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DPI/NGO Briefing
Summary The theme of the DPI/NGO briefing on 15 March 2007 was on the opening for signature of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted by the General Assembly on 13 December 2006. Mr. Jorge Ballestero, Counsellor Minister, Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations, Mr. Thomas Schindlmayr, Social Affairs Officer, Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and Dr. Fredrik Schroeder, Representative, International Disability Caucus, World Blind Union discussed the Convention and its importance as the first human rights treaty of the twenty-first century which guaranteed the same rights to disabled people allowed to the rest of the population and recognized persons with disabilities as rights holders and active members of society. Mr. Jorge Ballestero commenced the discussion by describing the Convention as a “cause of excitement” and expressed his frustration over the fact that Thomas Shindlmayr could not join the other panelists on stage due to the shameful lack of wheelchair access in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium. He emphasized that the adoption, signature, and ratification of the Convention along with the general recognition that further measures must be taken to advance the cause of persons with disabilities represented a positive step forward, but noted that future work needed to be done. He urged that it was incumbent upon civil society to promote the implementation of the Convention, which should serve as an effective human rights instrument, including both civil and political along with economic and social rights. According to Mr. Ballestero, the United Nations and Member States always had an obligation to take meaningful steps towards achieving social inclusion for all, including persons with disabilities. He emphasized that we must move from preaching to acting. He also recalled the drafting and negotiation process, describing it as a “journey of hope” that led all parties involved to transform their perspectives from a charity point of view to a human rights perspective. He declared that the rights of persons with disabilities are the rights of all since we all have different needs but are entitled to the same fundamental human rights, including the right to lead a normal life, which many persons are regrettably denied due to lack of accessibility. Mr. Ballestero also noted that NGOs were constructively engaged in the negotiations for the first time, which grounds the Convention in reality and makes it understandable to all. Mr. Ballestero concluded by reciting a quote from former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, stating “The UN was created not to take humanity to heaven but save it from hell,” and suggested that the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities “may lead us closer to heaven and further away from hell.” Mr. Thomas Schindlmayr began by asserting that this was an amazing time, achievement, and document and identified the Convention as a “monumental step.” He emphasized that we were at a dawn that would finally counter thousands of years of discrimination against persons with disabilities. He recalled the start of the twentieth century marked a time when marginalization and injustice of persons with disabilities ran rampant with the emergence of the eugenics movement and the mass sterilizations and killings committed by the oppressive forces of Nazi Germany. According to Mr. Schindlmayr, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was the fastest negotiated human rights treaty in the history of the United Nations, which demonstrated that it was long overdue since the rights of persons with disabilities are circumscribed every other human rights treaty. He concluded by paying tribute to the NGOs who participated in the negation of the Convention and urged them to continue their efforts. Dr. Frederik Schroeder offered the perspective of an NGO that stood at the forefront in the negotiations of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and applauded how well the views of NGOs are represented in the final document. Dr. Schroeder reflected upon the title of the Convention and noted how it includes the concept of persons with disabilities, emphasizing that they are “people first” and members of the human race with the characteristic of having a disability. He emphasized the cost incurred from marginalizing persons with disabilities since they have the potential to be productive members of society if properly accommodated. According to Dr. Schroeder, the losses resulting from the exclusion of persons with disabilities far exceed the cost of implementing necessary provisions. He also discussed how governments often perceived the cost related to accommodating persons with disabilities as a “gift” with no prospects of returns and urged them to instead view it as an investment that will yield future value as persons with disabilities lead fully active and socially integrated lives. During the question-and-answer period, Mr. Schindlmayr emphasized that “disability” is an evolving concept. Mr. Schroeder similarly highlighted the importance of words and terminology, suggesting that those which isolate and stigmatize persons with disabilities perpetuate the lost opportunities of people who would have otherwise greatly contributed to the world. Mr. Ballestero similarly asserted that society causes people to be viewed as “disabled” and urged that we must eradicate barriers that marginalize persons with disabilities. He further emphasized the need to look at world issues in a universally inclusive way. A World Chronicle television programme, Towards a Convention on Disabilities, featuring Ambassador Luis Gallegos of Ecuador, the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Convention on Disabled People was screened at 10:00 a.m. The briefing was attended by about 110 representatives of NGOs, United Nations and Permanent Mission staff.
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