A/HRC/34/69
the labour market, including quotas, and policies on networks, support, reasonable
accommodation and web and media accessibility. Surveys on disabilities had been
undertaken and methodologies developed for universal access plans and public housing.
Persons with intellectual disabilities were able to exercise their legal capacity in some
jurisdictions. Despite the large number of ratifications of the Marrakesh Treaty, challenges
remained. Organizations of persons with disabilities needed to participate in national
monitoring systems and a community support-based system to increase educational and
labour opportunities for persons with disabilities was needed.
29.
A representative of the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda, Esther
Kyozira, provided examples of national disability policies in that country. State
programmes included affirmative action and equity measures on gender and disability for
students with disabilities. Five seats in parliament and two seats in local governments were
designated for persons with disabilities. There was a tax waiver on sunscreen lotions for
persons with albinism and a grant for persons with disabilities in small business. The
National Council for Disability monitored compliance, while the Equal Opportunities
Commission handled complaints and ensured equal access and the Uganda Human Rights
Commission monitored implementation of the Convention. Challenges remained in service
delivery, participation, budgetary allocations and training. Organizations of persons with
disabilities were advocating an inclusive education policy, guidelines for judicial officers
and accessibility standards for buildings.
30.
Representatives of Pakistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Saudi Arabia,
Include Me Too, International Federation of Hard of Hearing People, Regional Network for
Inclusive Education Latin America, Transforming Communities for Inclusion Asia, World
Federation of the Deaf, World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, Public
Television of Argentina and World of Inclusion took the floor. Issues addressed included
reasonable accommodation in education; underrepresentation of certain groups in public
life; accessible markets, education, media, transportation and travel; community-based
systems; the role of committees for persons with disabilities; maternity support; ensuring
rights under austerity measures; and the situation of persons with disabilities in prisons and
psychiatric institutions. Speakers called for deinstitutionalization; separate discussions of
psychosocial disability and intellectual disability; promoting dialogue with employers;
assessment of and accountability for implementation of the Convention; and adoption of an
internationally standardized classification of disabilities.
31.
In response, Ms. Pretorius stated that reasonable accommodation should be
understood as dynamic and context-specific, and personal assistance must not be imposed.
It was necessary to overcome the barrier of high technology costs and to improve access to
information and monitoring systems for statistical data. Ms. Arellano noted that although
technology was available worldwide, not all countries were able to access it. There was a
need to empower young people and to design global strategies to raise civil society’s
capacities and spaces for dialogue. Ms. Kyozira suggested that there should be a legal
provision for reasonable accommodation in Uganda. Persons with disabilities must be
properly empowered with access to information, technology and governmental support.
E.
Meaningful participation and empowerment
32.
A representative of People First New Zealand, Robert Martin, reported that the
Government of New Zealand was working with organizations of persons with disabilities to
implement article 4 (3) of the Convention and create a national disability action plan. Those
organizations were helping to integrate issues relevant to persons with disabilities in the
public policy agenda. One project had improved the health outcomes of people with a
learning disability. He described a range of reasonable accommodations to assure self-
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