DPI Disability Convention Daily Update: August 8, 2005 (Day Six)
6th Session of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
Ambassador MacKay opened the morning session at the start of the second and final week of the 6th Session of the Ad Hoc Committee. Informal consultations resumed on Article 21 (Health and Rehabilitation). One of the core issues in the discussions concerned whether Article 21 should be split into two separate provisions, one covering the right to health, and the other covering the right to rehabilitation/habilitation. Some countries proposed splitting the article, including the EU, which introduced text for a new Article 21bis (Right to Rehabilitation). There appeared to be significant support for splitting Article 21 into two articles. Canada issued a caution against hastily moving forward to draft a separate article on rehabilitation, and suggested that another possibility would be to integrate issues pertaining to rehabilitation into existing articles, including, for example, Articles 15, 17, 19/20, 22. Some governments noted that any splitting of the article should not compromise the expansive definition and understanding of health adopted by the World Health Organization.
Some governments indicated their support for strengthening the chapeau of the article, along with other provisions that appeared to be drafted in weak terms. Other governments underlined the need to clarify that health refers to both physical and mental health. Attention was drawn to the situation of persons with disabilities living in rural areas, and the importance of community based services. The EU proposal to combine sub-paragraphs h, i, and j received support by many delegations. The Holy See proposed additional provisions, including language to ensure that people with disabilities are not denied life preserving treatment. Some delegations suggested streamlining portions of the text given duplication in other parts of the convention text, or overlap within Article 21 itself.
During the lunchtime break, DPI delegates attended side events including: (i) launch of a new monitoring report by Center for International Rehabilitation and Disabled People's International; and (ii) a panel hosted by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) on Disability and Standards; Facilitator’s Meeting on Article 17.
Informal consultations on Article 21 resumed after the lunch break. At the close of government interventions, the Chair opened a plenary session to allow for a number of interventions by the International Disability Caucus as well as other NGOs. Thereafter, the Chair summed up the discussions of the day. Among other things, the Chair emphasized that there was no intention to create new rights with regard to this convention.
Near the end of the afternoon meeting, informal consultations commenced on Article 23 (Social Security and Adequate Standard of Living). The Chair noted that the Committee will return to Article 22 (Work) after consideration of Article 23 in order to accommodate scheduling problems for the Facilitator of Article 23 who must leave New York before the end of the week.
2005-08-09 00:00:00
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