Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Opportunities for Development Agencies in the Health Sector and in the fight against HIV/AIDS

Links
Text of the Convention Signatory States Ratifying States Opening for Signature Photos from the Signing Ceremony
Workshop Series on Convention Principles of the CRPD and Impact on Education Sector May 16, 2007 CPRD in Infrastructure Sector June 14, 2007

The Global HIV/AIDS Program in collaboration with the World Bank Human Development Network Health Sector (HDNHE) Social Protection (HDNSP) organized a workshop on "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Opportunities for International Development Agencies in the Health Sector and in the fight against HIV/AIDS".

The goal of the event was to brainstorm on the practical implications of the Convention on development agencies’ operations. Many development agents already have some experience in including disability issues in their work and the Convention will provide a great opportunity for more systematic inclusion. The event will be a forum to exchange ideas on the appropriate and effective involvement of international development actors in the implementation process of the CRPD with specific focus on health and HIV/AIDS.

The rationale of the event was based on the large number of CRPD signatories to date, with a high proportion of developing countries amongst CRPD signatories; this creates a reasonable expectation that in the near future many development actors will be asked by developing countries for assistance in implementation of the principles and binding obligations countries will incur upon ratification of the Convention. Also the Convention sets a benchmark for inclusive development of which we must be aware in order to uphold due diligence, and avoid designing and implementing development activities in contrast with the principles unanimously established at the international level.

The workshop was held on June 5th at the WB Headquarters in Washington DC. In order to facilitate broader participation the event was web-streamed as well as recorded. The recorded session is now available at http://vcg01.worldbank.org/vc/.

It was an informal event with a focus on practical operational aspects, as well as opportunities for positive impact in the short to medium and long term.

For your convenience please find the hyperlink to the current list of CRPD signatories States: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/conventionsign.htm.