I thought this may be of interest
-----Original Message-----
From: "Bill Campbell" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 8/3/05 10:49:34 AM
Subject: FW: Ist EDF Briefing from AD Hoc Committee
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Please see report below which is self explanatory.
I am happy to set up a separate egroup for organisations and individuals in
order to keep you informed of current issues regarding Human Rights issues.
If you would like to be added to this group please let me know. Otherwise I
will not send further information on this as I am well aware of the pressure
on people's time and the annoyance of receiving unsolicited emails.
Best Wishes
Bill Campbell
Project Development Manager
Register your support for our Manifesto for Inclusion by visiting our
website,.
http://www.inclusionscotland.org
european disability forum
>>> Daily Briefing
DAY ONE - UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION
Daily briefing on the sixth ad hoc committee meeting for the drafting on an
International Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities
New York, 2 August 2005 - The first Day at the United Nations started later
because of accreditation formalities. The previous day numerous NGOs,
including several members of the European Disability Forum, met within the
International Disability Caucus.
The meeting was led by the new Chair Ambassador McKay from New Zealand that
replaced Ambassador Gallego, from Ecuador, which had been relocated in
Australia.
The Chair announced that the Bureau now included a representative from South
Africa as Vice President.
The Chair also stated that he would seek to achieve a full reading of the
working group text by the end of the two weeks, which was clearly the basis
for negotiations. He explained that informal negotiations would be the rule,
but that he intended to create the possibility for NGOs, at the end of the
discussions, by reverting in the last half hour to formal meetings. The
Chair also said that he reserved the right to invite some of the experts to
intervene if necessary in the discussions (this includes NGOs). He finally
underlined that the role of the facilitators, will also be important.
He also announced the order of negotiations, and said that discussions would
start from article 15, 24 bis, art 15 bis .... then follow the numbering
order.
The informal meeting then started with examination of article 15 on
"Community living".
A proposal from New Zealand was distributed. New Zealand insisted on the
possibility to include article 12 on the covenant on civil and political
rights, on the right to choose place of residence and living in the
community, as an introductory statement. They also proposed to delete 1b,
which referred to the prohibition of institutionalisation.
Other countries rather proposed to put together 1a and 1b, and to maintain
the reference to institutionalisation. .
The necessary levels of resources and whether progressive realisation should
be mentioned, were discussed.
The European Union delegation also proposed to move accessibility issues to
article 19 on accessibility, and this was supported by several delegations.
Moreover, the EU proposed in 1d to replace "on equal basis" by "non-
discrimination", but no consensus was reached on this point .
During the lunch break a briefing for NGOs was organised by the UK
Presidency of the European Union. The main issues discussed related to
specific groups: women with disabilities, children, and indigenous groups.
The European Union delegation was not in favour of having specific articles,
and proposed instead to include a reference to article 4 on general
obligations.
The other issues raised were education (art. 17) and health (art 21) in
respect to cohercitive treatment. The EU position was to consider the issue
within art. 12. In addition the EU clarified that they were not in favour of
an article on international cooperation, but rather as an implementing
principle, because this should not create new rights and obligations on
States. Finally the EU seemed open to consider splitting article 21 on
health and rehabilitation into two different articles, as to avoid
considering rehabilitation as a medical issue.
The afternoon plenary session started with the formal session, and with
statements from NGOs on article 15. In particular there was a firm osition
regarding the wording on the "right to community living" versus
"institutions" and on the need for support measures in order to ensure this.
The meeting then continued with informal negotiations, and in particular, on
article 24 bis, related to international cooperation. There was an intensive
debate on whether there was a need or not for an article on this specific
issue.
The Chair proposed to ask the facilitator to have further consultations on
this point and, with the idea of having an article as on international
cooperation as comprehensive as possible.
The EU clearly stated that they could consider a reference in general
obligations, but not a specific article.
The Chair proposed an article focusing on the implementation stage. He
underlined that a majority of States would be in favour of a clear reference
to cooperation.
Thailand proposed to substitute in d) the reference to "developing
countries" with "among countrie"s, when referring to technical cooperation.
The Russian Federation also underlined that the key issue would be wording
on subparagraph d).
"encouraging" the technical cooperation, including the transfer of
technology (the term economic assistance would be deleted).
The EU insisted that a reference could be added to art. 4 on "general
obligations of the State", and to art. 25 on "monitoring".
The meeting was concluded with a formal session with NGOs interventions. In
particular EDF underlined the need for such an article and spoke about the
need to ensure that disability would be taken into account in all State
parties development policies.
Rachel Hurst
Disability Awareness in Action
46 The Parklands
Hullavington
Wiltshire SN14 6DL
+44 (0)1666 837 671
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www.daa.org.uk
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