Annex: United Nations Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities—Articles 3, 4 and 19
Article 3—General principles
The principles of the present Convention shall be:
a) Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy
including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence
of persons;
b) Non-discrimination;
c) Full and effective participation and inclusion
in society;
d) Respect for difference and acceptance of persons
with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity;
e) Equality of opportunity;
f) Accessibility;
g) Equality between men and women;
h) Respect for the evolving capacities of children
with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities
to preserve their identities.
Article 4—General obligations
1. States Parties undertake to ensure and promote
the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms
for all persons with disabilities without discrimination of any
kind on the basis of disability. To this end, States Parties undertake:
a) To adopt all appropriate legislative, administrative
and other measures for the implementation of the rights recognized
in the present Convention;
b) To take all appropriate measures, including legislation,
to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices
that constitute discrimination against persons with disabilities;
c) To take into account the protection and promotion
of the human rights of persons with disabilities in all policies
and programmes;
d) To refrain from engaging in any act or practice
that is inconsistent with the present Convention and to ensure
that public authorities and institutions act in conformity with
the present Convention;
e) To take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination on the basis of disability by any person, organization
or private enterprise;
f) To undertake or promote research and development
of universally designed goods, services, equipment and facilities,
as defined in article 2 of the present Convention, which should
require the minimum possible adaptation and the least cost to
meet the specific needs of a person with disabilities, to promote
their availability and use, and to promote universal design in
the development of standards and guidelines;
g) To undertake or promote research and development
of, and to promote the availability and use of new technologies,
including information and communications technologies, mobility
aids, devices and assistive technologies, suitable for persons
with disabilities, giving priority to technologies at an affordable
cost;
h) To provide accessible information to persons with
disabilities about mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies,
including new technologies, as well as other forms of assistance,
support services and facilities;
i) To promote the training of professionals and staff
working with persons with disabilities in the rights recognized
in the present Convention so as to better provide the assistance
and services guaranteed by those rights.
2. With regard to economic, social and cultural rights,
each State Party undertakes to take measures to the maximum of
its available resources and, where needed, within the framework
of international cooperation, with a view to achieving progressively
the full realization of these rights, without prejudice to those
obligations contained in the present Convention that are immediately
applicable according to international law.
3. In the development and implementation of legislation
and policies to implement the present Convention, and in other
decision-making processes concerning issues relating to persons
with disabilities, States Parties shall closely consult with and
actively involve persons with disabilities, including children
with disabilities, through their representative organizations.
4. Nothing in the present Convention shall affect
any provisions which are more conducive to the realization of
the rights of persons with disabilities and which may be contained
in the law of a State Party or international law in force for
that State. There shall be no restriction upon or derogation from
any of the human rights and fundamental freedoms recognized or
existing in any State Party to the present Convention pursuant
to law, conventions, regulation or custom on the pretext that
the present Convention does not recognize such rights or freedoms
or that it recognizes them to a lesser extent.
5. The provisions of the present Convention shall
extend to all parts of federal States without any limitations
or exceptions.
Article 19—Living independently and being
included in the community
States Parties to the present Convention recognize
the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the
community, with choices equal to others, and shall take effective
and appropriate measures to facilitate full enjoyment by persons
with disabilities of this right and their full inclusion and participation
in the community, including by ensuring that:
a) Persons with disabilities have the opportunity
to choose their place of residence and where and with whom they
live on an equal basis with others and are not obliged to live
in a particular living arrangement;
b) Persons with disabilities have access to a range
of in-home, residential and other community support services,
including personal assistance necessary to support living and
inclusion in the community, and to prevent isolation or segregation
from the community;
c) Community services and facilities for the general
population are available on an equal basis to persons with disabilities
and are responsive to their needs.
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