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The UNCRPD: a new breakthrough in human rights
Dear Reader,
2008 will be remembered as one of the most important
dates in the history of the
human rights and disability movements. Representing years of campaigning
and
dedication by people around the world, the United Nations Convention on
the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) came into force on 3 May. Since
this was just weeks
before the joint UNECA and Leonard Cheshire Disability conference, its
500 delegates
from over 50 countries were among the first to celebrate the world’s
newest human
rights tool.
Coming in the 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the
UNCRPD reinforces the need for equal rights for all the world’s
citizens. 2008 is also the
50th anniversary of UNECA, whose mandate is to ensure that
internationally agreed
agendas are implemented throughout Africa. Leonard Cheshire Disability
was also
founded 50 years ago, and works in 54 countries to change attitudes to
disability and
to serve disabled people around the world.
We frame our opening comments on the UNCRPD in terms of rights, because
we applaud
the rights-based approach of the Convention. It is only by shifting
thinking and action
on disability from the “benefciary” or “recipient” approach to one based
on human
rights and inclusion that all people can climb out of poverty, achieve
equal access and
eliminate discrimination.
These issues formed the framework for the panels and workshops in this
conference
because they are still widely manifest for people with disabilities. The
report is
divided into corresponding sections, each providing facts, proposals and
opinions
on how everyone who wants to bring about change – governments,
international
organizations, disabled people’s groups and individuals – can best
address
them.
And address them we must if the world has any chance of
meeting the Millennium
Development Goals, a set of minimum standards to reduce poverty and
promote
health, equality and sustainability, agreed by every country. Without
the inclusion of
people with disabilities in all social and economic development
programs, such efforts
can never fully succeed.
The work of our two organizations,
the conference participants and you, the users of
this report, is to translate the ideals of the UNCRPD into reality.
Thank you for joining us
and we wish you success in reaching our mutual goal.
Yours sincerely,
Thokozile Ruzvidzo
Officer-In-Charge
African Center for Gender and Social Development
UNECA
Tanya Barron
International Director
Leonard Cheshire Disability
Hassan Musa Yousif
Focal Person on Disability, UNECA