A unique partnership to advance the rights of people with disabilities
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) provides a framework for the enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by people with disabilities. The World report on disability provides evidence that few countries have adequate mechanisms in place to respond to the rights of people with disabilities, yet also provides data, knowledge, and practical advice to support implementation of the CRPD.
All of us – national governments, civil society including organizations of people with disabilities, agencies of the UN system – have a responsibility to make the CRPD a reality.
To help meet this challenge six UN entities – the Department of Social and Economic Affairs, the International Labour Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF and the World Health Organization – have joined hands in a unique partnership: the UN Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD).
The UNPRPD will strive to develop the capacities of national stakeholders for the effective implementation of the CRPD. It will do so by focusing on a number of critical areas which are in line with the recommendation of the World report on disability including:
- facilitating legislative and policy reform;
- improving the delivery of services;
- encouraging dialogue between governments and persons with disabilities;
- improving data and research.
In all these areas, and in the governance of the partnership, it will promote the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities.
To support the work of the UNPRPD, a Multi-Donor Trust Fund has been established. The Government of Australia has provided an initial two million Australian dollars to the Fund. The Governments of Finland and Sweden as well as the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil have indicated their intention to contribute to the UNPRPD Fund in 2012.