By IDA

 - March 6, 2019

On Wednesday, 6 March 2016, the annual interactive debate on the rights of persons with disabilities in the framework of the 40th session of the Human Rights Council was held. The debate was focused on "Article 26 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on habilitation and rehabilitation".

The opening statement was given by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the session was chaired by H.E. Mr. Coly Seck, President of the Human Rights Council.

Among the panelists, Mr. Lauro Purcil spoke as a representative of the International Disability Alliance. Download this speech.

Lauro Purcil speaking on IDA's behalf at the HRC annual debate 2019

Other panellists were Ms. Catalina Devandas Aguilar, Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Ms. Alarcos Cieza, Coordinator of the Disability and Rehabilitation Team, World Health Organization, and Mr. Jörg Weber, Global Advisor, CBM International.

Room of the HRC annual debate 2019

This panel discussion addressed the human rights of persons with disabilities with regard to the obligation to provide habilitation and rehabilitation under article 26 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Lauro Purcil in the panel on the HRC annual debate

The objectives were: 

  • To bring greater understanding to what habilitation and rehabilitation for persons with disabilities entails and how the obligation under article 26 intersects with other rights and is reflected in the international human rights framework;
  • To discuss the main barriers that persons with disabilities face in accessing habilitation and rehabilitation and how the Convention contributes to overcoming those barriers and ensuring a human rights based approach to providing habilitation and rehabilitation;
  • To analyse the evolution of the approach to habilitation and rehabilitation and its role in contributing to community based inclusive development for persons with disabilities;
  • To share experiences, lessons learned and good practices in the implementation of article 26 of the Convention, drawing on experiences from the global and national levels;
  • To proposestrategies for strengthened implementation of article 26 of the Convention at national level and to align actions undertaken under international law to improve national standards.

-> For more information on the session, please visit the dedicated page on the Humar Rights Council website.

Lauro Purcil speaking on IDA's behalf at the HRC annual debate 2019

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