What's New :
Technical Consultation on
Employment of People with Disabilities:
A Human Rights Approach
A Tripartite ILO Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand: 18-20
January 2006
Overview
Introduction
Since the 1970s the disadvantages faced by disabled
persons, their social exclusion and discrimination against them were
increasingly perceived to constitute a human rights issue, rather
than matters to be dealt with exclusively through social welfare measures.
The shift from a social welfare approach to one based on human rights
is increasingly reflected in the legislation on the statute books
in countries around the world, and in international and national human
rights instruments. While progress has been made, much remains to
be done to ensure that national legislation concerning the training
and employment of persons with disabilities and other relevant legislation
is amended to reflect a rights-based approach.
Key elements of a rights-based approach are contained in ILO Conventions
concerning employment in general and persons with disabilities in
particular. Of particular relevance are the Discrimination (Employment
and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), the Equal Remuneration
Convention, 1951 (No. 100), and the Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159). Equality
of opportunity, equal treatment and non-discrimination are the pillars
of the ILO Conventions. The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles
and Rights at Work of 1998 has recognized that working toward the
realization of the rights at the workplace is inherent in membership
in the Organization. The Technical Consultation will examine the
training and employment of persons with disabilities from a human
rights perspective drawing on ILO Conventions and other international
human rights instruments, as well as exemplary legislation at national
level.
The Technical Consultation is being organized within the framework
of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) project “Promoting
the Employment of People with Disabilities through Effective Legislation”.
This project, funded by the Government of Ireland, is being implemented
by the ILO in 4 countries of Asia: China, Mongolia, Thailand and
Vietnam, as well as 8 countries of East and Southern Africa.
The ILO project aims to improve the effectiveness of legislation
promoting training and employment opportunities for disabled people.
The Consultation is among project activities that also include national
level technical guidance (upon request), a training programme and
a media campaign. The Consultation will contribute to the objectives
and activities of the Second Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled
Persons 2003 to 2012, and the Biwako Millennium Framework towards
an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for People with
Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific.
Objectives
The overall purpose of the Consultation is to promote increased
training and employment opportunities and improved employability
for women and men with disabilities in the selected countries by
examining, from a human rights perspective, how to improve the formulation
and implementation of legislation. The role of governments, workers’
and employers’ organizations and organizations of persons
with disabilities in this process will also be examined.
By the end of the Consultation, it is expected that participants
will:
- Be aware of the main elements of a human rights
approach to training and employment of people with disabilities;
- Be informed of international initiatives in
promoting the employability and employment of people with disabilities;
- Be aware of the importance of applying a sound
communications strategy using the media for advocacy and awareness
raising on the right to work of people with disabilities;
- Have reviewed reports on existing disability
policy and/or legislation for each country participating in the
ILO project, and supplemented or corrected these where necessary;
- Have identified actions that might be taken
by governments, the social partners and DPOs in each country to
advance a human rights approach to training and employment of
people with disabilities, and in improving the quality and impact
of laws and policies;
- Have made proposals for follow-up action to
be taken by their respective government departments or organizations.
Participants
Participants in the Technical Consultation will include
- Representatives of Government Ministries (Ministry of Labour;
Ministry with responsibility for disability)
- Employers’ and Workers’ representatives
- Representatives of national federations of disabled persons
- Selected Members of Parliament
- Legal experts
Equal numbers of women and men participants are being invited to
the Consultation to ensure gender balance and adequate consideration
of gender issues. The aim will be to encourage a high degree of
participation from all participants.
Methodology
The work of the Technical Consultation will be conducted through
a combination of formal presentations in plenary sessions and working
group sessions. Participants will form working groups to discuss
the following questions:
- Moving towards a human rights approach to training and employment
of people with disabilities: What action is required of governments?
- What initiatives can the social partners and DPOs undertake,
separately or collaboratively, to promote the training and employment
of people with disabilities taking into account the human rights
approach?
- What actions can be taken at country level by governments, social
partners and DPOs, separately or collaboratively, to improve the
practical impact of laws and policies concerning the training
and employment of people with disabilities?
Each group will appoint a Rapporteur who will prepare a summary
of the discussions and conclusions to be presented in the plenary
sessions.
For more information:
Employment of People with Disabilities: A Human Rights Approach
(Asia). Technical Consultation Report. Thailand 18-20 January 2006
(pdf)
Programme
(pdf)
List of
participants (pdf)
The technical consultation is part of the ILO global programme
Promoting the Employability and
Employment of People with Disabilities through effective Legislation
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