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Article 3 - General principles

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Seventh Session | Fourth Session | Third Session
Working Group

Third Session

Compilation of proposed revisions and amendments made by the members of the Ad Hoc Committee to the draft text presented by the Working Group as a basis for negotiations by Member States and Observers in the Ad Hoc Committee

(updated after the completion of the first reading at the Fourth Session, 26 August 2004)

Article 2
General principles

The fundamental principles of this Convention shall be:

(In their actions to achieve the objective of the convention and to implement its provisions, the parties shall be guided inter alia by the following fundamental principles: — Japan)

(a) Dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and [independence — Costa Rica] (independent life — Costa Rica) of persons;

(b) Non-discrimination;

(c) [Full inclusion of persons with disabilities as equal citizens and participants in all aspects of life; — EU, Mexico, Costa Rica] (Full and effective participation and inclusion in society on an equal basis for persons with disabilities — EU, Mexico, Costa Rica)

(d) Respect for difference and acceptance of disability as part of human diversity and [humanity — Mexico, South Africa] (human dignity — Mexico, South Africa)

(e) Equality of opportunity.

(International cooperation — Mali, Sudan, Eritrea, Jordan)

(Equality between men and women — Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Norway)

(Affirmative action to correct disadvantage occasioned by disability; the indivisibility and interdependence of rights as they relate to persons with disabilities; the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights — Kenya)

(Special attention will be paid to the situation of persons with severe, intellectual and multiple disabilities — India)

(The social model will be preferred over the medical model, however there may be provisions for affirmative action in specific situations of disadvantage — India)

(Personal development in and enjoyment of all stages of life — Costa Rica)

(Accessibility and universal design — South Africa, Thailand)

(Realization of a barrier-free environment — Japan)

(Disability inclusive international cooperation — Thailand)

(Self-determination. Actualization of full human potential. Empowerment of disabled persons, basic principle to the social model — Jordan)

((2 bis) [States parties shall undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative and other means for the implementation of the present convention — Russian Federation]. With regard to economic, social and cultural rights, States Parties shall undertake such measures to the maximum extent of their available resources and, where needed, within the framework of international cooperation — EU, India, Mexico, Thailand)