Costa Rica: Efforts of Disabled Citizens Yield Results

In July 2003, the National Disability Fund of Chile, the Directorate of Multilateral Policies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile, and the Regional Representative for the Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights, organized a consultation workshop on the proposed United Nation International Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The purpose was to analyze and record the opinions and comments from Chilean civil society on this forthcoming international instrument.

This workshop was part of efforts to promote the country's National Policy on Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities. It means that, as part of civil society, people with disability must have appropriate instruments to become part of the decision making process regarding the presentation, planning, execution, and control of actions, projects, and programs that affect them. This is part of a general consultation process which allows society to participate in nation building efforts.

Attending were about 200 representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities, and non governmental organizations working in the field of disability. This was the first time that they met to study and express their opinions and suggestions on the convetion. The participants emphasized the following aspects during the consultation workshop:

• Strengthen the associations of persons with disabilities.
• States must provide adequate financial content in their national budget to enforce the policies regarding the needs of persons with disabilities.
• States must establish the appropriate control agencies or mechanisms for the proposed International Convention.
• International cooperation must be strengthened, particularly for developing countries in scientific research and transfer of technology.
• The proposed instrument must cover prevention and due punishment of abuse against children with disabilities in particular, and of persons with disabilities in general.
• Ensure that persons with disabilities have accessible educational opportunities at all levels.
• Foster several modalities of work, such as protected employment and homebound work, as work opportunities for persons with disabilities who have difficulties in the open job market.
• State must provide system of transition from school to work. All employment programs must be accessible to persons with disabilities.
• The proposed convention must include job safety measures to eliminate the possibility of accidents as source of disabilities.

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