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Excerpts from the Convention

The following are excerpts from the convention that are particularly relevant to the call for accessibility-rights legislation in Manitoba.

Preamble

The States Parties to the present Convention,
a) Recalling the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations which recognize the inherent dignity and worth and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
h) Recognizing also that discrimination against any person on the basis of disability is a violation of the inherent dignity and worth of the human person
(k) Concerned that, despite these various instruments and undertakings, persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in their participation as equal members of society and violations of their human rights in all parts of the world,

Article 4

General obligations

  1. States Parties undertake to ensure and promote the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities without discrimination of any kind on the basis of disability. To this end, States Parties undertake:
    (a) To adopt all appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures for the implementation of the rights recognized in the present Convention;
    (b) To take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices that constitute discrimination against persons with disabilities;
    (c) To take into account the protection and promotion of the human rights of persons with disabilities in all policies and programmes

Article 8

Awareness-Raising

  1. States Parties undertake to adopt immediate, effective and appropriate measures:
    (a) To raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding persons with disabilities, and to foster respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities;
    (b) To combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to persons with disabilities, including those based on sex and age, in all areas of life;
    (c) To promote awareness of the capabilities and contributions of persons with disabilities.

Article 9

Accessibility

  1. To enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas areas. These measures, which shall include the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility, shall apply to, inter alia:
    a) Buildings, roads, transportation and other indoor and outdoor facilities, including schools, housing, medical facilities and workplaces;
    b) Information, communications and other services, including electronic services and emergency services.
  2. States Parties shall also take appropriate measures to:
    a) Develop, promulgate and monitor the implementation of minimum standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and services open or provided to the public;
    b) Ensure that private entities that offer facilities and services which are open or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for persons with disabilities;
    c) Provide training for stakeholders on accessibility issues facing persons with disabilities;
    d) Provide in buildings and other facilities open to the public signage in Braille and in easy to read and understand forms;
    e) Provide forms of live assistance and intermediaries, including guides, readers and professional sign language interpreters, to facilitate accessibility to buildings and other facilities open to the public;
    f) Promote other appropriate forms of assistance and support to persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information;
    g) Promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communications technologies and systems, including the Internet;
    h) Promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost.