At the 6th Disabled Peoples' International World Assembly held in Sapporo, Japan, a resolution was passed pertaining to people with disabilities. It recognized that people with disabilities around the globe continue to face discrimination. Why is their hope betrayed and trust denied? Are people really so cruel and money-minded to blindly continue the discrimination and abuse of the voiceless person? What human values are we giving to our children? Why are we denying fellow human beings equal respect? Read on.
Sapporo Declaration 2002
Recognizing that people with disabilities around the globe continue to face discrimination, segregation from society, economic marginalization, exclusion from decision-making fora, and daily abuses of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
Reaffirming the need to mainstream disability in government policies and practices, and to implement exsisting international human rights obligations via the monitoring mechanisms of the six core UN human rights conventions, and implementation of the UN Standard Rules on Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and the World Program of Action Concerning Disabled Persons.
Stressing the importance of explicit and effective inclusion of the disability perspective in the implementation of the international human rights system through the mechanism of a Convention.
1. Takes note with appreciation of the first session of the Ad Hoc Committee to consider proposals for a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities;
2. Requests the International Community develop and bring into force an international human rights convention for people with disabilities that is reflective of the full range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, and that includes a strong convention-monitoring mechanism informed by the unique perspective of people with disabilities to ensure the credibility, legitimacy and efficacy of the Convention;
3. Urges that concrete measures be undertaken by the International Community to ensure the full, active and inclusive participation of persons with disabilities in the convention development process at all levels;
4. Requests the UN, through consultation with disabled people's organizations, to ensure accessibility to UN facilities and documentation for all persons with disabilities, in accordance with Decision 56/473;
5. Further requests the UN Secretary-General to continue to provide facilities necessary for the development of an International Human Rights Convention for people with disabilities, and to reallocate resources to support the work of the United Nations Program on Disabilities;
6. Encourages UN Member States to establish a Voluntary Fund to support the participation of disabled peoples' organizations, other non-governmental organizations, and experts, in particular from developing countries, and invites governments, civil society and the private sector to contribute to the Voluntary Fund.
Presented to the 6th World Assembly October 18, 2002 by Mr. Ron Chandran-Dudley (President, Disabled People's Association & Founder/1st Chairperson of Disabled Peoples' International) and Katherine Guernsey (Landmine Survivors Network)
