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Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: the vital role of Handicap International

Inclusion

Ten years ago, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. It has since been ratified by 168 States. Handicap International played a vital role in drawing up this text.

When the Convention was being drafted, the organisation made sure that people with disabilities living in low income countries were able to take part in the discussions and that their voices were heard. This involved a lot of coordination and translation work so they could follow the debates and pass on their message.

The organisation also worked tirelessly to ensure the Convention included an article dedicated to international cooperation: by obliging donor States to apply the measures set out in the Convention to their international aid provision, Handicap International made sure that the concerns, needs and priorities of people with disabilities are incorporated into the funding of cooperation actions.

People with disabilities have been able to speak about their daily lives, their specific situations, the things which people without disabilities cannot see. It was very important to reflect the full range of discrimination. A woman with impaired hearing living in a remote area of Kenya is not in the same situation as a blind man living in Europe. I think that the Convention's main achievement has been to combine these different preoccupations and discriminations experienced by very diverse groups of people with disabilities into one text.

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In Bolivia, HI is supporting Hector, a child with autism, and his family
© M. Campos / HI
Inclusion Prevention

In Bolivia, HI is supporting Hector, a child with autism, and his family

In El Alto, Maria devotes herself to her two sons, Mateo, 11, and Hector, 7, diagnosed with mild autism, ADHD and epilepsy. She works with him to build a bright future.

In Uganda, Promise is now living life like any other child
© I. Aguta / HI
Inclusion Rehabilitation

In Uganda, Promise is now living life like any other child

Because of an untreated fracture, Promise lived through years of pain. Thanks to HI, he can now go to school and play with the other children.

7-year-old Elizabeth walks to a brighter future
© Adul / HI
Inclusion Rehabilitation

7-year-old Elizabeth walks to a brighter future

Chantal lives in Uganda, where she is determined to see her daughter Elizabeth thrive. As part of a EU-funded project, HI’s teams have been supporting the young girl who can now walk on her own.