Sixth Session of the Conference of States Parties
To the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Conference Room 4
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Stephan Tafrov: I call the meeting to order. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We resume the general debate. The first speaker on my list is the Permanent Representative for Greece speaking for the Greek delegation. You have the floor, sir.
Greece: Good afternoon and thank you, Mr. Chairman. Greece aligns itself with the European Union. Over the last half century, the world has made significant progress in the promotion of human rights.
But identifying whom and how to protect and assist has become more complex. Persons with disabilities still face discrimination. And our society should direct its full attention and priority.
Greece is proud of the fact that despite the financial crisis, our commitment to disability rights has never been stronger. Let me underline some of the measures we have taken.
We have published a comprehensive guide for persons with disabilities that help them become aware of their rights.
Secondly, funds have been allocated for the transportation of disabled children to specially equipped schools.
Thirdly, accessibility for persons with disabilities to public works under development is now mandatory.
Furthermore, the program of disability in municipalities has been established. This is assigned to local mayors while there is an overseer on in national level.
This is an example of local action bankrolled by national resources and political will as well as providing institutional structure for community based rehabilitation of disabled persons.
We know this is not enough. There is much crucial work that still needs to be done, especially for women and children with disabilities.
But it is the overall conviction that disabled people have the same rights and entitlements that non-disabled people do that presses us forward.
We have to bear in mind these are inalienable rights. Lack of available funds is only an excuse not to make significant progress to not fulfill our obligation to Persons with Disabilities.
We need a will and commitment of national agendas. NGOs and civil society organizations are commended for doing their part for the support of the disability cause.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of the International Disability Alliance, whose leadership on this issue has provided tangible results.
We should always bear in mind that the spirit and the letter of the Convention are to constantly engage with persons with disabilities and to do nothing for them without them.
Encouraging private sector entities to partner with public sector and civil society is yet another cost-effective method in pursuing this goal. It will go a long way in ensuring economic empowerment of disabled people.
Disabilities were left out of the Millennium Development Goals the last time around. But moving forward with the post-2015 agenda, we must refine our goals and focus on the alliance of disabled people should be the central tenet of the SDGs.
Our focus on persons with disabilities demonstrates not only a desire to correct injustices against them but is a signal of the progress we have made in other areas that allows us to deal with these problems head on.
Therefore, the international community should seize every opportunity to include disability as a cross-cutting issue in our global agenda. Thank you.
Stephan Tafrov: I thank the distinguished representative of Greece. Before I give the floor to the next speaker, I would like to thank you for adhering to the 3-minute limit we all have. I would like to appeal to the rest of the delegations to adhere to the same 3-minute limit.
[Speaking in Russian; no translation.]
Russia: [In progress] ...designed to protect the rights and interests of 15% of the inhabitants. Here in New York, the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities signed in 2008 was signed and deposited with the Secretary-General. This concluded Russia's accession to the document.
This was a significant step for Russia because it provided an impetus to create legal, financial, economic, administrative, and other conditions for ensuring equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Leading to the ratification, 10 new legislative acts and 13 amendments to federal laws have been adopted regarding the creation of unimpeded access for persons with disabilities, enhancing the level of their employment and the quality of medical services.
The role of the process has been played by the commission in the president's office of the Russian Federation on disabled person's affairs. This includes executive and legislative power as well as public associations.
Work on the practical implementations is being conducted in accessibility adopted by the Russian Federation with total financing of $3 billion.
The goal of this program is creating unimpeded access by persons with disabilities to all necessary sites and services for a normal life.
The increase by a factor of 8 of the number of educational institutions for individuals with disabilities. The creation of an additional 300,000 new jobs. The regular enhancement of the size of pensions for persons with disabilities. And the active expansion of the use of subtitles on national television. Adapting the Internet to persons with disabilities. And providing electronic forms of state processes. The modernization of technical needs given the state of art of this area.
Since 2011, Russia has been improving social expertise and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities aimed at enhancing objectivity in determining disability in the rehabilitation process.
There is new work taking into account the national classification for persons with limited activity and health. Thus, the draft for the new classifications and criteria for determining disability is a pointed based system.
Further information has been given for persons with disabilities. This implementation of a range of measures designed to enhance knowledge of society regarding questions of persons with disabilities and their integration into society.
There will be substantive information received during the conference. I thank you.
Stephan Tafrov: Thank you, distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. I again report my request to adhere to the 3-minute limit. I remind everyone that full statements can be posted on PaperSmart.
The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Turkey. You have the floor.
Turkey: Thank you. Turkey would like to extend its appreciation to the Bureau and the secretariat. Turkey ratified the CRPD in 2009. It is the main document that guides its policies throughout the country.
The General Directorate of Services operates at central and provincial levels. A national action plan is under preparation to promote the implementation of CRPD.
Meanwhile, projects are being carried out to enhance data collection methods and better adherence of the Convention.
We have some important buzzwords when addressing the issue of persons with disabilities. The first is education, including early and inclusive education.
Equal opportunity and education has development implications and builds healthy democratic societies. The education of children has increased 100% since 2004.
Transporting teachers to children with special needs is effective.
Accessibility is another keyword. The Disability Law in 2005 has led to significant improvements in this respect in terms of making public buildings, transportation systems, roads, sidewalks, and public areas accessible to persons with disabilities.
In fact, in 2010, it was declared the Year of Disability Actions for All with the implement of a nationwide disability plan.
Turkey has been fighting discrimination against persons with disabilities since 2009. In cooperation with civil society, surveys have been conducted. The results have been used to enhance implementation.
The full implementation of CRPD is only through raising rights to all parts of the society. Turkey has national awareness raising seminars which targets public authorities, civil societies, etc.
Through incremental legal and practical steps since the 1980s, participation in decision making issues has improved and was included in the 2005 disability law.
The inclusion of civil society, the media into disability policies is not only useful in terms of benefiting from their expertise but also contributes to awareness raising.
I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my gratitude to share best practices among states parties and your contributions across the world. Thank you.
Stephan Tafrov: Thank you, distinguished representative of Turkey. I now give the floor to Costa Rica.
Costa Rica: Thank you, Chair. As a social state based on the rule of law wishes to reiterate its commitment on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Our country has made progress towards implementation of the Convention as follows.
Accessible housing. Costa Rica ranked first among Latin America and the world in developing legislation on accessible housing.
In justice, the country's supreme court adopted the rules of Brasilia for persons with disabilities. This ensures improved condition for access to justice to this group.
In terms of education, in April of this year the Convention for Networks of Inclusive Education was signed. Line 949 was adopted about a year ago recognizing Costa Rican Sign Language as a mother tongue.
In terms of labor, we have a national plan for labor insertion for persons with disabilities and we have implemented a program for employability and opportunities for youth with disabilities.
In the Year of International Cooperation under the Leading Entity on Disabilities, we have conducted projects for the implementation of community-based inclusive development strategies.
This is for the vulnerable population. And this was conducted together with help from the International Cooperation Agency of Japan and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development. We have established strategic partnership and triangular cooperation with countries in Latin America.
Last February we conducted inclusive development in a community based way in Costa Rica. One of the main results was a letter of intent to promote and support implementation of inclusive development initiatives benefiting persons with disabilities in the region.
We should also note that one of the areas in which Costa Rica has been working is the strategy for inclusive development for rehabilitation and special education. This strategy is based on the states implementing inclusive development and providing the services this relates to in order to help persons with disabilities.
We also have an approach that is a bottoms-up approach to help persons in that community identify their problems and needs. The approach also sets up governance approaches.
We work with all members of the community and public and private partnerships with the leading entities. We are boosting scarce resources.
This strategy aspires towards the inclusion of all persons of the community, avoiding segregated measures and actions for persons with disabilities. The potential of this must be recognized.
My delegation wishes to note the efforts and commitments of Costa Rica yet we must note this is constantly changing and developing. This will continue to be implemented over time.
Stephan Tafrov: Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco.
Morocco: Mr. Chair, I would like to express in the name of the Moroccan delegation I would like to commend this conference. I would like to give you an idea about the relentless efforts of Morocco.
Disability has been a priority in Morocco in the Constitution of Morocco as of 2011. Chapter 4 of the Constitution came as a safeguard for persons with disabilities. Given this source, a new normative system has been put in place to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities by using legal provisions and special laws.
Recently, there was a draft for a bill to promote the rights of persons with disabilities. That is on the legislative agenda of the government for 2013. The government of Morocco is in the process of having a public policy for the rights of persons with disabilities. This is based on a partnership and the inclusion of all stakeholders in the field.
This is in the framework of having a government action plan that will start in 2014. There are sectoral programs stemming from this plan. Financial and human resources have been allocated to this plan.
There is a national survey about disability. The findings of which together with the findings of the census will be the foundation of a program sensitive to the needs of persons with disabilities.
Persons with disabilities have an important and significant role in advocating their issues and defending their rights. The Moroccan kingdom is involved in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. We are pleased to state that we have joined the convention about the rights of people with visual impairments. This was held in Morocco last month.
On the other hand, Morocco welcomes the high-level meeting that will be allocated to have inclusive development programs for persons with disabilities. I would like to say that my country will submit a report about the implementation of the CRPD within this year to reflect the status of persons with disabilities in my country and the efforts exerted to advance their rights.
Stephan Tafrov: I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco. I now give the floor to the representative of Syria.
Syria has the floor.
I'm afraid that the Syrian delegation is not there. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Peru.
Peru: Chair, at the outset may I convey to you my appreciation for your work as well as to other members of the bureau and to the secretariat of this Sixth Session of the Conference of States Parties.
In Peru, in April 2012, we had our first review to the committee on the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities in Switzerland.
December 24, 2012 Peru implemented its legislation to the convention. We should also note that as to the structural aspect in Peru, we have taken important measures. The central government has ensured a national system for the integration of persons with disabilities. This is under CONADIS, a body that handles persons that are vulnerable.
We have set out this program and others plans. We should also note that the annual budget of Peru for 2012-2013. Every year we have allocated public spending at all levels of government of more than $200 million for disabilities. In 2013, we have policies in place under the new policy for indicators for efficiency and for spending towards the education, health and employment of persons with disabilities.
This body, CONADIS, since July 18, 2012, has been conducting interesting public policy to help employ persons with disabilities in the public and private spheres under I Am Capable. This employs a number of persons with disabilities.
I should also inform you that CONADIS has been managing and is finalizing a pilot program in one of the 26 regions of Peru a model for activities. The first part of this is to take a survey of all persons with disabilities. The second step is to conduct a study, house by house. In order to ensure the second phase of this survey we need to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
Peru presented a report on the specialized body about its investment of more than $13 million. This has provided assistance to a number of different households and a significant number of persons living in Peru as there are a great number of persons with disabilities in my country.
8.2% of that total is persons with disabilities under the age of 15. Ages 15-24, there are 150,000 in that age group.
794 persons of an adult age are disabled. We have conducted a number of policies for persons with disabilities falling under our budget. This survey ensures that over 50% of persons with disabilities benefit from social security.
Many Peruvians are unemployed. A great number of persons have disabilities and need our help as well. Thank you.
Stephan Tafrov: I thank the distinguished representative of Peru and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Luxembourg.
Luxembourg: Following the ratification of the Convention of 2011, the government has finalized a five-year plan of action. Each year emphasis is made on a different subject in 2013; particular attention was given to empowerment.
A dialogue of equal-to-equal is predicated on equality.
The availability of information is working hand-in-hand with a center for easily accessible language.
The law dealing with persons with disabilities is designed to promote the economic independence of persons with disabilities. The law provides for the establishment of a system for employees with disabilities.
There are interventions for those who cannot earn a living with regular paid salary work.
Along these lines the government supports the functioning of the service life academy, which provides ongoing training to persons with disabilities.
Our country is now working on two major and important projects in the policy of persons with disabilities. First of all, replacing the system of supervision to a system of support. Second, by expanding the field of application of the law on accessibility of buildings and the adoption of norms of accessibility to the demands of the Convention.