FIMITIC

DRAFTING OF DISABILITY CONVENTION TO CONTINUE AT UNITED NATIONS:
COMMITTEE NEGOTIATING TREATY ON RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
TO MEET AT UN HEADQUARTERS, 24 JANUARY - 2 FEBRUARY

Delegates drafting the first-ever convention on the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities will continue negotiations from 24 January to 4 February at United Nations Headquarters (Conference Room 4).

Meeting for its fifth session, the General Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities will consider the revisions and amendments to the ConventionÂ’s draft text proposed at its third and fourth session.

It will also hold informal consultations on draft articles 1 to 15 and 24 bis, and review articles 16 to 24, which address issues such as children with disabilities, education, accessibility and personal mobility. These articles also cover right to health and rehabilitation, right to work, social security and adequate standards of living, and participation in political and public life, cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport.

A major aspect of the drafting of the Convention is the participation of national human rights institutions and disability non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world. Some 500 representatives of disability organizations are expected to attend the session.

Lunchtime side events will feature presentations by delegations, disability organizations, United Nations bodies and others, on issues such as international accessibility standards, inclusive development, Internet accessibility, and human rights treaties monitoring (for a list of side events, see http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc5sideevents.htm).

For information, visit http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/ or contact Edoardo Bellando, United Nations Department of Public Information, Tel.: (212) 963-8275, e-mail: bellando@un.org