Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons (A/RES/61/106, 2006)Article 3 of the UDHR addresses three fundamental rights: the rights to life, liberty, and security of person. While the scope of this article had been widely applied to many conventions, it was not until 2007 that the rights of the disabled were addressed in an instrument protecting the rights of the disabled from death, security, or liberty.
In 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in resolution 61/106. In its consideration of the fundamental rights of the disabled, the Convention included all elements of Article 3 of the UDHR: Article 10 of the Convention affirms the “inherent right to life”, Article 14 the “liberty and security of person”, and Article 18 the “right to life” of disabled children. These articles invoke State Parties to ensure that persons with disabilities are treated with dignity of all rights. The implementation of this Convention has provided a means to protect persons with disabilities from human rights violations such as seclusion, lack of food, and poor health. Furthermore, it has initiated a paradigm shift in the perception of disabled people; instead of regarding them as being of a limited capacity, all barriers should be removed that prevent their full participation in all areas of life.
State Parties submit their commitment to this Convention through national frameworks and periodic progress reports to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
UN Photo/Jan Corash, #86372