A/HRC/22/25 65. The establishment of an independent monitoring mechanism to promote, protect and monitor implementation of the Convention is a key obligation of States parties (art. 33). Such a mechanism should play an important role in promoting work and employment of persons with disabilities, and monitoring progress. Furthermore, persons with disabilities who, individually or as a group, are victims of a violation of the right to work should have access to effective judicial or other appropriate remedies at the national level. 28 D. International cooperation 66. The submissions to this study provided a variety of examples of international cooperation programmes aimed at supporting national efforts to promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Most of the programmes advocate a disabilityspecific approach, such as focusing on promoting vocational training for certain groups of persons with disabilities. International cooperation in the area of work and employment of persons with disabilities should consistently seek to apply a “twin track” approach, which on the one hand, allows for disability-specific programmes or initiatives aimed at overcoming particular disadvantages or obstacles, and on the other hand, seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities are included in general skills development as well as in enterprise- and employment-related services and programmes on vocational training and employment. VII. Conclusions and recommendations 67. While the reasons for low labour force participation by persons with disabilities are multifaceted, it is evident that one of the core challenges lies in negative attitudes, stigma and stereotypes of persons with disabilities being in some way “unsuitable” to participation in working life, on an equal basis with others. This translates into continued marginalization and discrimination of persons with disabilities in the area of work and employment, and for many persons with disabilities around the world, denial of their right to work, as provided for in article 27 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 68. Submissions to this study highlighted a wide range of efforts undertaken by States parties to promote employment of persons with disabilities. Nevertheless, such efforts often focus on creating jobs or training opportunities in separate settings and fail to respect the principle of inclusion provided for in the Convention. It is imperative that States parties move away from sheltered employment schemes and promote equal access for persons with disabilities in the open labour market. More importantly, States parties have an obligation to raise awareness among employers of their duty to employ persons with disabilities; employers in both the public and private sectors must proactively seek to create a working environment that welcomes persons with disabilities as employees. Besides ensuring that public-sector workplaces are accessible to persons with disabilities, States should impose accessibility requirements on private-sector employers, including through informing employers about their duty to identify and eliminate barriers that hinder persons with disabilities from accessing the workplace on an equal basis with others. 69. States parties must take immediate action to enact and/or enforce legislation prohibiting disability-based discrimination in the area of work and employment, and 28 Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights general comment No. 18 (2005) on the right to work, para. 48. 17