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Japanese Government & NGO Partnership on UN Convention (December 2004)

Written by Kim Jeong-Ok, Deputy Secretary-General, Japan National Assembly of Disabled Peoples' Internationaland translated by the Information Center of the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD).

From 23 August to 3 September 2004, the 4th session of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. From Japan, in addition to the delegates from the cabinet office, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, headed by Mr. Shigeki Sumi, Deputy Director-General, Multilateral Cooperation Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a total of 25 people representing JDF (Japan Disability Forum Preparation Committee), including their interpreters, participated in the meeting. Moreover, five members of the Diet (Parliament) joined for the first time and two side-events (seminars) were held during the session, cosponsored by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations and JDF. The first one was on "Reasonable Accommodation with Emphasis on Employment and Education" and the latter one was on "Possible Impacts of the Convention in Different Countries and Regions". There were many participants in both seminars and these energetic efforts by Japan drew attention from the delegates from various countries and were highly appreciated. Such results came from the collaborative efforts of the Japanese Government and JDF.

The Japanese Delegation has been continually holding conferences between the government and JDF since before the 2nd session of the Ad Hoc Committee was held in June 2003. As a result, Mr.Toshihiro Higashi (Permanent Representative of Japan National Assembly of Disabled Peoples' International, a lawyer), recommended by JDF, and myself (Deputy Secretary-General, Japan National Assembly of Disabled Peoples' International), appointed as an advisor/observer, joined the Delegation and have been participating in the discussion of the Ad Hoc Committee, while exchanging views with other Japanese delegates on a regular basis.

On the occasion of the 4th session of the Ad Hoc Committee, we exchanged views with the Japanese Delegation about certain issues such as theA@relationship between people with disabilities and their families (related to the Preamble) and definition of sign language as a form of language (as stated in Article 3 "Definition")

On the last day of the 4th session of the Ad Hoc Committee, a summarizing meeting was held by Sumi, Head of Delegation, and JDF representatives. I would like to introduce the common impressions expressed and the summary of the opinions proposed in the meeting.

  • The main issue seems to be to clarify to a certain degree which rights are political and civil rights and which are the economic, social and cultural rights. From the traditional point of view, the political and civil rights must be realized immediately. Regarding the access to information, if it is accepted as a right, it will be required to prepare sign language interpretation or Braille transcription when holding a political meeting during election campaigns, which is not possible at this point. In addition, the problems of taking positive measures including reasonable accommodation and of the relationship between people with disabilities and their families should be further discussed.
  • As for the side-events (seminars), by providing two seminars, the Japanese Government could demonstrate its very positive attitude towards establishing the convention. The contents of the seminars were also very interesting.
  • This time, the members of the Diet also participated both in the first half and the latter half of the session, which is quite beneficial in terms of promoting the convention in the country.
  • It is recommended to the Government to hold a study meeting with JDF, in which case, not only Ministry of Foreign Affairs but also other government offices concerned should be involved. A study meeting on reasonable accommodation was once held within the government. Having such meetings a few times before the next Ad Hoc Committee was suggested.
    Quite a few children with disabilities are attending regular school as long as their parents desire them to do so. Exchanging views on such matters was suggested.
  • It is recommended to the Government to hold a study meeting with JDF, in which case, not only Ministry of Foreign Affairs but also other government offices concerned should be involved. A study meeting on reasonable accommodation was once held within the government. Having such meetings a few times before the next Ad Hoc Committee was suggested.
  • Quite a few children with disabilities are attending regular school as long as their parents desire them to do so. Exchanging views on such matters was suggested.
  • It seems that the discussion on this convention gives various opportunities to solve problems related to people with disabilities.

Through the above meeting I really feel the partnership between the Japanese Government and JDF is Important and would like to continue to exchanges views further about the Convention.

Fourth Session of the Ad Hoc Committee URL: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc4.htm