UNITAR Online Catalogue
Human Rights-Based Approach to Disability
Background
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which entered into force in 2008, a legally binding instrument which has been widely ratified, is grounded on the human rights-based approach, moving away from previous models on how to approach disability, in particular the so-called medical model. This change is profound and is therefore often defined as a paradigm shift. Understanding the human rights-based approach to disability is a key prerequisite to ensure that policy makers and other stakeholders that will work on issues affecting the rights of persons with disabilities, design laws, policies and programmes in a way that is consistent with the CRPD.
This Course, developed by UNITAR in partnership with the Inter-Agency Support Group for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (IASG), offers a unique opportunity to understand this approach, to learn how to apply it and to gain knowledge on some of the core aspects of the CRPD, with a particular focus on anti-discrimination and participation.
Event Objectives
The overall objective of this course is to allow a better understanding of the human rights-based approach to disability and to enable participants to identify gaps between existing policy and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in order to implement it coherently.
Content and Structure
- Module 1: What is (and what is not) disability?
- Module 2: Introduction to the CRPD
- Module 3: Discrimination and anti-discrimination in the CRPD
- Module 4: Crosscutting provisions in the Convention
Methodology
The course is based on UNITAR’s sound adult learning pedagogical principles. Each module includes readings, self-assessment activities and quizzes. The learning activities are distributed in such a way to ensure the achievement of the learning objectives in a flexible manner.
Targeted Audience
The course is open to all persons interested in the subject.