DPI Disability Convention Daily Update: August 14, 2006 (Day One)
8th Session of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
The 8th Session of the Ad Hoc Committee opened today in a very full Conference Room 4 at UN Headquarters in New York on a gorgeous summer day. Participants face a two week negotiation that could result in adoption of a convention text.
NGO preparations for the negotiations began on Sunday, August 13. Ms. Venus Ilagan, Chair of DPI and DPI Head of Delegation to the Ad Hoc Committee, along with other DPI delegates, attended a strategy meeting with members of the International Disability Convention Caucus. A major focus of that meeting included discussions of substantive issues requiring further work, particularly international monitoring.
Ambassador MacKay of New Zealand again assumed the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee. He noted the large size of governmental delegations, and NGOs, including some 800 registered civil society representatives. The (highly inaccessible) public gallery balcony was opened to handle the huge number of accredited participants.
The Ad Hoc Committee adopted the agenda for the meeting and the organization of work. The Chair underscored his hopes for the session, namely, the adoption of the draft convention by the Committee within the two week session. Thereafter, the draft convention would be submitted to a drafting committee for a proof reading, followed by its report and submission of the text to the UN General Assembly for formal adoption this fall.
International Monitoring
Mexico, the Facilitator for international monitoring, introduced draft provisions on an implementation mechanism, the text prepared during the intersessional period based on consultations with states. The core ingredients of this text include: (i) committee of experts; (ii) periodic reporting by states parties; (iii) individual communications procedure; (iv) inquiry procedure; (v) country visits; and (vi) conference of states parties.
Many delegations took the floor on the subject of monitoring during the morning session, with the discussions continuing during the afternoon session. Ambassador MacKay, at one stage during the debate, specifically requested that delegations speak to the issue of whether or not they supported the creation of a treaty body.
A number of delegations signaled their support, in general terms, for the proposal put forward by the Facilitator (Mexico). Many delegations specifically, and in very strong terms, supported the establishment of a treaty body. Supporting delegations included, among others, Liechtenstein, Finland (on behalf of 27 EU countries), Brazil, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Libya, Uruguay, Thailand, Cuba, Kenya, Uganda, Jamaica, Malaysia, Bahrain, El Salvador, and Yemen.
Opposition to a new treaty body came from a few delegations, including the USA and Australia. Opponents argued variously that existing bodies could undertake monitoring, that ongoing treaty body reform suggested postponement of the development of a mechanism, and that the current system was broken and that creating new bodies was not a prudent way forward.
Some delegations spoke on the matter of individual communications or complaint procedures, with certain delegations voicing their support and other indicating their opposition. Some noted that allowing communications on an optional basis (as is the case in the current Facilitator's text) or even as part of a separate optional protocol, a practice developed in other treaty contexts, is one way forward.
Another common thread running through many of the interventions concerned ensuring that any treaty body was composed of persons with relevant expertise, and that personal experience with disability should be a component of the necessary qualifications.
Following the government delegation interventions near the close of the session, the Chair opened the floor to the Special Rapporteur on Disability, Sheika Hessa al-Thani, followed by the International Disability Caucus which emphasized the absolute necessity for an effective monitoring mechanism with a treaty body inclusive of people with disabilities as members of that body. Amnesty International and a representative of national human rights institutions also spoke, emphasizing the importance of establishing an effective international monitoring mechanism.
Other DPI Action
Members of the DPI delegation reconnected with each other during the lunchtime break and looked for their allies from other DPOs. During the afternoon, DPI Chair, Venus Ilagan, gave an interview for UNESCO which is developing a documentary about educating children with disabilities.
The meeting adjourned at 6 pm. Negotiations resume tomorrow at 10am.
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2006-08-18 00:00:00
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