A/HRC/16/38 (d) Technical and economic assistance, including access to and sharing of accessible and assistive technologies and through technology transfer. 9. In doing so, the Convention provides guidance and information to States parties on the forms of international cooperation they should undertake in order to meet their responsibilities under the Convention. 10. Fourth, according to the first modality of cooperation, international cooperation should be both “inclusive” and “accessible”11. Inclusion is a broad concept that requires, on the one hand, that persons with disabilities and their representative organizations not be excluded from development programming, implementation or monitoring and evaluation and, on the other hand, that active steps be taken to consult with and ensure the effective and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in such processes. In keeping with the purpose of the Convention, inclusive development cooperation should pay due attention to all persons with disabilities, whether physical, mental, intellectual or sensory12. Accessibility is likewise a broad concept and, in line with the Convention, covers access for persons with disabilities to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications and other facilities and services open to the public13. 11. Inclusive and accessible international cooperation is relevant for persons with disabilities in order to address the marginalization of persons with disabilities in society generally and in international cooperation more specifically: overcoming barriers, particularly social ones, is only possible if there is a proactive effort to include persons with disabilities14. Moreover, inclusive and accessible international cooperation provides a means through which to empower persons with disability and helps to ensure that cooperation meets the other principles such as non-discrimination, equality of opportunity and respect for inherent dignity. 12. In practice, inclusive and accessible international cooperation requires what is referred to as a “twin-track” approach to development cooperation comprising, on the one hand, disability-specific development programmes and, on the other hand, the mainstreaming of disability rights into broader development cooperation15. This is of particular relevance considering that an estimated 80 per cent of persons with disabilities live in developing countries, many in conditions of poverty, and persons with disabilities are often disproportionately represented among the poor16. Consequently, ensuring inclusive and accessible international cooperation is imperative to the success of such cooperation. Indeed, without the inclusion of persons with disabilities, development objectives, in particular the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), cannot be achieved17. 13. Fifth, international cooperation, while explicitly including international development programmes, is also broader and could include other forms of cooperation such as international humanitarian assistance. Interpreting international cooperation widely is important if it is to support the full implementation of the Convention which requires, inter alia, that States parties take all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Ibid., art. 32(1)(a). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, art. 1. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, art. 9. See statement of IDDC on art. 9 of the Convention, made at the Day of General Discussion of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, at www2.ohchr.org/SPdocs/CRPD/DGD7102010/submissions/IDDC.doc. See PCM Guidelines on “The twin-track approach”, at www.inclusivedevelopment.org/cbmtools/part1/twin.htm. www.inclusive-development.org/cbmtools/part1/perspective.htm See “The MDGs and Disability”, at www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1470. 5