Global perspective Human stories

UN committee begins session on treaty for persons with disabilities

UN committee begins session on treaty for persons with disabilities

A United Nations General Assembly committee today began its second session aimed at drawing up a treaty safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities and preventing discrimination against them.

The Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities is meeting at UN Headquarters in New York through 27 June.

Three expert panels, with 12 panelists from non-governmental organizations and academia from around the world, will focus on "Typology of International Conventions and Options for a Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities," "The Principle of Non-Discrimination and Equality from a Disability Perspective," and "New and Emerging Approaches to Definitions of Disability.