A/HRC/7/61 page 5 participated in the signature ceremony on 30 March 2007 delivering a statement at the ceremony and then providing the keynote address, “From vision to action: the road to implementation of the Convention” to the High Level Dialogue following the signing ceremony. The High Commissioner also submitted an opinion-editorial piece on the Convention with Under-Secretary General José-Antonio Ocampo of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs in March 2007, which was published in several newspapers. 9. OHCHR has supported the High Commissioner’s leadership role through a number of related activities throughout 2007. In October 2007, the Office, together with the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, published a Handbook for Parliamentarians on the Convention and its Optional Protocol entitled “From exclusion to equality: realizing the rights of persons with disabilities”. The Handbook gives an overview of the Convention and its Optional Protocol, explains the process of signature and ratification, provides information on legislation and policy to implement the Convention and discusses the various monitoring mechanisms required. The Handbook is directed primarily at parliamentarians, although it has been welcomed by States, intergovernmental organizations and civil society as a useful resource. 10. In response to increasing calls for training materials on the Convention and its Optional Protocol, the High Commissioner has supported, through the provision of a foreword, a training module on the Convention and its Optional Protocol, entitled: “Human rights - yes!: Action and advocacy on the rights of persons with disabilities” published by the University of Minnesota Human Rights Resource Center and developed and coordinated by BlueLaw in partnership with Disabled Peoples’ International. The training module provides materials that assist United Nations human rights field presences and others to promote and explain the Convention and Optional Protocol. The training module was launched on 3 December to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 11. The High Commissioner has also promoted respect for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities within OHCHR through initiatives geared towards improving the accessibility of OHCHR premises, facilities and technology and committing to the right to decent work of staff with disabilities. Over 2007, OHCHR has engaged two consultants to undertake an accessibility audit of OHCHR premises, facilities and technology, one from the perspective of someone with a sensory disability and a second from the perspective of someone with a physical disability. The accessibility audit will be completed in early 2008 and will deliver a set of recommendations for further action. 12. Further, to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, the High Commissioner announced a set of six commitments to promote the right to decent work of staff with disabilities. The six commitments are as follows: to develop a “statement of intent” to promote decent work for staff with disabilities covering recruitment, career development, and work/life issues including the situation of staff with children with disabilities; to develop and implement standards on accessibility for the Office’s physical environment as well as for access to OHCHR technology; to introduce a sensitization training programme for staff on human rights and disabilities; to establish a programme for interns with disabilities; to consult with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations within United Nations rules in the implementation of these commitments; and finally, to review the implementation of the commitments before 3 December 2009.