OHCHR Report The Role Of International Cooperation In Implementing

ohchr report: the role of international cooperation in implementing the un convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. (1) the

OHCHR report: The role of international cooperation in implementing
the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
(1) The existence, scope and content of policies and/or guidelines
adopted at national level to guide international cooperation in
support of the Convention.
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The UK Government remains committed to promoting and protecting
human rights for all people throughout the world, without
discrimination on any grounds. We believe that everyone, including
disabled people, should be free to enjoy the rights and freedoms
to which they are entitled.
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The Coalition Government's programme for UK Government includes a
commitment to support actions to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). This includes a focus on the rights of
women, children and people with disabilities to access services.
(2) Forms of international cooperation at bilateral and multilateral
level that, as a complement to national efforts, can play a key role
in assisting the realisation of the Convention at national level.
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Disability rights form a part of the UK’s human rights work
overseas. Through bilateral and multilateral engagement, the UK
promotes the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People and
raises the profile of disability issues globally. The Government
is committed to advancing disability rights through the UN and
other international organisations and works on the basis that it
needs to ensure that international commitments are translated into
concrete actions on the ground..
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In the EU, disability issues - like other grounds for combating
discrimination - are genuinely cross-cutting issues that impact on
a number of different areas of business. In November 2009, EU
Ministers adopted a decision allowing the European Community to
become a party to the Convention, as a Regional Integration
Organisation within the areas of its competence, forming an
integral part of the Community’s legal system. Many of the final
details of this arrangement will be addressed in a separate Code
of Conduct currently being finalised by EU partners.
(3) Examples of engagement in international cooperation and assessment
of their impact on promoting the realisation of the Convention.
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The UK Government – the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office
(FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID)
works through its multilateral partners to support the
implementation of the CRPD (as in paragraph 2). The Government
provides core funding, and funding at country level, to UN
agencies to support their operational and advocacy work with
vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities.
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We also work through Civil Society Organisations:
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Disability Rights Fund which supports Disabled People's
Organisations (DPOs) in the global south and in Eastern Europe
in the ratification, implementation and monitoring of the
Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at country
levels.
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DFID and the FCO hold a number of central funds, including the
Human Rights and Democracy Fund, the Civil Society Challenge
Fund and the Partnership Programme Arrangement scheme.
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UK (DFID and FCO) will also work through its bilateral programmes
to government and non-government organisations in the countries
where it works. These projects range from service delivery
projects, to capacity building and constitutional reform projects.
Just a couple of examples are:
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In Nigeria, DFID has supported the umbrella body of disabled
peoples’ organisations (DPOs) and the participation of disabled
people to engage with the constitutional reform processes, and
influence legislation on protecting the rights of persons living
with disabilities. Support also includes building the capacity
of DPOs for HIV and AIDS programming.
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In Azerbaijan, the UK has funded a World Vision (WV) project, in
partnership with a local NGO, Azerbaijan Volunteers’ Public
Union (AVPU), to advocate for the rights of disabled people
through a series of public campaign and lobbying activities
designed to inform the public, stakeholders and decision-makers
about the rights afforded under the CRPD.