AusAID participates in the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Australian volunteer working with research assistant to develop sign language dictionary, Fiji School of the Deaf. Photo: Debra Pleuckhahn / Australian Volunteers International

AusAID representatives have shared their knowledge and expertise on including people with disabilities in development at the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York this month.

This annual event brings together all the countries which have ratified the CRPD and Australia’s statement [external website] highlighted our efforts in including people with disability in the aid program.

AusAID staff participated in a number of side events which enabled them to share their experience in including people with disability throughout programs in the areas of access to justice, humanitarian assistance, inclusive education and early childhood activities. AusAID’s leadership in this issue, including as the first and largest donor to the UN Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, was highlighted by UN agencies.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [external website] aims to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all people with disability, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. Article 32 of the Convention requires parties to ensure that international cooperation, including international development, is inclusive of, and accessible to, people with disability.

An estimated 15 per cent of the global population (one billion people) have a disability. It is widely recognised that people with disability are among the poorest and most vulnerable in developing countries and comprise the world's largest and most disadvantaged minority.

People with disability face many barriers to full participation in society, including an increased risk of social exclusion. Social exclusion is a major contributor to the level of poverty which people with disability experience, particularly those in developing countries. It may include being unable to access education or health services, being unable to earn a living or to participate in decision making or in family, community and political life.

In June this year, Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr announced new initiatives to improve the rights of people with disability in developing countries. This includes $3 million to the Disability Rights Fund and a $4.5 million partnership with the Pacific Disability Forum from 2012-2016 to assist organisations to advance the rights of people with disability.

More information

Information on the conference and its outcomes [external website]
Disability inclusive development in Australia’s aid program

Last Reviewed: 19 September, 2012