Submission of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to the
Joint Standing Committee on Treaties inquiry on the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

June 2008

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) makes this submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties in its Inquiry into he Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

HREOC fully endorses the National Interest Analysis on the Convention which has been submitted to the Committee, including the recommendations that Australia proceed to ratify the Convention and that this should happen as early as possible.

In particular, HREOC endorses the conclusions of the National Interest Analysis that early ratification

• would serve important educative purposes as a commitment to the rights of people with disability in Australia
• would provide important support for measures for progressive implementation of measures to promote human rights for people with disability
• would if occurring sufficiently promptly provide Australia with the opportunity to participate in the selection of the initial Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to be established under the Committee and thus ensure that this Committee operates as effectively as it possibly can in assisting parties towards implementation of the human rights of people with disability.

HREOC notes that in addition to consultations conducted by the Government in the preparation of the National Interest Analysis, the open and consultative approach taken to the Convention by the previous Australian Government should also be acknowledged, including

• inclusion of disability representative and advocacy organisations, as well as HREOC’s Human Rights Commissioner and Commissioner responsible for Disability Discrimination, in the Australian delegation during the drafting process
• consultation with States and Territories in the development of the Australian Government contribution to the formulation of the Convention
• provision of funding to support disability community consultations on the Convention.

Recommendation

• HREOC recommends that the Committee endorse ratification by Australia of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.