L. What can different actors do to promote the Convention?
State actors
- Ratify the Convention
- When the Convention has been ratified, publicize this fact
- Translate the Convention into local languages and make it available in accessible formats
- Ensure that a national focal point within the Government is appointed
- Consider establishing a coordination mechanism
- Designate an independent monitoring and implementation mechanism
- Review and reform laws and policies and take other initial steps to begin implementing the Convention (see further in module
4).
- Other?
Organizations of persons with disabilities (DPOs)
Persons with disabilities and their representative organizations can play many roles in promoting the Convention, for instance:
- Using the Convention as a benchmark to assess national laws, policies and activities of the Government and other actors to
ensure compliance with the Convention and its progressive implementation
- Using the Convention as a benchmark to record and report on the current enjoyment of rights by persons with disabilities
- Using the Convention as a tool for advocacy. For example, using the signing, ratification and reporting to the Committee as
media moments to attract attention to the situation of persons with disabilities nationally
- Using the Convention as an objective and internationally recognized standard to alert States to their responsibilities towards
persons with disabilities, underlining the fact that disability rights are first and foremost the responsibility of States,
although others (private sector, international community, NGOs and so on) also play an important role
- Using the Convention as a tool to ensure the establishment of adequate national promotion and monitoring mechanisms as required
under article 33, so that there is a better chance that implementation will be successful and sustainable
- Working with the Government to encourage it to report to the Committee in time and also participating in drafting the report
- Providing parallel reports to the Committee so that it has the fullest possible view of the situation of persons with disabilities
in the country, as well as the areas where clear recommendations are most needed and are likely to be most effective
- Other ...
Civil society organizations (other than DPOs)
Civil society organizations such as human rights or development NGOs have important roles to play in promoting and monitoring
the Convention. They can:
- Consider mainstreaming disability rights within their own programmes
- Examine whether they should establish a stand-alone programme on disability rights
- Build the capacity of DPOs
- Include information on the rights of persons with disabilities in their alternative reports to United Nations treaty bodies
- Other ...
National human rights institutions
National human rights institutions can:
- Clarify which institution(s) will be designated as the national implementation and monitoring framework
- Publicize the Convention
- Undertake research related to disability rights
- Include the Convention in its annual activities and reports
- Include information on the rights of persons with disabilities in their alternative reports to United Nations treaty bodies
- Other ...
United Nations country teams
United Nations country teams can also play a role in promoting the Convention and can:
- Mainstream the Convention in country programmes
- Establish a stand-alone programme to support the State in the ratification and implementation of the Convention
- Build the capacity of DPOs
- Provide information to the Committee at the time of reporting
- Consider establishing a programme and applying for funding through the Multi-donor Trust Fund established under the United
Nations Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The United Nations Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Multi-donor Trust Fund were established
in 2011 to support United Nations-led programmes, principally at the country level, but also at the regional and global levels,
relating to the Convention's ratification and implementation. The founding agencies were the International Labour Organization
(ILO), OHCHR, the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO). 9