Convention of Rights 33: Conclusion

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (CRPD) forms the foundation of disability rights laws in Uganda and is the model for the Persons With Disabilities Act (PWDA) 2006. The CRPD underlines and recognizes that persons with disabilities (PWDs) are entitled to all the human rights enunciated in the The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. If you are a PWD the rights in the CRPD are your rights, if you do not have a disability it is your duty to uphold and promote these rights.

The CRPD is an important convention, based on The Universal Declaration of Human Rights it details the rights of all PWDs. When the Convention was ratified by the Ugandan State, the rights in the Convention were granted to all PWDs in Uganda meaning that PWDs in Uganda have the same human rights as everyone else. Furthermore, this Convention became the basis for disability laws like the PWDA and so the CRPD is of double relevance to PWDs. The rights granted in the Convention apply to everyone in Uganda, it is the legal duty of non disabled people to support the rights of PWDs.

The CRPD has many messages. Importantly the Convention maintains that disability is part of human diversity. Being disabled therefore does not make someone less of a human being. The rights granted in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights were for everyone. The CRPD therefore serves to underline the inclusion of all PWDs in human rights. Disability, after all, can happen to anyone at any time. Indeed, most people experience some form of disability due to illness or injury for periods of their lives. With this in mind the Convention was fashioned.

The CRPD is unique because it details the rights of PWDs and states exactly what each right means (see Embracing the new disability rightsparadigm: the importance of theConvention on the Rights of Personswith Disabilities). For the first time the rights of PWDs have been acknowledged and PWDs have a way to get their voice heard. Underpinning these ideas are several important concepts which bind the Convention together, three of the most important concepts are equality, non discrimination and removal of barriers.

Everyone has the right to be heard.
Deaf Link Uganda: Reporting back from week three of the Geneva marathon of Spring 2016.

Everyone is equal, it goes without saying that PWDs are all members of society and have an equal right to all the rights in the CRPD. For instance, PWDs have the right to be heard. Every PWD has a right to an opinion, and every PWD has a right to express their opinion. Consequently PWDs that require support to express their opinion are entitled as a right to that support. The Convention further recognizes that women have the same rights as men regardless of custom or culture, and children also have the right to an opinion and have the right be heard equally, on age appropriate basis. The intention of these rights is to remove stigma and prejudice and give the chance for PWDs to participate fully in society on an equal basis.

PWDs are often the poorest people in society, facing discrimination throughout their lives. The CRPD seeks to remove discrimination by highlighting the rights of PWDs. Discrimination can take many forms besides the stigma and prejudice of the the disability. The CRPD recognizes that discrimination is multilayered and that PWDs face multi discrimination. For instance they may face additional discrimination from their age, gender, culture or custom and/or ethnicity. The CRPD itself says that failure to grant any of the rights is discrimination. For instance, failing to listen to the needs of a child with a disability (CWD) because they are a child is age discrimination, CWDs have the right to be heard.

Barriers faced by PWDs are not limited to physical barriers like buildings that are inaccessible because of no ramps, lifts, braille or easy to read signs. Buildings, services and rights maybe inaccessible because of people's attitudes. It is no longer allowed to deny a person access to their rights on the basis of disability. The CRPD was put in place to remove barriers to accessing rights.

The page Why is the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities important? sums up the importance of the CRPD:

For the first time, a legally binding international instrument now exists to guarantee that States that have ratified the treaty will promote and protect the rights of people with disabilities. These States will next work on passing their own national civil rights legislation to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

The CRPD is relevant and important for everyone in the community. It means your voice can be heard. With the support of the CRPD you can demand your rights.