International participation in disability issues
The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs works with international organisations, including the United Nations, on policy development and research for international disabilities issues.
- United Nations - Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific - Biwako Millennium Framework for Action
United Nations - Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Convention) took more than two decades to reach fruition after the first call for development. Australia was heavily involved in the negotiation process.Although the Convention does not create new rights, it specifically prohibits discrimination against people with disability in all areas of life.
On 30 March 2007, Australia signed the Convention as one of the original signatories. On 17 July 2008, Australia ratified the Convention in New York and it entered into force for Australia on 16 August 2008.
This means that Australia can now participate in the inaugural election of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York on 3 November 2008. This Committee, which initially will have 12 members, will oversee the implementation of the Convention.
Australia recently nominated Professor Ron McCallum AO as its candidate for the election of the Committee.
Professor McCallum is a Professor of Industrial Law at the University of Sydney, is the first totally blind person to have been appointed to a full professorship in Australia and has extensive experience in organisations that provide services for people with disability.
The Australian Government is considering its position on the Optional Protocol to the Convention and consultations have commenced with states and territories. The Optional Protocol allows individuals and groups of individuals of countries which have ratified the Convention and the Optional Protocol to petition alleged violations of their rights to an independent international body, once all national procedures have been exhausted.
The Attorney-General's Department is the lead agency, with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs taking on a strong support role.
For further information on the Convention, please visit the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission website.
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific - Biwako Millennium Framework for Action
In May 2002, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) met in Japan and adopted the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action.The framework outlines issues, action plans and strategies towards an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for people with disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region over the Decade of 2003 to 2012 .
It identifies seven priority areas for action:
1. persons with disabilities, family organisations
2. women with disabilities
3. early detection, early intervention and education
4. poverty alleviation through capacity-building, social security and sustainable livelihood programs
5. training and employment including self-employment
6. access to built environments and public transport, and
7. access to information and communications, including information, communications and assistive technologies.
In all, 21 targets and 17 strategies supporting the achievement of all the targets have been identified.
At the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting held in Bangkok in September 2007, it was agreed to adopt the Biwako Plus Five. It supplements the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action in the hope of making a significant contribution to the implementation of the Framework over the remaining five years of the decade (2008-2012). The Biwako Plus Five provides additional actions in the seven priority areas as well as an increase of 25 additional strategies.
UNESCAP meets biennially to review achievements and to identify actions that may be required to implement the Framework. At these meetings non-government and self-help organisations, government ministries and agencies and the media are invited to present reports reviewing progress in the Framework's implementation.