A/HRC/26/24 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 24/31, the Human Rights Council requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to prepare a report1 on the activities undertaken by the Office, other relevant United Nations agencies and, where applicable, regional organizations, to support efforts by States to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities in their national legislation, policies and programmes, including to mainstream disability in development efforts.2 2. To this end, OHCHR invited contributions from all United Nations agencies and regional organizations, and received three responses: two from agencies,3 namely the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and one from a regional organization, namely the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). OHCHR also consulted separately the technical secretariat of the United Nations Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The full texts of all submissions received are available on the OHCHR website.4 II. Technical cooperation on the rights of persons with disabilities 3. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 13 December 2006 and entered into force on 3 May 2008. As of 30 March 2014, it had been ratified by 142 States and the European Union.5 The purpose of the Convention 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.6 4. Technical cooperation is embedded in the spirit and purpose of the Convention. The Convention, and in particular its article 32 – in which States parties recognize the importance of international cooperation in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the Convention, in partnership with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society, in particular organizations of persons with disabilities –, serves as a platform for the United Nations to provide technical assistance on issues related to the Convention and its provisions. 5. Important steps to this end have been taken in the context of the post-2015 United Nations development agenda, guided by the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly 1 2 3 4 5 6 The present report was prepared by OHCHR in direct consultation with the technical secretariat of the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other United Nations agencies and regional organizations. The information compiled herein reflects the available information in the internal reporting system of OHCHR and the contributions from other United Nations agencies. Human Rights Council resolution 24/31, para. 15. The term “United Nations agencies” is used in this report as encompassing United Nations departments, programmes, funds and specialized agencies. www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Disability/Pages/DisabilityIndex.aspx. Updated information on ratification status is available from: https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src= TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15&chapter=4&lang=en. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, art. 1, para. 1. 3