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UN Programme on Disability   Working for full participation and equality

Costa Rica

Article 2
GENERAL PRINCIPLES

The fundamental principles of this Convention shall be:

a. Intrinsic dignity of persons, individual autonomy, including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independent life;

b. non-discrimination;

c. full inclusion of persons with disabilities as equal citizens and participants in all aspects of life;

d. respect for difference and acceptance of disability as part of human diversity and humanity;

e. equality of opportunity.

f. Personal development and enjoyment of all stages of life

Note: The issue of gender should be explicitly addressed in this Convention. The Preamble might be a good place to do so. There is no mention or comment to other proposals because there is no available text reflecting them and enabling us to make any further reference.

Article 4
GENERAL OBLIGATIONS 18, 19

1. States Parties undertake to ensure the defense and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all individuals within their jurisdiction20 without discrimination of any kind on the basis of disability. To this end, States Parties undertake:

a. to adopt legislative, judicial, administrative and other measures, nationally and locally, to allow the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities and, where appropriate, to amend, repeal or nullify any laws and regulations incompatible with such purpose.

b. To adopt measures oriented towards the eradication of customs or practices that impede or make more difficult the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, as provided in this convention;

c. to embody the principles of equality of opportunity and non-discrimination on the ground of disability in their national legislation, if not yet incorporated therein, and to ensure, through law and other appropriate means, the practical realisation of these rights;

d. to make sure that the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities are incorporated into economic and social development plans and policies, and not treated separately;

e. to refrain from engaging in any act or practice that diminishes the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, as provided in this convention and to ensure that public authorities and institutions, as well as private institutions providing public services, act in conformity with this Convention;

f. to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination on the ground of disability by any person, organisation or enterprise;

g. to promote21 the development, availability and use of universally designed goods, services, equipment and facilities. Such goods, services, equipment and facilities should meet the specific needs of a person with disabilities.

2. In the development and implementation of policies and legislation to implement this convention, States Parties shall do so in partnership with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations.

3.

Article 5
PROMOTION OF POSITIVE ATTITUDES TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

1. States Parties undertake to adopt immediate and effective measures to:

a. Raise awareness throughout society regarding disability, persons with disabilities and their human rights;

b. Combat stereotypes and prejudices about persons with disabilities;

c. Promote an image of persons with disabilities as capable and contributing members of society sharing the same rights and freedoms as all others and in a manner consistent with the overall purpose of this Convention.

2. These measures shall include, among others:

a. initiating and maintaining effective public awareness policies designed to nurture receptiveness to the rights of persons with disabilities;

b. promoting awareness in their population, including in all children from an early age and at all levels of the education system, to foster an attitude of respect for the rights of persons with disabilities;

c. encouraging all organs of the media to project an image of persons with disabilities consistent with the purpose of this Convention;

d. working in partnership with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in all measures taken to give effect to the obligations contained in this article.

Article 6
STATISTICS AND DATA COLLECTION

In order to formulate and implement appropriate policies to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities, States Parties should encourage the collection, analysis, codification and dissemination of statistics and information on disabilities and on the effective enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities. The process of collecting and maintaining this information shall:

a. respect the right to privacy, the dignity and the rights of persons with disabilities, and the information collected from persons with disabilities shall be on a voluntary basis;

b. be kept only in a statistical format without identifying individuals and shall be kept secure to prevent unauthorised access or misuse of information;

c. ensure that the design and implementation of data collection is done in partnership with persons with disabilities, their representative organisations and all other relevant stakeholders;

d. be disaggregated according to the purpose of the collection of information and should include age, sex, type of disability and if it is located in rural or urban areas;

e. include detailed information on their access to public services, rehabilitation programs, education, housing and employment;

f. adhere to established ethics regarding respect for anonymity and confidentiality in the collection of statistics and data.

Art 8: right to life

States Parties reaffirm the inherent right to life of all persons, and shall take all necessary measures to ensure its enjoyment by persons with disabilities.

Populations in special risk

States Parties, in accordance to their obligations in the context of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the international treaties and conventions of human rights and humanitarian law, shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of persons with disabilities that are affected by armed conflict, are refugees, are internally displaced, live in extreme poverty, live in rural or remote scattered populations, or are victims of natural disasters.

Draft Article 13
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND OPINION, AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION

States Parties undertake to ensure the enjoyment of the right to information and communication to persons with dissabilitites. In this regard, States parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise their right to freedom of expression and opinion through alternative modes of communication of their choice, where appropriate, including Braille and sign language, and to seek, receive and impart information, on conditions of equality, including by:

(a) providing public information to persons with disabilities, on request, in a timely manner and without additional cost, in accessible formats and technologies of their choice, taking into account different kinds of disability;

(b) accepting the use of alternative modes of communication by persons with disabilities in official interactions;

(c) providing education programs aimed to teaching persons with disabilities and their families to use alternative and augmentative communication modes;

(d) undertaking and promoting the research, development and production of new technologies, including information and communication technologies, and assistive technologies, suitable for persons with disabilities;

(e) promoting other appropriate forms of assistance and support to persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information; including training of interpreters, and access to new information and communication technologies

(f) encouraging private entities that provide services to the general public to provide information and services in accessible and usable formats for persons with disabilities;

(g) encouraging the mass media to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities.

Draft Article 14
RESPECT FOR PRIVACY

1. Persons with disabilities shall not be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with their privacy, and have the right to the protection of the law against such interference in all fields. States Parties to this Convention shall take effective measures to protect the privacy of the communications, information and documents of persons with disabilities.

Draft Article 14 Bis
RESPECT FOR FAMILY AND INTIMATE RELATIONS

1. States Parties to this Convention shall take effective and appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities in all matters relating to intimate relations and family relations, and in particular shall ensure:

(a) that persons with disabilities are not denied the equal opportunity to experience their sexuality, have sexual and other intimate relations, including marriage, and experience parenthood;

(b) the right of all men and women with disabilities to establish and fully develop intimate relations, including marriage on the basis of free, full and reciprocal consent, and to found a family;

b) bis) the right of persons with disabilities to reproduction, prohibiting all practices aimed at involuntary sterilization and/or inhibiting the exercise of the right to reproduction on the basis of prejudices about persons with disabilities.

(c) the rights of persons with disabilities to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children on an equal basis with other persons and to have access to information, reproductive and family planning education, and the means necessary to enable them to exercise these rights;

(d) the rights of persons with disabilities with regard to guardianship, wardship, trusteeship and adoption of children, or similar institutions where these concepts exist in national legislation. For the purpose of guaranteeing these rights, States Parties shall render appropriate assistance to disabled parents in the performance of their child rearing responsibilities;

(e) that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will, except when competent authorities subject to judicial review determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary for the best interests of the child. The child shall not however be separated from parents with disabilities on the basis either directly or indirectly of their disability;

(f) the promotion of awareness and the provision of information aimed at changing negative perceptions and social prejudices towards sexuality, intimate relations, including marriage and parenthood of persons with disabilities.

Draft Article 21
RIGHT TO HEALTH AND REHABILITATION

States Parties recognize that all persons with disabilities have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health on an equal basis and considering human diversity without discrimination on the basis of disability. States Parties shall strive to ensure no person with a disability is deprived of that right, and shall take all appropriate measures to ensure access for persons with disabilities to health and rehabilitation services. In particular, States Parties shall:

(a) provide persons with disabilities with the same range and standard of health and rehabilitation services as provided other citizens, including sexual and reproductive health services;

(b) strive to provide those health and rehabilitation services needed and requested by persons with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities;

(c) endeavour to provide these health and rehabilitation services as close as possible to people’s own communities, including domiciliary attention and Community Based Rehabilitation;

(d) ensure that health and rehabilitation services include the provision of safe respite places, to use on a voluntary basis, and counselling and support groups, including those provided by persons with disabilities;

(e) provide programs and services to prevent and protect against secondary disabilities, including amongst children and the elderly;

(f) encourage research and the development, dissemination and application of new knowledge and technologies that benefit persons with disabilities;

(g) encourage the development of sufficient numbers of health and rehabilitation professionals, including persons who have disabilities, covering all disciplines needed to meet the health and rehabilitation needs of persons with disabilities, and ensure they have adequate specialised training;

(h) provide all health and rehabilitation professionals an appropriate education and training to increase their disability-sensitive awareness and respect for the rights, dignity and needs of persons with disabilities, in line with the principles of this Convention;

(i) ensure that a code of ethics for public and private healthcare, that promotes quality care, openness and respect for the human rights, dignity and autonomy of persons with disabilities, is put in place nationally, and ensure that the services and conditions of public and private health care and rehabilitation facilities and institutions are well monitored;

(j) ensure that health and rehabilitation services provided to persons with disabilities, and the sharing of their personal health or rehabilitation information, occur only after the person concerned has given their free and informed consent, and that health and rehabilitation professionals inform persons with disabilities of their relevant rights;

(k) prevent impede unwanted medical and related interventions and corrective surgeries from being imposed on persons with disabilities; (in Spanish it was translated as “impede”)

(l) protect the privacy of health and rehabilitation information of persons with disabilities on an equal basis;

(m) promote the involvement of persons with disabilities and their organizations in the formulating of health and rehabilitation legislation and policy as well as in the planning, delivery and evaluation of health and rehabilitation services.

Draft Article 22
RIGHT TO WORK

States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work, which includes the opportunity to gain a living by work that they freely choose or accept, with a view to promoting equal opportunity and treatment of persons with disabilities, and protecting them from poverty. States Parties shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realization of this right, including measures to:

(a) promote a labour market and work environment that are open, inclusive, and accessible to all persons with disabilities;

(b) enable persons with disabilities to have effective access to general technical and vocational guidance programs, recruitment and placement services, assistive devices, technical aids and vocational and continuing training;

(c) promote employment opportunities and career advancement for persons with disabilities in the open labour market, including opportunities for self employment and starting one’s own business, and other productive and labour alternatives as well as assistance in creating, finding, obtaining and maintaining employment;

c.bis. Promote access to credit and the necessary technical assistance to develop self-employment opportunities for persons with disabilities

(d) encourage employers to hire persons with disabilities, such as through affirmative action programs, avoiding discrimination on the basis of the different types of disability incentives and quotas;

(e) ensure the reasonable necessary accommodation of persons with disabilities in the workplace and work environment;

(f) promote the acquisition by persons with disabilities of work experience in the open labour market;

(g) promote technical and professional training programmes vocational and professional rehabilitation, job retention and return to work programs;

(h) protect through legislation persons with disabilities with regard to employment, continuance of employment, career advancement, working conditions, including equal remuneration for work of equal value and equal opportunities, the redressing of grievances, health and safety in the work and to ensure persons with disabilities are able to exercise their labour and trade union rights;

(i) ensure that persons with disabilities have equal opportunity to employment in the public sector and promote affimative action programmes to facilitate access to work;

(j) promote recognition of the skills, merits, abilities and contributions of persons with disabilities to the workplace and the labour market, and to combat stereotypes and prejudices about persons with disabilities in the workplace and the labour market.

Draft Article 23
ADEQUATE STANDARD OF LIVING AND SOCIAL SECURITY

1. States Parties recognise the right of all persons with disabilities to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families and social security, including social insurance, and to the enjoyment of these that rights without discrimination on the basis of disability, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realisation of these this rights, including measures to:

(a) ensure access by persons with disabilities to necessary support services, technical aids, devices and other assistance for disability related needs;

(b) ensure access by persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls with disabilities and the aged with disabilities, to social security programmes and poverty reduction strategies, and to take into account the needs and perspectives of persons with disabilities in all such programmes and strategies;

(c) ensure access by persons with disabilities, in particular with severe and multiple disabilities, and their families, living in situations of poverty to assistance from the State to cover disability related expenses (including adequate training, counselling, financial assistance and respite care), which should not become a disincentive to develop themselves;

(d) ensure that access by persons with disabilities to governmental housing programs are developed in accordance with universal design

(e) ensure access by persons with disabilities to tax exemptions and tax benefits in respect of their income;

(f) ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access life and health insurance without discrimination on the basis of disability.

2. States Parties recognize the right of all persons with disabilities to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing, housing and access to clean water, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions, and will undertake appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realization of this right.

Draft Article 24
PARTICIPATION IN CULTURAL LIFE, RECREATION, LEISURE AND SPORT

1. States Parties recognise the right of all persons with disabilities to take part in cultural life, and shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities:

(a) have the opportunity to develop and utilise their creative, artistic and intellectual potential, not only for their own benefit, but also for the enrichment of their community;

(b) enjoy access to literature and other cultural materials in all accessible formats, including in electronic text, sign language and Braille, and in audio and multi media formats;

(c) enjoy access to television programmes, films, theatre, and other cultural activities, in all accessible formats, including captioning and sign language;

(d) have access to places for cultural performances or services, such as theatres, museums, cinemas, libraries and the hospitality industry, and enjoy such performances or services, and, as far as possible, enjoy access to monuments and sites of national cultural importance;

2. States Parties shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that laws protecting intellectual property rights do not constitute an unreasonable or discriminatory barrier to access by persons with disabilities to cultural materials, while respecting the provisions of international law.

3. States Parties recognize that deaf persons living under their jurisdiction are entitled to their own specific cultural and linguistic identity and shall take all appropriate measures to support this right.

4. States Parties recognise the right of persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, to participate in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, including tourism, and shall take appropriate measures to:

(a) encourage and promote the participation, to the fullest extent possible, of persons with disabilities in mainstream sporting activities at regional, national and international levels;

(b) ensure that persons with disabilities have an opportunity to organise and participate in sporting activities and to receive the appropriate the same instruction, training and resources. in support.that is available to other participants;

(c) ensure that persons with disabilities have access to the physical environment for practicing sporting and recreational activities, including facilities and venues for such practices.

(c bis) Ensure that persons with disabilities have access and can enjoy touristic attractions

(c bis ii) Ensure that children with disabilities have equal access to participating in sporting and recreational activities, including those in the educational system;

(d) ensure that persons with disabilities have access to services from those involved in the organisation of recreational, leisure and sporting activities.


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