COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO HOLD FIRST SESSION FROM 23 TO 27 FEBRUARY 2009

Committee on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities

19 February 2009
BACKGROUND RELEASE


The first session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 23 to 27 February 2009.

The first item on the provisional agenda is the election of the Committee’s Bureau, to be followed by the adoption of the agenda. The Committee will elect from among its members a Chairperson, three Vice-Chairpersons and a Rapporteur. During the session, the Committee will start discussions on the draft provisional rules of procedure as prepared by the Secretary-General. It will also start discussions on the organization of its future work.

Under the agenda item on cooperation with other United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and other competent bodies, the Committee will start discussions on how to establish effective cooperation mechanisms with various relevant bodies with a view to further strengthen and enhance the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. The Committee will meet with representatives of relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations.

The Committee will discuss such other matters relating to its work as may be necessary.

Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities
Adopted on 13 December 2006 by the General Assembly, the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities Protocol entered into force on 3 May 2008.

The purpose of the Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

States parties undertake to ensure and promote the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities without discrimination of any kind on the basis of disability. States Parties recognize that all persons are equal before and under the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law. Specific measures which are necessary to accelerate or achieve de facto equality of persons with disabilities shall not be considered discrimination under the terms of the present Convention.

States parties reaffirm that every human being has the inherent right to life and shall take all necessary measures to ensure its effective enjoyment by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others. States Parties reaffirm that persons with disabilities have the right to recognition everywhere as persons before the law. States Parties shall recognize that persons with disabilities enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life.

Each State party shall submit to the Committee, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a comprehensive report on measures taken to give effect to its obligations under the present Convention and on the progress made in that regard, within two years after the entry into force of the present Convention for the State Party concerned. Thereafter, States parties shall submit subsequent reports at least every four years and further whenever the Committee so requests.

States Parties to the Convention
At present the Convention has 49 signatories. These are:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Gabon, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mexico, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uruguay and Vanuatu.

Committee Membership
The members of the Committee are elected for a term of four years and shall be eligible for re-election once. However, the term of six members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years. The names of these six members shall be drawn by lot by the Chairperson of the Conference of States parties. Those Committee members whose terms expire two years after the first election can be eligible for re-election for a full four-year term if re-nominated.

Mr. Monsur Ahmed Choudhuri (Bangladesh)
Ms. Amna Ali Al Suweidi (Qatar)
Mr. György Könczei (Hungary)
Ms. Ana Peláez Narváez (Spain)
Mr. Cveto URŠI? (Slovenia)
Ms. Jia Yang (China)
Mr. Mohammed Al-Tarawneh (Jordan)
Mr. Ronald McCallum AO (Australia)
Ms. María Soledad Cisternas Reyes (Chile)
Mr. Germán Xavier Torres Correa (Ecuador)
Mr. Lotfi Ben Lallohom (Tunisia)
Ms. Edah Wangechi Maina (Kenya)

The six members whose terms shall expire at the end of two years are:
Mr. György Könczei (Hungary)
Mr. Cveto URŠI? (Slovenia)
Mr. Ronald McCallum AO (Australia)
Mr. Germán Xavier Torres Correa (Ecuador)
Mr. Lotfi Ben Lallohom (Tunisia)
Ms. Edah Wangechi Maina (Kenya)

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For use of the information media; not an official record