UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: a call to action on poverty, discrimination and lack of access

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Annex 1: Addis Ababa call for action
 

Implementing the UNCRPD: our shared challenge

UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: a call for action on poverty, discrimination and lack of access

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 19–22 May 2008

We, the 500 participants from 58 Countries, in this conference jointly organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and Leonard Cheshire Disability,

Recall that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force on May 3rd 2008, and that the Convention marks a major milestone in recognizing the human rights of persons with disabilities and their roles as active members of society and in development (Article 4.3 UNCRPD),

Cognizant that the Convention has been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly,

Recognize the efforts of the international community including the United Nations System in focusing global efforts on the Convention,

Understand that by ratifying the Convention, Member States are committed to enact laws, adopt policy measures, and take all necessary steps to implement the provisions of the Convention,

Recommend that in order to implement and monitor progress, Member States, in accordance with their system of organization, shall designate one or more focal points within government for matters relating to the implementation of the present Convention, and shall give due consideration to establishment or designation of a coordination mechanism within government to facilitate related action in different sectors and at different levels (Article 33 UNCRPD),

Urge Member States, in accordance with legal and administrative systems, to maintain, strengthen, designate or establish a framework, including one or more independent mechanisms, as appropriate, to promote, protect and monitor implementation of the present convention, for which Member States shall take into account the principles relating to the status and functioning of national institutions for protection and promotion of human rights,

Recommend that civil society, in particular persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, shall be involved and participate fully in the implementation and monitoring process,

Recall that Member States recognize the importance of international cooperation and its promotion in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the UNCRPD (Article 32),

Adopt this Call for action to request governments, the United Nations System, donors, international financial institutions, disabled people’s organizations, civil society, private sector, trade unions, and media, to:

  1. Build capacity and empower all stakeholders to participate in the implementation and monitoring of the UNCRPD, by:

    1. Building awareness among persons with disabilities of their rights under the UN Convention and how they can be made a reality;

    2. Building capacity, internally and among other stakeholders, to deliver the obligations under the Convention; and

    3. Ensuring that persons with disabilities, disabled people’s organizations and parents and associations of parents of children with disabilities are involved at all stages of implementation, monitoring and review of the UNCRPD, and can seek individual redress under the UNCRPD.

  2. Support the establishment of a structure and strategies to implement the UNCRPD, through the:

    1. Establishment of a United Nations agency specifically for the implementation of the UNCRPD.

    2. Strengthening of international, national and regional partnerships and cooperation between stakeholders to deliver the UNCRPD;

    3. Introduction of a transparent implementation strategy for the UNCRPD that has a practical impact on society;

    4. Support of the United Nations System, agencies and programs and others in establishing a systematic and consistent measurement of delivery of the UNCRPD;

    5. Provision of adequate resources for the research, data and statistics needed for successful implementation; and

    6. Commitment to the necessary and adequate resources to implement the UNCRPD;

  3. Commit to promoting the design and development of effective national legislation and policies to implement the UNCRPD by:

    1. Ratifying the Convention and its optional protocol without reservation at the earliest possible time;

    2. Introducing and enforcing legislation implementing the UNCRPD, especially measures which prevent and address discrimination based on disability;

    3. Creating development programs that are genuinely inclusive;

    4. Achieving full access to quality education and health care, decent work, basic services, transport, ICT, the built physical environment, justice, relationships and family life for all citizens – all means all;

    5. Assessing the implications for persons with disabilities in the design and delivery of legislation, policies or programs, in all areas and at all levels; and

    6. Recognizing the centrality of the link between disability and poverty, without which the Millennium Development Goals will not be achieved.

The participants believe that this can only be achieved by coordinated action among all stakeholders, as all of these issues are inter-related and none can be delivered in isolation.

There is great urgency. The time for action is now.

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