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In depth I  Disabilities at work India's national policy for the disabled: no clear roadmap for action Source: InfoChange Persons with disability have been blocked out of our everyday reality, touching only those who are caregivers. Seventy-five per cent live in rural areas, only 49% of this population is literate and only 34% employed. Women make up 42.46% of the total population of persons with disability. August 2006.[see more]   print    send   Correct  ADD YOUR COMMENT >> In spite of existing national, regional and international laws and instruments and of actions by international bodies and efforts by non-governmental organizations, disabled persons continue to be subjected to violations of their human rights, a situation which is aggravated in the case of women with disabilities, as they suffer a double discrimination. If the provisions contained in international treaties and other instruments were adequately enforced, equal and full participation of disabled persons in the field of labor would have already been attained. This, unfortunately, has not happened yet, despite the efforts of the International Labor Organization, which has been advocating since the 1940's in favor of equal opportunities for people with disabilities. With the aim of eliminating this gap, several organizations are currently working together with the United Nations to create a specific Convention to protect the human rights of disabled persons. The projected Convention builds on a number of other conventions, treaties and recommendations on the subject dating back several decades, ratified by the United Nations, the ILO and different civil society initiatives. In 1994, the United Nations' Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights warned that the effects of disability discrimination have been particularly harmful in the fields of education, employment, housing, transportation, cultural activities and access to public spaces and services. Equal opportunity for all citizens in the labor market cannot be achieved merely by passing appropriate legislation and regulations, it calls for the implementation of policies to enable the fulfillment of commitments that are binding upon the countries. All ILO Members, even if they have not ratified a particular convention, have an obligation arising from their very membership to the organization, to respect, promote and enforce the principles concerning the fundamental rights protected under such conventions, and this includes eradicating discrimination in the field of employment and occupation. As established in the ILO's Convention No. 159 on vocational rehabilitation and employment for disabled persons, all member countries must draft, apply and revise national policies concerning vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The goal is to ensure that appropriate measures are put in place to provide vocational rehabilitation for all disabled persons regardless of the origin of their disabilities, besides promoting employment opportunities and fair treatment in the labor market. All such measures must be based on the principle of equal opportunities for disabled workers and workers in general. Versión en español share:   print    send   correct  ADD YOUR COMMENT >>  International law  Research, articles and opinion  United Nations  International Labour Organization (ILO)  World Health Organization (WHO)  NGOs   News Up-to-date current affairs information. Tue Dec 04 2007 The right to decent work of persons with disabilities Fuente: ILO In-depth reports Detailed reports on key issues Rights of persons with disabilities A United Nations ad-hoc committee has approved the draft text of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Global labour rights As transnational corporations spread their operations around the world in search of a cheap and flexible labour force, the call for global labour rights becomes more urgent. Accessibility Civil society has shown that an accessible world is possible.      International law Some of the key steps taken on an international level, through treaties, recommendations and conventions, starting with the 1944 ILO Recommendation. In 1966, many such provisions were embodied in a treaty, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and later by General Assembly Resolution 2856 of 20 December 1971, the United Nations proclaimed a declaration on the rights of mentally retarded persons, which affirms their right to productive employment. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Over five hundred million people, nearly 10 percent of the world's population, have a disability. The United Nations (UN) is currently negotiating a treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to ensure that human rights standards are extended to people with disabilities. In order to help promote the adoption of the Convention, the Centre for International Rehabilitation (CIR) has launched the ConventionYES! Website. March 2006. New treaty protecting rights of persons with disabilities UN News Centre After five years of negotiations, countries meeting at United Nations Headquarters in New York have agreed on a new treaty to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. It is considered a historic achievement for the 650 million people with disabilities around the world that have lacked adequate protection until now. While the convention does not create new rights, it specifically prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in all areas of life, including civil rights, access to justice and the right to education, health services and access to transportation. August 2006. Employment recommendation In 1944, in a comprehensive and farsighted recommendation, the ILO unequivocally established that disabled workers, "whatever the origin of their disability, should be provided with full opportunities for rehabilitation, specialized vocational guidance, training and retraining, and employment on useful work". Universal Declaration of Human Rights Later, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in its article 23 explicitly declared that: "Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests." Recommendation concerning vocational rehabilitation of the disabled In 1955 the ILO adopted this recommendation, which was to become one of the most important international instruments with respect to the right to work of persons with disabilities. World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons Approved by the UN General Assembly in its thirty-seventh session, by Resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982. Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Convention In 1983, the ILO adopted its Convention 159, which establishes a number of principles that should serve as the basis for vocational rehabilitation and employment policies, placing particular stress on legislation concerning equal opportunity and treatment.    Research, articles and opinion India's national policy for the disabled: no clear roadmap for action Source: InfoChange Deepanjali Bhas Does the national policy for persons with disability announced in February 2006 indicate a withdrawal of the State from its responsibility towards the disabled and a tendency to thrust that responsibility on civil society and communities? August 2006. The right to decent work for people with disabilities The ILO has commissioned this paper as a contribution to the deliberations taking place in preparation for the development of a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The paper is intended to be of specific relevance to those involved in drafting the provisions concerning employment and work in the proposed Convention. Pdf format. UN Convention information Source: DPI Position papers by some countries and organizations on the subject of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People, as well as daily bulletins from UN ad hoc committee meetings 2002 & 2003, the UN's draft resolution on the rights of disabled people, and other relevant information and statements on the topic of the UN Convention. Equality, diversity and enlargement Report on measures to combat discrimination in acceding and candidate countries. Pdf format. Possibilities for independent living of persons with disabilities in Africa This is a very important subject requiring deep thought and analysis. It calls for a multi-disciplinary approach, taking into consideration the fact that little has been written about people with disabilities in Africa.    United Nations Ending poverty means empowering the disabled Source: IPS U.N. member states and disabled advocacy groups finalised a draft agreement to defend basic rights like independent living, employment and equality, paving the way for the first-ever international treaty guaranteeing the rights of the disabled. February 2005. Report of the Working Group to the Ad Hoc Committee Source: United Nations Draft articles for a comprehensive and integral international Convention on the protection and promotion of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. The Working Group established by the Ad Hoc Committee will meet from 5 to 16 January 2004 to draft a text of an international convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. A Virtual Forum has been launched to facilitate dialogue on the disability convention between members of the Working Group and among all interested parties. 2003. Enable - United Nations and Persons with Disabilities web site The programme on Disabled Persons of the Division for Social Policy and Development aims to promote, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the World Programme of Action and the Standard Rules to assist in furthering effective measures for prevention of disability, rehabilitation, and the realization of the goals of full participation of disabled persons in social life and development, and of equality. Documents, mandates, international standards, related themes, meetings. Issues and emerging trends related to the advancement of persons with disabilities Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities New York, 16-27 June 2003. Monitoring the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly: review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups. Resolution on a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of per 40th session of the Commission for Social Development. Human rights of persons with disabilities UN Third Committee resolutions The Third Committee (social, humanitarian, cultural) approved six draft resolutions on social development, women's issues, disabled persons, indigenous people and crime prevention.    International Labour Organization (ILO) The ILO's disability program promotes dignified work for men and women with disabilities and its approach is an integrated one, based on the principles of equal opportunities, equal treatment and anti-discrimination. Disability and work ILO disability programme, policy and research. ILO Ability Asia The ILO's regional disability programme in Asia.    World Health Organization (WHO) Disability Assessment Schedule This site provides relevant and useful information for researchers, clinicians, and administrators who are interested in learning about and using this instrument for assessing levels of functioning.    NGOs Global Applied Disability Research and Information Network on Employment and Training - GLADNET This Network brings together research centres, universities, enterprises, government departments, trade unions, and organizations of and for persons with disabilities. Their common goal is to advance competitive employment and training opportunities for persons with disabilities. Disabled Peoples' International Network of national organizations or assemblies of disabled people, established to promote the human rights of disabled people through full participation, equalization of opportunity and development. Independent Living Institute The Institute's purpose is to promote the opportunities of persons with disabilities to gain more personal and political power, self-determination, full participation and equality through information, training materials, consultancy and technical assistance. Literacy for Independent Living - LIL Online library that houses literacy information and resources useful for people working with adult learners with disabilities. Vida Independiente (Independent Living) This Mexican organization provides an opportunity to transform thoughts, concepts and techniques for people with disabilities to be actively involved in society, both socially and economically. In Spanish. Workability International Workability International represents providers of work and employment services for people with disabilities. More than one million people with disabilities are engaged in work programmes delivered by the members of this organization distributed in some 28 countries. National Commission for the Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) They work on increasing employment opportunities for all those with disabilities. India.

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