Analysing the rights of people with disabilities

Preparations

• Short lecture on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
• Flipchart for group work. The sheets must have a column on the left with grades from 1 to 5. At the bottom of the sheet there must be a row of four to six articles in the CRPD which the participants must analyse. We recommend choosing articles between numbers 5 and 30 in the convention. Particularly relevant are 5, 6, 7, 9, 14, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29 and 30. Example:

Instructions

• The leader gives a short lecture on the CRPD. (15 minutes). Important points:
  • Brief history: CRPD adopted by the UN in 2008. Civil society important. Relational understanding of disability.
  • Eight general principles: 1: Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence of persons. 2: Non-discrimination, 3: Full and effective participation and inclusion in society. 4: Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity. 5: Equality of opportunity. 6: Accessibility. 5: Equality between men and women. 6: Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.
  • States have the most important responsibility for securing human rights.
• A simplified version of CRPD is distributed.
• Leader divides into groups (4-6). The participants will now analyze the situation for people with disabilities (30 min). If the participants come from different countries, you can easily divide them into groups based on their country of origin. The task is to evaluate how the particular article/right is respected and practised in the country. The participants must analyse the real situation, not how the human right in question is protected in the national legislation (often the legislation itself is good). Each group is to discuss the situation regarding the particular right and award marks according to the following criteria on a scale from 5 (best) to 1 (worst):
  • Mark 5: The situation regarding this right is perfect. Everyone enjoys this right. There are no violations.
  • Mark 4: The situation regarding this right is very good in the society. Not many violations.
  • Mark 3: The situation regarding this right is okay, but there are systematic problems that need to be dealt with.
  • Mark 2: The situation regarding this right is bad. There are many violations.
  • Mark 1: The situation is terrible. Only those in power, and nobody else, enjoy this right.

The leader should consider whether the participants need a break before the presentation.)

• When the groups have finished their analysis, the participants present their results and explain their marks to the others in the plenary session. The facilitator should also use the opportunity to present facts.

Reflection

• Did you ever think about the situation for people with disabilities in your country?
• Is the situation better or worse than you have thought before?
• Who has the main responsibility for fulfillment of human rights?
• What can we do in order to make the situation of the rights of people with disabilities in our country better?

Debriefing

Through the analysis, the participants have gained insight into key articles in the CRPD and assessed how the rights are respected in their own countries. It is the states that have the main responsibility for securing the rights according to the convention. The states do this, among other things, by ensuring that the country's laws comply with the convention.

Tips to the facilitator

• Show the film "What is the UN CRPD?