A/HRC/28/58
A.
Promoting the inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the
national agenda
23.
The Special Rapporteur recognizes that a very important part of the mandate is to
support States in the development of their national efforts to advance the implementation of
the rights of persons with disabilities. To accomplish this, the Special Rapporteur will put
particular emphasis on the following activities:
(a)
Supporting law reform processes. Most legal systems in the world still
contain provisions that discriminate against persons with disabilities and violate their
human rights, from the denial of legal capacity or the right to vote to education laws that
exclude children with disabilities from the general education system. Although efforts have
been made to harmonize national legislation with the Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities, much remains to be done. The Special Rapporteur aims to contribute to
these processes by providing technical advice and exchanging good practices with a view to
supporting and promoting legal reform that is inclusive of the rights of persons with
disabilities, and by promoting the effective involvement of and consultation with persons
with disabilities and their representative organizations in legislative reform.
(b)
Fostering capacity-building of national stakeholders. The Convention brings
about many concepts and new ideas that challenge outdated perceptions of persons with
disabilities. The Special Rapporteur aims to support national stakeholders, including
government officials, in translating internationally agreed norms and standards to national
laws, policies, programmes and practices, and to advise them in challenges that they may
face in implementing the rights of persons with disabilities. In cooperation with relevant
United Nations agencies and other organizations, the mandate holder will explore the
feasibility of developing training modules for national stakeholders to support the effective
advancement of the rights of persons with disabilities.
(c)
Promoting the establishment and/or strengthening of national mechanisms for
implementation and monitoring. Guided by article 33 of the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities,14 many States are in the process of setting up a national
framework for implementing and monitoring the Convention. The Special Rapporteur
wishes to work together with the mechanisms called for in article 33 (government focal
points and coordination mechanisms, independent monitoring bodies and civil society),
support their efforts and address their potential challenges with a view to reinforcing the
development of Convention-compliant national implementation and monitoring
frameworks.
(d)
Country visits. The Special Rapporteur will, at the invitation of
Governments, undertake country visits to learn about national realities and observe relevant
laws, policies and programmes, and identify good practices and areas of cooperation and
technical support to advance constructive dialogue and further developments in the field of
the rights of persons with disabilities. She will study national legislation, policies,
programmes and practices, and regulatory frameworks and institutions, to provide guidance
to States in their activities – including, where relevant, by supporting them in implementing
recommendations made by human rights mechanisms – in seeking to advance the rights of
persons with disabilities in accordance with the Convention.
14
See the thematic study prepared by OHCHR on the role of national mechanisms for the
implementation and monitoring of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(A/HRC/13/29).
11
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