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Barbados Council for the Disabled
Article URL: http://www.barbadosdisabled.org.bb/pages/news/Foundation_for_human_rights_and_equality_29.php
Foundation for human rights and equality As an advocate and person with a disability, my disappointment was that in five years of negotiating this important humanitarian Convention that specifically addresses equality for persons with disabilities, there had been no representation from Barbados. Our attendance during the final stages of the negotiations was indeed historic. During the 10 days of intense negotiations at the United Nations, New York, the staff of the Barbados Mission ensured that we were comfortable and our needs were met. The Ambassador also met with us formally on two occasions to discuss Barbados’s contributions and to address any challenges we were experiencing. It was heartening to note that most countries had Persons with Disabilities as part of their delegation. The ethos of the negotiation process was “Nothing About Us, without us”; in fact the chair acknowledged that the experts in drafting the convention came from the NGO community and persons with disabilities. Several key factors emerged from the process. Firstly the importance of ensuring that Barbados and other English-speaking Caribbean Countries has representation at negotiations that would have an impact on their government’s policies and implications for their constituents and a region as a whole. Secondly, another lesson learned is the advantages gained from lobbying and speaking as a united group. Representation of regions was effectively demonstrated by the Europeans. With well thought out arguments, they were often able to influence others, thus able to achieve their collective objective or at the very least come to a consensus. We from the English Speaking Caribbean experienced significant difficulties utilizing such tactics because we were poorly represented. Apart from Barbados the only other English speaking Caribbean countries represented were Jamaica and Trinidad. Cultural, political and religious factors clearly influenced the wording of the text. For example Article 11, which dealt with foreign occupation was intensely negotiated and finally voted on with America, Israel, Japan and Australia voting against. Article 6 on women’s reproductive rights and services was also intensely discussed as the text included the word services which could imply, for example, right to have a pregnancy terminated. Negotiations were intense and on the last day only 17 articles were adopted and the chairperson had to arrange for an extension. The final article was adopted at 7.50 pm with only 10 minutes to spare. The convention was approved by consensus and adopted on the 25 August 2006. It will formally be sent to the General Assembly for adoption at it 61st session and will then be open for signing and ratification by member states. The convention does not create new rights for PWD as it is based on existing human rights treaties. Its aim is to guarantee effective protection of 650 million PWD across the world and ensure that they can enjoy the full range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. There is no doubt that the ratification of the convention on the Rights of PWD by the Government of Barbados and indeed all countries in the Caribbean, would be an important step in prohibiting discrimination in the provision of services and in all areas of life. In ratifying the Convention Barbados would have to review existing laws and get rid of legislation, customs and practices that discriminate against PWD We look forward to collaboration and discussions on how we can move forward and make the rights of PWD a reality. |