men.
How much is the mortality rate for children with disabilities?
Mortality for children with disabilities may be as high as 80 per cent in countries where under-five mortality as a whole has decreased below 20 per cent, says the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, adding that in some cases it seems as if children are being “weeded out”. ( World Bank)
How many people with disabilities are successful as small business owners?
Thousands of persons with disabilities have been successful as small business owners, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The 1990 national census revealed that persons with disabilities have a higher rate of self-employment and small business experience (12.2 per cent) than persons without disabilities (7.8 per cent). ( U.S. Census of Population and Housing, 1990)
Why are people with disabilities not hired?
One-third of the employers surveyed said that persons with disabilities cannot effectively perform the required job tasks. The second most common reason given for not hiring persons with disabilities was the fear of costly special facilities. (Dixon, Kruse, Van Horn, 2003)
What are the rights of the UN?
“These rights touch on every aspect of life: the right to go to school, to live in one’s community, to access health care, to start a family, to engage in political participation, to be able to play sport, to travel – and to have decent work,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a message. While the coronavirus pandemic has upended ]
When did the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities come into force?
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted by the General Assembly by its resolution 61/106 of 13 December 2006. It came into force on 3 May 2008 upon its 20th ratification. Article 40 of the Convention stipulates that “The States Parties shall meet regularly in a Conference of States Parties (COSP) in order to ]
What is disability inclusive development?
Disability-inclusive development is an essential condition for a sustainable future. In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, pledging to leave no one behind in the global efforts to realize the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
When is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities?
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is annually observed on 3 December to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities and to take action for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and development.
What is the purpose of the 59th Commission for Social Development?
The aim of this event during the 59th Commission for Social Development (CSocD59) is to show how digital technologies can become a driving force for the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
What is the failure of the UK government to recognise the rights of disabled people to live independently in the community?
It calls on ministers to provide sufficient resources to support disabled people to live at home. In November the same UN committee issued a scathing report on austerity policies pursued by the UK government in welfare ...
Who is the chief executive of Disability Rights UK?
Kamran Mallick, the chief executive of Disability Rights UK, said: “The committee’s final observations and comments represent a grim reality check for the UK government and its record on ensuring the human rights of disabled people.”.
What are the consequences of welfare reforms?
High levels of poverty for disabled people and their families and reduced standards of living as result of multiple welfare reforms and benefit cuts. It calls for a review of benefit sanctions, which it says have a detrimental effect on recipients.
Does the UN report accurately reflect the evidence we gave to the UN?
A government spokesperson said: “We’re disappointed that this report does not accurately reflect the evidence we gave to the UN, and fails to recognise all the progress we’ve made to empower disabled people in all aspects of their lives.
Is the UK failing to protect disabled people?
The UK government is failing to uphold disabled people’s rights across a range of areas from education, work and housing to health, transport and social security, a UN inquiry has found. The UN committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities examined the government’s progress in fulfilling its commitments to the UN convention on disabled ...
Who is the chief of the Diversity and Inclusion Office at the CIA?
Roger Sternitzke , chief of the Diversity and Inclusion Office at the CIA, said the agency is "committed to ensuring the accessibility our officers deserve." He added that the agency is "increasing accessibility of our facilities and technology worldwide, and expanding disability awareness across the workforce."
How many Biden administration appointees are disabled?
In some areas, she's encouraged. Town noted that 3% of Biden administration appointees are people with disabilities, and while she called that still "very low," she points out this is the first time there has even been data available to keep track of.
Why did Otis have to call for assistance?
On several occasions at the start of her career, Otis says she had to call for assistance to open a heavy vault door that was impossible to open from a seated position. Then, she says, she was told she was starting to annoy people when she asked to be let in everyday and should avoid being seen as a "troublemaker."
Is the disability minority underrepresented in the workforce?
Three decades later, people with disabilities — the largest minority group in the country — remain underrepresented in the workforce, particularly within the federal workforce.
Does the government track disability retention?
Tracking the government's progress has also proven difficult. Despite the 12% benchmark, the Office of Personnel Management "does not routinely track or report retention data on employees with disabilities," according to the Government Accountability Office. Some of the clearest figures come from a 2020 report from the GAO, which found that while hiring of people with disabilities increased from 2011-2017, more work needed to be done to boost retention, training and reasonable accommodation efforts.
Is the government a model employer for people with disabilities?
But advocates say it's important to continue the momentum. The government, as the nation's largest employer, has worked toward being a model workplace for people with disabilities for decades, even before the ADA was signed. The Biden administration has pledged that their hires and appointments will reflect what America looks like, but advocates say change is not just about hiring practices — it is measured by changes in workplace culture around how people with disabilities are perceived, and in building workplaces that address accessibility within the framework of equity and inclusion.
How can governments make sure that disability rights are enforced?
In addition to amending discriminatory laws, governments need to make sure that disability rights are enforced through better monitoring and resources invested in rights-respecting alternatives to institutions and isolation cells. And people with disabilities themselves and their representative organisations should be involved every step of the way.
Where was the Disability Rights Treaty held?
I was fortunate to be among the many advocates who participated in the negotiations on the international disability rights treaty at the UN in New York. During that process, there was a sea change in the way people viewed, respected and engaged with people with disabilities. People with disabilities had a voice, and they were heard.
How many countries have ratified the CRPD?
When it came into force 10 years ago, it was the first major human rights treaty of the 21st century – a watershed moment. The CRPD has now been ratified by 164 countries.
How many people have a disability?
Chances are you know someone with a disability. According to the World Health Organisation, 1 billion people – one in seven – have some form of disability. They are our classmates, relatives and friends, and they have the right to be treated the same as everyone else.
Do people with disabilities have a voice?
People with disabilities had a voice, and they were heard . Ten years since its adoption, much progress has been made in so many aspects of the law and life, and people with disabilities in many countries are leading the fight for their rights.
Does disability discriminate?
We need to keep in mind that disability does not discriminate – any one of us can join the disability community at any point in our lives. It’s not about them, it’s about us.
Will institutionalized children ever leave?
Many of the children that have been institutionalised will grow up and never leave these places.