The 16th session of the Human rights Council took place from 28 February-25 March, in Geneva.
Detailed information on this session
Resolutions
Resolution on the rights of persons with disabilities
The Council adopted a Resolution on the role played by international cooperation in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, led by the traditional main co-sponsors of the annual disability resolution, Mexico and New Zealand. The resolution highlights the new UN multi-donor trust fund, the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and encourages States to donate to that. It requests OHCHR to report to the Council on the UN Partnership in two years. It also encourages Special Procedures mandate holders of the Council to coordinate with the Special Rapporteur on Disability. Finally, the resolution also requests OHCHR to do a study on participation of persons with disabilities in public and political life, and decided to make this the topic of the panel next year.
Other resolutions
The following resolutions adopted at the session also refer to persons with disabilities: the UN draft declaration on human rights education and training, the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the rights of children working and/or living on the street, Review of the work and functioning of the Human Rights Council, the right to food, and the protection of human rights in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Disability analysis of the resolutions adopted by the Council during this session
Annual Debate on HRs of persons with disabilities
During the session, the Council held an interactive dialogue panel on “the role played by international cooperation in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)”. Summary by OHCHR on the panel and webcast. During the panel, many panellists and speakers, including IDA, focused on the need to ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities in mainstream cooperation, the need for disability-specific initiatives and also to ensure that those are in line with the CRPD, as well as the need for increased resources.
Side events
On March 3rd, the missions of Mexico, New Zealand and Thailand together with IDA co-sponsored a side event on the rights of persons with disabilities to participate in political and public life. Diane Richler, IDA´s Chair, was one of the speakers.
On March 4th, The International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) held a side event on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and International Cooperation. William Rowland, Past President of the World Blind Union, IDA Member Organisation, was one of the speakers.
Oral statements made by IDA During this session
IDA made three oral statements: on human rights education and training, in which IDA supported the existence of the right to human rights education and training, and indicated where in the CRPD such obligations exist; on the right to adequate housing, where IDA highlighted the serious barriers facing persons with disabilities in enjoyment of the right to adequate housing; and on the Universal Periodic Review, where IDA welcomed the fact that the UPR is speeding up universal ratification of the CRPD and encouraged States to make and accept recommendations to improve the lives of persons with disabilities, in line with the CRPD.
Disability analysis of reports prepared for the 16th session of the HRC
IDA has prepared a disability analysis of reports prepared for the 16th Session of the Council.
Special Procedures
The following Special Procedures reports include references to persons with disabilities:
- SR on adequate housing
- RSG on internally displaced persons
- WG on arbitrary detention
- WG on enforced or involuntary disappearances
- SR on right to food
- SR on torture
Detailed information on the references to persons with disabilities in these reports
Universal Periodic Review
All UPR Working Group reports, which were prepared at the 9th session of the UPR (November 2010) and will be presented to this session of the HRC, included references to persons with disabilities.
Disability analysis of these reports
Other Reports
IDA has undertaken an analysis of other reports that have also been prepared for the 16th session of the HRC.
Disability analysis of these reports
