Human Rights, Persons with Disabilities, ICF and the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities - Training toolkit

2010

European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine, 2012

Updating Annex 5: ICF, people with disabilities and UN CRPD: implications for statistics and policies monitoring. Lucilla Frattura (1) , Giampiero Griffo (2) (1) Italian WHO-FIC CC, Italy; (2) Disabled Peoples' International The definition of "persons with disabilities" given by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) poses a challenge. Without questioning bodily impairment (seen as a precondition), the UN definition focuses on "disabilities" as negative outcomes and describes the restriction to participation and inclusion in society as the result of the presence of barriers and discrimination. ICF also provides a conceptual framework for understanding disability. According to the ICF model, disability and functioning are the negative and positive outcomes of the interactions between an individual with a health condition and contextual factors. Since ICF and UN CRPD are the two pillars of a modern way to approach disability, the pr...

American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2012

Promoting the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States: Policy and Programming Guide, 2013

There is a genuine and widespread lack of general understanding and policy awareness that most Persons with Disabilities (PWD) can, in fact, function effectively at work, school, and within society, if given required support. Legacies of the socialist system with its medical model of disability that believed that limitations arising from disability can potentially be prevented or managed by medical treatment of PWDs contributes to this. Therefore, it is no surprise that the medical model and charity ideology shaped these countries’motivation for special legislation, social and legal policies,corresponding programmes, and, social protection schemes.Access to services does not imply only physical services.Of course, globally, the overwhelming majority of buildings,including government institutions are not accessible to PWDs, which restricts their opportunities to exercise their rights in many areas. Multiple barriers still exist in access to employment, education, housing, health, political participation,cultural expression, entertainment, and leisure activities. Inaccessibility and prejudices in society make life difficult and prevent access to basic rights and services such as participating in political process, gaining access to justice, and engaging in meaningful economic and social activity.In fact, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)provides a unique normative framework and an effective legal tool for States to end this discrimination and violation of the rights of persons with disabilities – if it is implemented effectively and supported by policies and programmes to promote the active inclusion of this population. Easier said than done. The inclusion of persons with disabilities in development efforts is a question of humanrights, and the human-rights based approach is central in achieving an inclusive society,non-discrimination and to ensuring equity. It is NOT a matter of moral obligation anymore;it is our legal and developmental obligation. It is, therefore, important for all of us –individuals or institutions - to take effective steps to support the implementation of the CRPD. The constituent elements (national human rights institutions, CSOs, national agencies, judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, legislative bodies) of the national human rights systems in our respective countries have an active duty to take this up and mainstream disability issues, challenges, and, solutions into vision, strategic planning, annual work plans,budgeting and resource allocation. These are critical for achieving inclusive growth, internationally agreed development goals (i.e., Millennium Development Goals, Post-2015 Development-SDGs, Social Development Goals, etc.) and, most importantly, ensuring human dignity, human rights, social protectionand justice. In order to address such needs, existing knowledge, and capacity gaps, UNDP recently published this comprehensive Guide for both programming and advocacy. This book reflects the current research, international and regional experiences, good practices and lessons learned in ratifying the UNCRPD and its implementation. The Guide exemplifies well-coordinated sectoral policies and national programmes aligned with the CRPD.

Disability is not a 'health problem'; however some people with disabilities do have increased health needs, and all people with disabilities have the same right to access health services as others. The number of people living with disabilities is increasing, due partly to increasing numbers of people living with the consequences of chronic communicable and non-communicable diseases. Based on recommendations of the World Report on Disability, which provides the parameters for research, this paper sets out a research agenda calling for a considerable research programme on social, civil, and economic impacts of living with disability, arising from whatever cause, including communicable and non-communicable diseases; significant global health policy revisions; identification of constraints and facilitators in access to healthcare for people with disabilities; development of a robust evidence base for implementing the new guidelines on community-based rehabilitation; innovations in addressing human resource challenges faced by disability and rehabilitation service-providers; development of enabling technologies that focus on individuals' aspirations and social gain; preparedness for responding to the needs of people with disabilities in disaster situations; and the application of disability metrics to strengthen health systems.

The Lancet Regional Health - Europe