CERMI Requests the Organization of American States to Create a Committee Against the Discrimination of Persons with Disabilities
By
Solidaridad Digit@l, Madrid, April 23, 2004
The Spanish Committee of Representatives of Persons with Disabilities (CERMI) has requested the Organization of American States (OAS) to "urgently" appoint the Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities.
The constitution of this Committee was established on the Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities, that was approved by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States on June of 1999.
This Inter-American Convention is the only disability specific instrument of international law serving as reference for the International Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, that is now being prepared by the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee.
Luis Cayo, Executive Director of CERMI, wrote a letter to César Gaviria, Secretary General of the Organization of American States, reminding him that the first meeting of the Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities had to be held before February 22, 2003, once the necessary number of ratifications for the Inter-American Convention was completed.
The purpose of the purpose of this Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities is to provide follow up on the commitments undertaken by the Inter-American Convention. This Committee must also review and provide criteria for studies and situations regarding persons with disabilities presented by States.
The reports prepared by this Committee shall include information on measures adopted by the member states and on any progress made in eliminating all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities. The reports will indicate any circumstances or difficulties regarding the fulfillment of the obligations arising from this Convention.
For these reasons, Luis Cayo, reminds the Secretary General that this Committee must be appointed and that its members need to be called together. At the same time, in his letter, Mr. Luis Cayo affirmed: "the XIII Ibero-American Summit of Presidents and Heads of Stated, declared 2004 as Ibero-American Year of Persons with Disabilities (Declaration of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, November, 2003). The purpose of the year is to emphasize the importance of measures to advance measures leading to normalization, protection, and nondiscrimination regarding persons with disabilities. In Ibero-America, there is much that needs to be done to ensure that the sector of persons with disabilities enjoy full participation and have equal rights in society. Member states and their governments are committed in achieving the proposed goals."
"The celebration of the Ibero-American Year of Persons with Disabilities is an opportune occasion for establishing the Committee, as required by the Inter-American Convention. It is one more way of supporting the Ibero-American Year and would be one of the best contributions to strengthening this instrument of rights protection among the countries of the American continent."
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