The United Nations has for some time been considering options for an instrument aimed at the protection and promotion of the human rights of persons with disabilities, and the Government is committed to working with like minded countries in international fora to address this issue.
The first meeting of the United Nations ad hoc committee to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention on protection and promotion of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities was held in New York from 29 July to 9 August 2002 last. Ireland was represented at the meeting of the ad hoc committee by an official from my Department and by a representative of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The delegation also included a member of the Irish Human Rights Commission who was present as an independent expert.
Ireland along with our EU partners welcomed the resolution of the 56th General Assembly which established the ad hoc committee. At the recently concluded meeting of the ad hoc committee, Ireland worked in conjunction with our EU partners to ensure a constructive outcome. At the next meeting of the committee, which is likely to take place in the spring of 2003 in New York, Ireland will continue to work to promote and protect the human rights of persons with disabilities.
In advance of the first meeting of the ad hoc committee, a conference was held on 26 February last by my Department, in conjunction with the National Disability Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission, on the theme Towards a United Nations Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The participants at the conference included representatives of governments, international organisations, academics and both national and international NGOs working in the field of disability. The conference proceedings were submitted to the ad hoc committee to inform their deliberations.
In advance of the next meeting of the ad hoc committee, I would welcome any contributions to the work of the ad hoc committee which persons with disabilities or their representative organisations might wish to make.
