A/HRC/37/56 therefore important that notaries understand the recognition of universal legal capacity and the support paradigm brought forward by the Convention, in order to ensure that their work does not translate into a de facto restriction of legal capacity. They must also receive appropriate training in the provision of accessibility measures and reasonable accommodation. 78. The role of academia in promoting the right to legal capacity of persons with disabilities is critical, particularly in education, research and innovation. Universities should review their curricula to ensure that the education they offer adequately reflects the innovations of the Convention in relation to the legal capacity of persons with disabilities. They can also support the implementation and evaluation of supported decision-making initiatives. The direct involvement of persons with disabilities with and within academia, and the development and strengthening of critical studies based on the perspectives of persons with disabilities, can strengthen the capacity of universities to identify challenges and propose better solutions. G. Awareness-raising 79. A cultural change in how persons with disabilities are perceived by their communities is essential for ensuring that the decisions of persons with disabilities are respected. States must adopt immediate, effective and appropriate measures to raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding the abilities and rights of persons with disabilities. States should also take measures to combat stereotypes, negative attitudes and harmful and involuntary practices against persons with disabilities in all areas of life, and promote the support paradigm in decision-making. Persons with disabilities must not be seen as objects of care, but rather as rights holders in the same way as every member of society (see A/71/314, para. 74). H. Resource mobilization 80. States have an obligation to mobilize resources to their maximum availability to ensure access to the right to legal capacity, including funding supported decision-making initiatives, research, training and awareness-raising campaigns. States must also refrain from funding any act or practice that is inconsistent with the right to legal capacity of persons with disabilities and ensure that the public authorities, service providers and other stakeholders act in conformity with it. Retrogressive measures that affect access to support for persons with disabilities in different areas of life, such as cuts or reductions in subsidies for community support services, in-home services and personal assistance, can also impact the exercise of the right to legal capacity. 81. The United Nations, including all its programmes, funds and specialized agencies, should increase the awareness and expertise of its staff in relation to the right to legal capacity of persons with disabilities. International cooperation should also consider increasing funding for the design and development of supported decision-making initiatives, ensuring that those interventions are consistent with the human rights of persons with disabilities. VI. Conclusions and recommendations 82. Throughout history, legal capacity has been denied to many persons with disabilities, who have therefore been deprived of the exercise of their rights. While the practice has been widely accepted and viewed as necessary to protect both the individuals concerned and society, it has proved to be wrong. Denial of legal capacity takes away people’s control over their everyday lives and significantly reduces their opportunities to participate in society. Furthermore, it has legitimized and facilitated the continuation of harmful practices, such as coercion, institutionalization and sterilization, prompting the ultimate objectification of persons with disabilities. Against that background, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 18