A/HRC/34/58
policies and programmes to ensure that support for persons with disabilities is available
from the start.
88.
Consideration of persons with disabilities in national policies on adequate housing is
essential to ensure community participation. In the Republic of Moldova, as part of the
process of deinstitutionalization of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities,
the Government has introduced protected housing arrangements, where persons with
disabilities are provided social housing and the support necessary for living independently
in the community (see A/HRC/31/62/Add.2, para. 46).
89.
Partnerships and alliances with non-profit organizations, academia and organizations
of persons with disabilities can increase the capacity of general services to ensure access to
support for persons with disabilities. For example, in South Africa, the University of
Pretoria has provided research and training to different national authorities on how to
ensure access to justice for persons with disabilities through augmentative and alternative
communication support as well as direct services to that end.
VI. Conclusions and recommendations
90.
Guaranteeing access to support for persons with disabilities is not only a
human rights obligation for States, but also an essential condition to ensure that no
one is left behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. Even if we advance in the areas of accessibility and non-discrimination,
persons with disabilities will always need to have access to support. In fact, without
appropriate support to carry out daily activities and participate in society, many
persons with disabilities will not be able to exercise their human rights and
fundamental freedoms, and will remain at risk of abuse and institutionalization.
Support measures are vital to enable persons with disabilities to benefit from all
policies and programmes and to live fully in the community on an equal basis with
others. States should guarantee the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and
fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities in the provision of support.
91.
The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to States with
the aim of assisting them in developing and implementing support arrangements and
services for persons with disabilities. States should:
(a)
Recognize in domestic legislation the obligation to provide access to
different forms of support to persons with disabilities to carry out daily activities and
participate in society;
(b)
Implement a comprehensive system across different sectors and levels of
government to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to community-based
support services and arrangements that are available, accessible, adequate and
affordable;
(c)
Guarantee that all national policies and programmes take into account
and allocate budgets for support services and arrangements for persons with
disabilities;
(d)
Ensure that social protection systems include the provision of access to
different forms of support for persons with disabilities, including the provision of free
access to essential assistive technologies, as part of the State’s health coverage and
social protection schemes;
(e)
Ensure access by persons with disabilities to appropriate support in their
communities, regardless of the type of service delivery arrangement. When available,
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