Expert calls for Irish Government to be first to human right-proof development aid projects
Ireland, as a newly wealthy and highly developed country, is at a crossroads in terms of disability policies in the 21st Century, according to Gerard Quinn, Commissioner, the Irish Human Rights Commission. Mr Quinn was briefing disability stakeholders on the UN Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities.
According to Mr Quinn, Ireland has a proud heritage around disability and human rights, but now new opportunities have to be grasped. He sees these opportunities both at home and abroad:
"By renewing our domestic law reform blueprint, we have, at last the chance to return to the founding vision of the nation which is to ‘cherish all the children of the nation equally’ and to make it a reality" he said.
"By being good global citizens, supporting the UN treaty and sharing our experience with others, we can also have a lasting impact on civil society in developing countries," he added.
Mr Quinn called for Ireland to ‘Put our money where our mouth is’ by disability proofing Ireland’s development aid projects. Delivering the commitment to this in the Development Aid White Paper would make the Irish Government one of the first Governments in the world to do this.
"At least 500million of the 650million persons with disabilities live in the developing world, and only 2% of these will ever see the inside of a school house. By human rights-proofing development aid projects, Irish taxpayers’ money will never again build inaccessible schools," he said.
Mr Quinn went on to describe how the rich tapestry of public bodies such as the National Disability Authority, the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission can all play a constructive role in ensuring that the convention Ireland’s is used well here. Experience with these institutions, plus the country’s global leadership on disability issues and increased wealth has brought Ireland into a different era on disability policy.
"Ireland has gone beyond anti-discrimination policies to positive measures through legislation such as the Disability Act. We have the wealth, now we need the imagination," he added.
Mr Quinn described Ireland’s prominence in the development of the UN Convention on disability, and the role it has played in setting standards in a disability reform landscape which is now truly global.
"Our influence and history has been, and continues to be global, and Irish leadership on the UN Convention is crucial" he concluded.
ENDS
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For details of a briefing held on the Disability Convention click below
http://www.ihrc.ie/home/wnarticle.asp?NID=167&T=N&Print=