A/HRC/43/27 disabilities. In Mexico, the National Council to Prevent Discrimination entered into an agreement with Twitter to monitor and act on cyberbulling and hate speech against persons with disabilities, among other populations. III. Article 8 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities A. Awareness-raising under the human rights model of disability 36. Article 8 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, entitled “awareness-raising”, focuses on some of the factors that cause disability-based discrimination, namely the negative attitudes and prejudice towards persons with disabilities. The article requires States parties to undertake to adopt immediate, effective and appropriate measures to raise public awareness about persons with disabilities and their rights and contributions throughout society, including at the family level, and in all areas of life. 37. In addition to the obligations on States parties described in article 8 (1) mentioned above, article 8 (2) gives guidance to States parties on increasing awareness of the rights and contributions of persons with disabilities to society, including by initiating and maintaining effective public campaigns, media, education systems and training programmes. Article 8 focuses on work and employment and educational contexts, and is respectful of the right to freedom of speech by “encouraging” the media to portray persons with disabilities in a manner that is consistent with the purpose of the treaty. The examples given under article 8 (2) should not be read as an exhaustive list of actions, but as a reference to improve awareness. 38. States should raise the awareness of all the rights of persons with disabilities in the treaty. The provisions contained in article 8 are wide-ranging and include both general and specific requests to States parties. They place an emphasis on the specific areas in which awareness-raising measures need to be adopted. For instance, article 8 (1) (a) highlights the need for States parties to raise and promote awareness about “the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities” both “throughout society” and “at the family level”. The article further calls on States parties to “combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices” regarding persons with disabilities, including those based on “sex and age”, in all areas of life. These latest references are a reminder to States parties that there are persons with disabilities who face multiple and intersecting discrimination, like women and girls with disabilities. 39. The specific reference in the article to “the family level” implies that there is a recognition that existing views on persons with disabilities extend to family members. Families play a crucial role in empowering persons with disabilities, at an early age and throughout life. Having well-informed families can advance the implementation of the treaty and ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are also respected in the family context. Negative attitudes, based on paternalistic views, shame, low expectations of family members with disabilities or mystical views, commonly lead to harmful practices, such as forced institutionalization, confinement of persons with disabilities in their homes, abandonment and neglect. 40. Empowered family members usually cope better with the challenges that societies impose on persons with disabilities and their families in a more resilient way. Awarenessraising programmes should factor in the potential of collaborating with families and acknowledge that not all families are prepared to get involved immediately, hence such programmes should include dedicated support for families to increase their capacity to operate as multipliers of positive attitudes towards persons with disabilities. 8