Ministry Statements and Speeches 2009

Human Rights Council: 10th session: Adoption of resolution on the human rights of people with disabilities:

Joint statement by New Zealand and Mexico, 26 March 2009

I have the honour to introduce resolution L13 on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities on behalf of Mexico and New Zealand. The resolution is entitled ‘National frameworks for the promotion and protection of the human rights of persons with disabilities.

Mexico and New Zealand are strong supporters of the rights of persons with disabilities and present this resolution on the basis that the Council has an important role in promoting the enjoyment by persons with disabilities of their human rights, on a full and equal basis with others. 

The resolution builds upon the resolution adopted in the Council one year ago, which focussed on the institutional framework to integrate the rights of persons with disabilities in the work of the Human Rights Council,

That resolution continues to be valid and we are calling for its continued implementation. The present initiative focuses on implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities at the national level, including legislative measures required to create an effective national framework for implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Many of the actions States are invited or called upon to perform are drawn from those identified in the panel debate held during this session and the accompanying report on the “Key legal measures for the ratification and effective implementation of the Convention”.

Features outlined in the resolution include:

• a sound legislative and policy framework;
• effective awareness-raising within government sectors and the private sector;
• training programmes for public officials;
• effective access to justice, including the possibility of seeking remedies in the event of violations of rights;
• participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making;
• and the exchange of information and experiences on measures to guarantee the human rights of persons with disabilities.

One important step, as identified in both the panel debate and the study, is the need to undertake a review of all existing legislation and to repeal or abolish any legislation that is discriminatory against persons with disabilities.

Looking ahead to next year, we request for a report from OHCHR on national monitoring mechanisms, which will be the focus of the debate on the rights of persons with disabilities in our session in March 2010. We hope that all stakeholders, including persons with disabilities, national human rights institutions and civil society, will contribute actively to this report and to the Council’s debate next year. Such debates are intended to increase awareness and understanding of the Convention’s provisions, for both States Parties and those in the process of becoming Party to the Convention.

We remain committed to ensuring that the Council’s work on persons with disabilities is focussed, inclusive and progressive. We envisage that with strong institutional foundations in place, at the international and national level, we can contribute to the effective integration and implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities.

We draw attention to an oral revision in operative paragraph 3:

• Replace the words “with a view to their withdrawal” with the words “and to consider the possibility of withdrawing the reservations”

The delegations of Mexico and New Zealand thank all delegations that contributed to the negotiation of the resolution and for the high level of support and the valuable contributions made. We particularly thank cosponsors for their commitment and support.

We look forward to further cooperating with all delegations in our work on the rights of persons with disabilities.

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