National Council on Disability
International Watch
Federal Advisory Committee
Quarterly  Report
January 29, 2007

In December, 2006 at its 61st Session, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which marked the end of a five-year long negotiation process that was unprecedented in its inclusion of non-governmental organizations made up of people with disabilities. This is the first convention of such magnitude in this century; and it will further the human rights of millions of people with disabilities around the world and benefit their families and the communities in which they live and work.

The treaty will be open for signature and ratification on March 30, 2007 and will enter into force after it has been ratified by 20 countries. At that point, other countries that wish to become party to the convention must “accede,” meaning they must sign and ratify at the same time. If a country signs the treaty at the outset of its adoption by the General Assembly, the country is considered to be a signatory and is allowed to take more time to decide whether it wants to ratify and become a “states party.” If the country signs but then decides not to ratify, it is still a signatory; or the country may “unsign” if it has no intention of ever ratifying.

On the same day, the Congressional Human Rights Caucus held a Members’ briefing to discuss the convention’s provisions and adoption procedures. NCD provided input on questions and background for the expert witnesses:  Mark Lagon, Department of State; Ambassador Luis Gallegos, Ecuador; Mike Deland, President, National Organization on Disability; Eric Rosenthal, Mental Disability Rights International; and Maria Reina, International Disability Caucus.

Following the adoption, NCD released a statement commending the efforts invested in drafting the Convention. See http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/news/2006/r06-527.htm
NCD staff continues to keep House International Relations Committee staff apprised of Convention proceedings in NCD’s advisory role to Congress.  

Since the last quarterly meeting, two Federal Advisory Committee International Watch conference calls have been held, on November 2 and January 4.  The November meeting focused on the work of the Ad Hoc Committee finalizing the Convention; an update from IW Member Tina Singleton on her work in Afghanistan for Handicap International (HI); and advice from the membership on future NCD foreign policy work. The January meeting included discussion of next steps in the Convention process; an overview of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus Member briefing; an update on USAID’s new fellowship on disability and gender; and discussion of the Fund for Global Human Rights.  The next International Watch Federal Advisory Committee call will be on March 1, 2007.