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The Standard Rules for the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities 7th General Assembly of the
World Blind Union
Changing What it Means to be Blind: Taking our Place in the World It is always a pleasure to speak at the events organized by any of the disability federations. I have made every possible attempt through out the past six years to be present at each of these events. As the end of the second term of my mandate as Special Rapporteur approaches, I find that it is more important than ever to be a part of these events. It is important because there is a need to sum up, wrap up, review and revise what has been done over the past six years. But more importantly, there is a need to look at what’s next. The world today, as I look at it, is very different than it was when I was first appointed Special Rapporteur for the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. In 2003 the Standard Rules were the only universal instrument available to us to ensure that governments everywhere were living up to the moral commitment and ethical obligation they made when they adopted EQUALIZATION OF OPPORTUNITIES in 1993. The central task of the Special Rapporteur was to ensure and monitor governments’ implementation the measures necessary to provide persons with disabilities with equal opportunities for full participation in all aspects of life. Today, in addition to the Standard Rules we have one of the most progressive, comprehensive, legally binding instruments to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are respected, their dignity is protected, their potentials are developed and their contributions are valued. Today persons with disabilities have two very powerful instruments that will put an end to the centuries of discrimination and exclusion they have endured. To date over 130 countries have become signatories to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. And 71 have signed the optional protocol. This is a credit to the strength and determination of the international disability movement. It is a credit to all of you and millions more across the world. The past six years in my role as Special Rapporteur, I have had the opportunity to learn a great deal about the state of the world with regard to the implementation of the Standard Rules. At this stage, we all know that even with the adoption of the Convention and the rapid signing and ratification that is taking place at this time, the Standard Rules have remained valid and will remain valid and significant to the disability movement. Therefore, it is important to use the knowledge we have gained in connection to the implementation of the Standard Rules to predict how countries will deal with the Convention; to strategize as a movement what our response will be; and to determine the areas of weakness where governments will need help to reach full implementation. In that regard, I believe that the findings of the Global Survey on Government Implementation of the Standard Rules—which was conducted by the Office of the Special Rapporteur, can be an important tool in this process. So far, we have published two reports analyzing the results of the Survey. In Phase One we looked at whether or not the governments of the 114 countries from which we received responses, have implemented the 324 measures or actions derived from the 22 Rules. In Phase Two, we looked at the extent of that implementation and did a comparative analysis both by region, and by comparing the responses of governments and DPOs from each of the countries. (I have with me copies of this Report on CDs for anyone interested.) In order to advocate and lobby governments to implement the Articles of the Convention, it is important to look at what governments have or have not done in relation to the Standard Rules over the past 13 years of their existence. In my opinion, this is an important point of departure. Why are the Standard Rules still valid in the presence of comprehensive legally binding document such as the Convention? For one thing, I believe that the Standard Rules are an excellent implementation guide. The measures or actions that we derived from each one of the Rules (between 15 and 39 measures per Rule) can serve as a step-by-step guide even for the Articles of the Convention. With the exception of “Legal Capacity”, and the articles dealing with “Women with Disabilities” and “Children with Disabilities” the Standard Rules and Convention deal with the same issues, respond to the same needs, and require the provision of the same services. It is the legally binding nature of the Convention and the rights-based approached which makes the difference. For me, personally, I feel privileged to have been Special Rapporteur for the Standard Rules at a time when the greatest revolution in the history of the disability movement was taking place—that is: the negotiations and drafting of the Convention. Never has a United Nations treaty been negotiated with the full input of civil society alongside that of governments. The Standard Rules, in my opinion, were the stepping-stone to that revolution. As I end my mandate, I am looking back on all that has been done during the past six years. And I am keen on sharing with the world, with the international disability movement, and with the next Special Rapporteur, all that has been done. But more importantly, I am eager to ensure that some of the initiatives that were started can find continuity through the building of new partnerships. In January of next year, my office will be organizing an international conference to explore some of these issues, and attempt to place within the global context and discuss means and mechanisms of dealing with them. More information will be made available about this in the coming month. I wish you all great success with this meeting and look forward to attending some of the sessions in what I can see is a comprehensive and relevant programme. Thank you. Hissa Al Thani
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