CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS  
WITH DISABILITIES  
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,  
(
b
)
Recognizing that the United Nations, in the Universal Declaration  
of Human Rights and in the International Covenants on Human Rights, has  
proclaimed and agreed that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms  
set forth therein, without distinction of any kind,  
(
c
)
Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and  
interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for  
persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without  
discrimination,  
(
d
)
Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and  
Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the  
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial  
Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of  
Discrimination against Women, the Convention against Torture and Other  
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the  
Rights of the Child, and the International Convention on the Protection of the  
Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,  
(
e
)
Recognizing that disability is an evolving concept and that  
disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and  
attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective  
participation in society on an equal basis with others,  
(
f
)
Recognizing the importance of the principles and policy  
guidelines contained in the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled  
Persons and in the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for  
Persons with Disabilities in influencing the promotion, formulation and  
evaluation of the policies, plans, programmes and actions at the national,  
regional and international levels to further equalize opportunities for persons  
with disabilities,  
(
g
)
Emphasizing the importance of mainstreaming disability issues as  
an integral part of relevant strategies of sustainable development,  
(
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,  
(
(
i
)
)
Recognizing further the diversity of persons with disabilities,  
j
Recognizing the need to promote and protect the human rights of  
all persons with disabilities, including those who require more intensive  
support,  
(
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,  
(
l
)
Recognizing the importance of international cooperation for  
improving the living conditions of persons with disabilities in every country,  
particularly in developing countries,  
(
m
)
Recognizing the valued existing and potential contributions made  
by persons with disabilities to the overall well-being and diversity of their  
communities, and that the promotion of the full enjoyment by persons with  
disabilities of their human rights and fundamental freedoms and of full  
participation by persons with disabilities will result in their enhanced sense of  
belonging and in significant advances in the human, social and economic  
development of society and the eradication of poverty,  
(
n
)
Recognizing the importance for persons with disabilities of their  
individual autonomy and independence, including the freedom to make their  
own choices,  
(
o
)
Considering that persons with disabilities should have the  
opportunity to be actively involved in decision-making processes about  
policies and programmes, including those directly concerning them,  
(
p
)
Concerned about the difficult conditions faced by persons with  
disabilities who are subject to multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination  
on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion,  
national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, property, birth, age or other status,  
(
q
)
Recognizing that women and girls with disabilities are often at  
greater risk, both within and outside the home, of violence, injury or abuse,  
neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation,  
(
r
)
Recognizing that children with disabilities should have full  
enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis  
– 2 –  
with other children, and recalling obligations to that end undertaken by States  
Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,  
(
s
)
Emphasizing the need to incorporate a gender perspective in all  
efforts to promote the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental  
freedoms by persons with disabilities,  
(
t
)
Highlighting the fact that the majority of persons with disabilities  
live in conditions of poverty, and in this regard recognizing the critical need to  
address the negative impact of poverty on persons with disabilities,  
(
u
)
Bearing in mind that conditions of peace and security based on  
full respect for the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the  
United Nations and observance of applicable human rights instruments are  
indispensable for the full protection of persons with disabilities, in particular  
during armed conflicts and foreign occupation,  
(
v
)
Recognizing the importance of accessibility to the physical,  
social, economic and cultural environment, to health and education and to  
information and communication, in enabling persons with disabilities to fully  
enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms,  
(
w
)
Realizing that the individual, having duties to other individuals  
and to the community to which he or she belongs, is under a responsibility to  
strive for the promotion and observance of the rights recognized in the  
International Bill of Human Rights,  
(
x
)
Convinced that the family is the natural and fundamental group  
unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State, and that  
persons with disabilities and their family members should receive the  
necessary protection and assistance to enable families to contribute towards the  
full and equal enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities,  
(
y
)
Convinced that a comprehensive and integral international  
convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with  
disabilities will make a significant contribution to redressing the profound  
social disadvantage of persons with disabilities and promote their participation  
in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural spheres with equal  
opportunities, in both developing and developed countries,  
Have agreed as follows:  
– 3 –  
Article 1  
Purpose  
The purpose of the present Convention is to promote, protect and ensure  
the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by  
all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.  
Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical,  
mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various  
barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal  
basis with others.  
Article 2  
Definitions  
For the purposes of the present Convention:  
“Communication” includes languages, display of text, Braille, tactile  
communication, large print, accessible multimedia as well as written, audio,  
plain-language, human-reader and augmentative and alternative modes, means  
and formats of communication, including accessible information and  
communication technology;  
“Language” includes spoken and signed languages and other forms of  
non spoken languages;  
“Discrimination on the basis of disability” means any distinction,  
exclusion or restriction on the basis of disability which has the purpose or  
effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an  
equal basis with others, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the  
political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. It includes all  
forms of discrimination, including denial of reasonable accommodation;  
“Reasonable accommodation” means necessary and appropriate  
modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue  
burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities  
the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and  
fundamental freedoms;  
“Universal design” means the design of products, environments,  
programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent  
possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. “Universal  
design” shall not exclude assistive devices for particular groups of persons  
with disabilities where this is needed.  
– 4 –  
Article 3  
General principles  
The principles of the present Convention shall be:  
(
a
)
Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the  
freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons;  
(
(
(
b
)
Non-discrimination;  
c
)
Full and effective participation and inclusion in society;  
d
)
Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities  
as part of human diversity and humanity;  
(
(
(
(
e
)
Equality of opportunity;  
f
)
Accessibility;  
g
)
)
Equality between men and women;  
Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities  
h
and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their  
identities.  
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;  
– 5 –  
(
d
)
To refrain from engaging in any act or practice that is inconsistent  
with the present Convention and to ensure that public authorities and  
institutions act in conformity with the present Convention;  
(
e
)
To take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination on  
the basis of disability by any person, organization or private enterprise;  
(
f
)
To undertake or promote research and development of universally  
designed goods, services, equipment and facilities, as defined in article 2 of the  
present Convention, which should require the minimum possible adaptation  
and the least cost to meet the specific needs of a person with disabilities, to  
promote their availability and use, and to promote universal design in the  
development of standards and guidelines;  
(
g
)
To undertake or promote research and development of, and to  
promote the availability and use of new technologies, including information  
and communications technologies, mobility aids, devices and assistive  
technologies, suitable for persons with disabilities, giving priority to  
technologies at an affordable cost;  
(
h
)
To provide accessible information to persons with disabilities  
about mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, including new  
technologies, as well as other forms of assistance, support services and  
facilities;  
(
i
)
To promote the training of professionals and staff working with  
persons with disabilities in the rights recognized in the present Convention so  
as to better provide the assistance and services guaranteed by those rights.  
2.  
With regard to economic, social and cultural rights, each State Party  
undertakes to take measures to the maximum of its available resources and,  
where needed, within the framework of international cooperation, with a view  
to achieving progressively the full realization of these rights, without prejudice  
to those obligations contained in the present Convention that are immediately  
applicable according to international law.  
3.  
In the development and implementation of legislation and policies to  
implement the present Convention, and in other decision-making processes  
concerning issues relating to persons with disabilities, States Parties shall  
closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities, including  
children with disabilities, through their representative organizations.  
4.  
Nothing in the present Convention shall affect any provisions which are  
more conducive to the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities and  
which may be contained in the law of a State Party or international law in force  
for that State. There shall be no restriction upon or derogation from any of the  
– 6 –  
human rights and fundamental freedoms recognized or existing in any State  
Party to the present Convention pursuant to law, conventions, regulation or  
custom on the pretext that the present Convention does not recognize such  
rights or freedoms or that it recognizes them to a lesser extent.  
5.  
The provisions of the present Convention shall extend to all parts of  
federal States without any limitations or exceptions.  
Article 5  
Equality and non-discrimination  
1.  
States Parties recognize that all persons are equal before and under the  
law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection and  
equal benefit of the law.  
2.  
States Parties shall prohibit all discrimination on the basis of disability  
and guarantee to persons with disabilities equal and effective legal protection  
against discrimination on all grounds.  
3.  
In order to promote equality and eliminate discrimination, States Parties  
shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that reasonable accommodation is  
provided.  
4.  
Specific measures which are necessary to accelerate or achieve de facto  
equality of persons with disabilities shall not be considered discrimination  
under the terms of the present Convention.  
Article 6  
Women with disabilities  
1.  
States Parties recognize that women and girls with disabilities are  
subject to multiple discrimination, and in this regard shall take measures to  
ensure the full and equal enjoyment by them of all human rights and  
fundamental freedoms.  
2.  
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the full  
development, advancement and empowerment of women, for the purpose of  
guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of the human rights and  
fundamental freedoms set out in the present Convention.  
Article 7  
Children with disabilities  
1.  
States Parties shall take all necessary measures to ensure the full  
enjoyment by children with disabilities of all human rights and fundamental  
freedoms on an equal basis with other children.  
– 7 –  
2.  
In all actions concerning children with disabilities, the best interests of  
the child shall be a primary consideration.  
3.  
States Parties shall ensure that children with disabilities have the right to  
express their views freely on all matters affecting them, their views being  
given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity, on an equal basis  
with other children, and to be provided with disability and age-appropriate  
assistance to realize that right.  
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.  
2.  
Measures to this end include:  
(
a
)
Initiating and maintaining effective public awareness campaigns  
To nurture receptiveness to the rights of persons with disabilities;  
designed:  
(i)  
(ii) To promote positive perceptions and greater social awareness  
towards persons with disabilities;  
(iii) To promote recognition of the skills, merits and abilities of  
persons with disabilities, and of their contributions to the workplace and  
the labour market;  
(
b
)
Fostering at all levels of the education system, including in all  
children from an early age, an attitude of respect for the rights of persons with  
disabilities;  
(
c
)
Encouraging all organs of the media to portray persons with  
disabilities in a manner consistent with the purpose of the present Convention;  
– 8 –  
(
d
)
Promoting awareness-training programmes regarding persons  
with disabilities and the rights 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. 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 develop, promulgate and monitor the implementation of  
(a)  
minimum standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and  
services open or provided to the public;  
(
b
)
To 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
)
To provide training for stakeholders on accessibility issues facing  
persons with disabilities;  
(
d
)
To provide in buildings and other facilities open to the public  
signage in Braille and in easy to read and understand forms;  
(
e
)
To 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
)
To promote other appropriate forms of assistance and support to  
persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information;  
– 9 –  
(
g
)
To promote access for persons with disabilities to new  
information and communications technologies and systems, including the  
Internet;  
(
h
)
To 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.  
Article 10  
Right to life  
States Parties reaffirm that every human being has the inherent right to  
life and shall take all necessary measures to ensure its effective enjoyment by  
persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.  
Article 11  
Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies  
States Parties shall take, in accordance with their obligations under  
international law, including international humanitarian law and international  
human rights law, all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of  
persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including situations of armed  
conflict, humanitarian emergencies and the occurrence of natural disasters.  
Article 12  
Equal recognition before the law  
1.  
States Parties reaffirm that persons with disabilities have the right to  
recognition everywhere as persons before the law.  
2.  
States Parties shall recognize that persons with disabilities enjoy legal  
capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life.  
3.  
States Parties shall take appropriate measures to provide access by  
persons with disabilities to the support they may require in exercising their  
legal capacity.  
4.  
States Parties shall ensure that all measures that relate to the exercise of  
legal capacity provide for appropriate and effective safeguards to prevent  
abuse in accordance with international human rights law. Such safeguards shall  
ensure that measures relating to the exercise of legal capacity respect the  
rights, will and preferences of the person, are free of conflict of interest and  
undue influence, are proportional and tailored to the person’s circumstances,  
apply for the shortest time possible and are subject to regular review by a  
competent, independent and impartial authority or judicial body. The  
– 10 –  
safeguards shall be proportional to the degree to which such measures affect  
the person’s rights and interests.  
5.  
Subject to the provisions of this article, States Parties shall take all  
appropriate and effective measures to ensure the equal right of persons with  
disabilities to own or inherit property, to control their own financial affairs and  
to have equal access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial  
credit, and shall ensure that persons with disabilities are not arbitrarily  
deprived of their property.  
Article 13  
Access to justice  
1.  
States Parties shall ensure effective access to justice for persons with  
disabilities on an equal basis with others, including through the provision of  
procedural and age-appropriate accommodations, in order to facilitate their  
effective role as direct and indirect participants, including as witnesses, in all  
legal proceedings, including at investigative and other preliminary stages.  
2.  
In order to help to ensure effective access to justice for persons with  
disabilities, States Parties shall promote appropriate training for those working  
in the field of administration of justice, including police and prison staff.  
Article 14  
Liberty and security of person  
1.  
States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities, on an equal  
basis with others:  
(
(
a
b
)
)
Enjoy the right to liberty and security of person;  
Are not deprived of their liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily, and that  
any deprivation of liberty is in conformity with the law, and that the existence  
of a disability shall in no case justify a deprivation of liberty.  
2.  
States Parties shall ensure that if persons with disabilities are deprived  
of their liberty through any process, they are, on an equal basis with others,  
entitled to guarantees in accordance with international human rights law and  
shall be treated in compliance with the objectives and principles of the present  
Convention, including by provision of reasonable accommodation.  
– 11 –  
Article 15  
Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading  
treatment or punishment  
1.  
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading  
treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his or  
her free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.  
2.  
States Parties shall take all effective legislative, administrative, judicial  
or other measures to prevent persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with  
others, from being subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading  
treatment or punishment.  
Article 16  
Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse  
1.  
States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative,  
social, educational and other measures to protect persons with disabilities, both  
within and outside the home, from all forms of exploitation, violence and  
abuse, including their gender-based aspects.  
2.  
States Parties shall also take all appropriate measures to prevent all  
forms of exploitation, violence and abuse by ensuring, inter alia, appropriate  
forms of gender- and age-sensitive assistance and support for persons with  
disabilities and their families and caregivers, including through the provision  
of information and education on how to avoid, recognize and report instances  
of exploitation, violence and abuse. States Parties shall ensure that protection  
services are age-, gender- and disability-sensitive.  
3.  
In order to prevent the occurrence of all forms of exploitation, violence  
and abuse, States Parties shall ensure that all facilities and programmes  
designed to serve persons with disabilities are effectively monitored by  
independent authorities.  
4.  
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote the  
physical, cognitive and psychological recovery, rehabilitation and social  
reintegration of persons with disabilities who become victims of any form of  
exploitation, violence or abuse, including through the provision of protection  
services. Such recovery and reintegration shall take place in an environment  
that fosters the health, welfare, self-respect, dignity and autonomy of the  
person and takes into account gender- and age-specific needs.  
5.  
States Parties shall put in place effective legislation and policies,  
including women- and child-focused legislation and policies, to ensure that  
instances of exploitation, violence and abuse against persons with disabilities  
are identified, investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted.  
– 12 –  
Article 17  
Protecting the integrity of the person  
Every person with disabilities has a right to respect for his or her  
physical and mental integrity on an equal basis with others.  
Article 18  
Liberty of movement and nationality  
1.  
States Parties shall recognize the rights of persons with disabilities to  
liberty of movement, to freedom to choose their residence and to a nationality,  
on an equal basis with others, including by ensuring that persons with  
disabilities:  
(
a
)
Have the right to acquire and change a nationality and are not  
deprived of their nationality arbitrarily or on the basis of disability;  
(
b
)
Are not deprived, on the basis of disability, of their ability to  
obtain, possess and utilize documentation of their nationality or other  
documentation of identification, or to utilize relevant processes such as  
immigration proceedings, that may be needed to facilitate exercise of the right  
to liberty of movement;  
(
(
c
)
Are free to leave any country, including their own;  
d
)
Are not deprived, arbitrarily or on the basis of disability, of the  
right to enter their own country.  
2. Children with disabilities shall be registered immediately after birth and  
shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and,  
as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by their parents.  
Article 19  
Living independently and being included in  
the community  
States Parties to the present Convention recognize the equal right of all  
persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to others,  
and shall take effective and appropriate measures to facilitate full enjoyment  
by persons with disabilities of this right and their full inclusion and  
participation in the community, including by ensuring that:  
(
a
)
Persons with disabilities have the opportunity to choose their  
place of residence and where and with whom they live on an equal basis with  
others and are not obliged to live in a particular living arrangement;  
– 13 –  
(
b
)
Persons with disabilities have access to a range of in-home,  
residential and other community support services, including personal  
assistance necessary to support living and inclusion in the community, and to  
prevent isolation or segregation from the community;  
(
c
)
Community services and facilities for the general population are  
available on an equal basis to persons with disabilities and are responsive to  
their needs.  
Article 20  
Personal mobility  
States Parties shall take effective measures to ensure personal mobility  
with the greatest possible independence for persons with disabilities, including  
by:  
(
a
)
Facilitating the personal mobility of persons with disabilities in  
the manner and at the time of their choice, and at affordable cost;  
(
b
)
Facilitating access by persons with disabilities to quality mobility  
aids, devices, assistive technologies and forms of live assistance and  
intermediaries, including by making them available at affordable cost;  
(
c
)
Providing training in mobility skills to persons with disabilities  
and to specialist staff working with persons with disabilities;  
(
d
)
Encouraging entities that produce mobility aids, devices and  
assistive technologies to take into account all aspects of mobility for persons  
with disabilities.  
Article 21  
Freedom of expression and opinion, and access  
to information  
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons  
with disabilities can exercise the right to freedom of expression and opinion,  
including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an  
equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their  
choice, as defined in article 2 of the present Convention, including by:  
(
a
)
Providing information intended for the general public to persons  
with disabilities in accessible formats and technologies appropriate to different  
kinds of disabilities in a timely manner and without additional cost;  
(
b
)
Accepting and facilitating the use of sign languages, Braille,  
augmentative and alternative communication, and all other accessible means,  
– 14 –  
modes and formats of communication of their choice by persons with  
disabilities in official interactions;  
(
c
)
Urging private entities that provide services to the general public,  
including through the Internet, to provide information and services in  
accessible and usable formats for persons with disabilities;  
(
d
)
Encouraging the mass media, including providers of information  
through the Internet, to make their services accessible to persons with  
disabilities;  
(
e
)
Recognizing and promoting the use of sign languages.  
Article 22  
Respect for privacy  
1.  
No person with disabilities, regardless of place of residence or living  
arrangements, shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his  
or her privacy, family, home or correspondence or other types of  
communication or to unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation.  
Persons with disabilities have the right to the protection of the law against such  
interference or attacks.  
2.  
States Parties shall protect the privacy of personal, health and  
rehabilitation information of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with  
others.  
Article 23  
Respect for home and the family  
1.  
States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures to eliminate  
discrimination against persons with disabilities in all matters relating to  
marriage, family, parenthood and relationships, on an equal basis with others,  
so as to ensure that:  
(
a
)
The right of all persons with disabilities who are of marriageable  
age to marry and to found a family on the basis of free and full consent of the  
intending spouses is recognized;  
(
b
)
The rights of persons with disabilities to decide freely and  
responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and to have access to  
age-appropriate information, reproductive and family planning education are  
recognized, and the means necessary to enable them to exercise these rights are  
provided;  
– 15 –  
(
c
)
Persons with disabilities, including children, retain their fertility  
on an equal basis with others.  
2.  
States Parties shall ensure the rights and responsibilities of persons with  
disabilities, with regard to guardianship, wardship, trusteeship, adoption of  
children or similar institutions, where these concepts exist in national  
legislation; in all cases the best interests of the child shall be paramount. States  
Parties shall render appropriate assistance to persons with disabilities in the  
performance of their child-rearing responsibilities.  
3.  
States Parties shall ensure that children with disabilities have equal  
rights with respect to family life. With a view to realizing these rights, and to  
prevent concealment, abandonment, neglect and segregation of children with  
disabilities, States Parties shall undertake to provide early and comprehensive  
information, services and support to children with disabilities and their  
families.  
4.  
States Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or  
her parents against their will, except when competent authorities subject to  
judicial review determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures,  
that such separation is necessary for the best interests of the child. In no case  
shall a child be separated from parents on the basis of a disability of either the  
child or one or both of the parents.  
5.  
States Parties shall, where the immediate family is unable to care for a  
child with disabilities, undertake every effort to provide alternative care within  
the wider family, and failing that, within the community in a family setting.  
Article 24  
Education  
1.  
States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to  
education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the  
basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education  
system at all levels and lifelong learning directed to:  
(
a
)
The full development of human potential and sense of dignity and  
self-worth, and the strengthening of respect for human rights, fundamental  
freedoms and human diversity;  
(
b
)
The development by persons with disabilities of their personality,  
talents and creativity, as well as their mental and physical abilities, to their  
fullest potential;  
(
c
)
Enabling persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a  
– 16 –  
free society.  
2.  
In realizing this right, States Parties shall ensure that:  
Persons with disabilities are not excluded from the general  
(a)  
education system on the basis of disability, and that children with disabilities  
are not excluded from free and compulsory primary education, or from  
secondary education, on the basis of disability;  
(
b
)
Persons with disabilities can access an inclusive, quality and free  
primary education and secondary education on an equal basis with others in  
the communities in which they live;  
(
c
)
Reasonable accommodation of the individual’s requirements is  
provided;  
(d)  
Persons with disabilities receive the support required, within the  
general education system, to facilitate their effective education;  
(e)  
Effective individualized support measures are provided in  
environments that maximize academic and social development, consistent with  
the goal of full inclusion.  
3.  
States Parties shall enable persons with disabilities to learn life and  
social development skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in  
education and as members of the community. To this end, States Parties shall  
take appropriate measures, including:  
(
a
)
Facilitating the learning of Braille, alternative script,  
augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication and  
orientation and mobility skills, and facilitating peer support and mentoring;  
(
b
)
Facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of  
the linguistic identity of the deaf community;  
(
c
)
Ensuring that the education of persons, and in particular children,  
who are blind, deaf or deafblind, is delivered in the most appropriate languages  
and modes and means of communication for the individual, and in  
environments which maximize academic and social development.  
4.  
In order to help ensure the realization of this right, States Parties shall  
take appropriate measures to employ teachers, including teachers with  
disabilities, who are qualified in sign language and/or Braille, and to train  
professionals and staff who work at all levels of education. Such training shall  
incorporate disability awareness and the use of appropriate augmentative and  
alternative modes, means and formats of communication, educational  
techniques and materials to support persons with disabilities.  
– 17 –  
5.  
States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are able to  
access general tertiary education, vocational training, adult education and  
lifelong learning without discrimination and on an equal basis with others. To  
this end, States Parties shall ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided  
to persons with disabilities.  
Article 25  
Health  
States Parties recognize that persons with disabilities have the right to  
the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health without  
discrimination on the basis of disability. States Parties shall take all  
appropriate measures to ensure access for persons with disabilities to health  
services that are gender-sensitive, including health-related rehabilitation. In  
particular, States Parties shall:  
(
a
)
Provide persons with disabilities with the same range, quality and  
standard of free or affordable health care and programmes as provided to other  
persons, including in the area of sexual and reproductive health and  
population-based public health programmes;  
(
b
)
Provide those health services needed by persons with disabilities  
specifically because of their disabilities, including early identification and  
intervention as appropriate, and services designed to minimize and prevent  
further disabilities, including among children and older persons;  
(
c
)
Provide these health services as close as possible to people’s own  
communities, including in rural areas;  
(
d
)
Require health professionals to provide care of the same quality  
to persons with disabilities as to others, including on the basis of free and  
informed consent by, inter alia, raising awareness of the human rights, dignity,  
autonomy and needs of persons with disabilities through training and the  
promulgation of ethical standards for public and private health care;  
(
e
)
Prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in the  
provision of health insurance, and life insurance where such insurance is  
permitted by national law, which shall be provided in a fair and reasonable  
manner;  
(
f
)
Prevent discriminatory denial of health care or health services or  
food and fluids on the basis of disability.  
– 18 –  
Article 26  
Habilitation and rehabilitation  
1.  
States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures, including  
through peer support, to enable persons with disabilities to attain and maintain  
maximum independence, full physical, mental, social and vocational ability,  
and full inclusion and participation in all aspects of life. To that end, States  
Parties shall organize, strengthen and extend comprehensive habilitation and  
rehabilitation services and programmes, particularly in the areas of health,  
employment, education and social services, in such a way that these services  
and programmes:  
(
a
)
Begin at the earliest possible stage, and are based on the  
multidisciplinary assessment of individual needs and strengths;  
(
b
)
Support participation and inclusion in the community and all  
aspects of society, are voluntary, and are available to persons with disabilities  
as close as possible to their own communities, including in rural areas.  
2.  
States Parties shall promote the development of initial and continuing  
training for professionals and staff working in habilitation and rehabilitation  
services.  
3.  
States Parties shall promote the availability, knowledge and use of  
assistive devices and technologies, designed for persons with disabilities, as  
they relate to habilitation and rehabilitation.  
Article 27  
Work and employment  
1.  
States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work, on  
an equal basis with others; this includes the right to the opportunity to gain a  
living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work  
environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities.  
States Parties shall safeguard and promote the realization of the right to work,  
including for those who acquire a disability during the course of employment,  
by taking appropriate steps, including through legislation, to, inter alia:  
(
a
)
Prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to all  
matters concerning all forms of employment, including conditions of  
recruitment, hiring and employment, continuance of employment, career  
advancement and safe and healthy working conditions;  
(
b
)
Protect the rights of persons with disabilities, on an equal basis  
with others, to just and favourable conditions of work, including equal  
opportunities and equal remuneration for work of equal value, safe and healthy  
– 19 –  
working conditions, including protection from harassment, and the redress of  
grievances;  
(
c
)
Ensure that persons with disabilities are able to exercise their  
labour and trade union rights on an equal basis with others;  
(
d
)
Enable persons with disabilities to have effective access to  
general technical and vocational guidance programmes, placement services  
and vocational and continuing training;  
(
e
)
Promote employment opportunities and career advancement for  
persons with disabilities in the labour market, as well as assistance in finding,  
obtaining, maintaining and returning to employment;  
(
f
)
Promote opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship, the  
development of cooperatives and starting one’s own business;  
(
(
g
h
)
)
Employ persons with disabilities in the public sector;  
Promote the employment of persons with disabilities in the  
private sector through appropriate policies and measures, which may include  
affirmative action programmes, incentives and other measures;  
(
i
)
Ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons  
with disabilities in the workplace;  
(
j
)
Promote the acquisition by persons with disabilities of work  
experience in the open labour market;  
(
k
)
Promote vocational and professional rehabilitation, job retention  
and return-to-work programmes for persons with disabilities.  
2.  
States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are not held in  
slavery or in servitude, and are protected, on an equal basis with others, from  
forced or compulsory labour.  
Article 28  
Adequate standard of living and social protection  
1.  
States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to an  
adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including  
adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of  
living conditions, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the  
realization of this right without discrimination on the basis of disability.  
– 20 –  
2.  
States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to social  
protection and to the enjoyment of that right without discrimination on the  
basis of disability, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote  
the realization of this right, including measures:  
(
a
)
To ensure equal access by persons with disabilities to clean water  
services, and to ensure access to appropriate and affordable services, devices  
and other assistance for disability-related needs;  
(
b
)
To ensure access by persons with disabilities, in particular women  
and girls with disabilities and older persons with disabilities, to social  
protection programmes and poverty reduction programmes;  
(
c
)
To ensure access by persons with disabilities and their families  
living in situations of poverty to assistance from the State with disability-  
related expenses, including adequate training, counselling, financial assistance  
and respite care;  
(
d
)
To ensure access by persons with disabilities to public housing  
To ensure equal access by persons with disabilities to retirement  
programmes;  
(e)  
benefits and programmes.  
Article 29  
Participation in political and public life  
States Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights  
and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others, and shall  
undertake:  
(
a
)
To ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully  
participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, directly or  
through freely chosen representatives, including the right and opportunity for  
persons with disabilities to vote and be elected, inter alia, by:  
(i)  
Ensuring that voting procedures, facilities and materials are  
appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use;  
(ii) Protecting the right of persons with disabilities to vote by secret  
ballot in elections and public referendums without intimidation, and to  
stand for elections, to effectively hold office and perform all public  
functions at all levels of government, facilitating the use of assistive and  
new technologies where appropriate;  
– 21 –  
(iii) Guaranteeing the free expression of the will of persons with  
disabilities as electors and to this end, where necessary, at their request,  
allowing assistance in voting by a person of their own choice;  
(
b
)
To promote actively an environment in which persons with  
disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the conduct of public affairs,  
without discrimination and on an equal basis with others, and encourage their  
participation in public affairs, including:  
(i)  
Participation in non-governmental organizations and associations  
concerned with the public and political life of the country, and in the  
activities and administration of political parties;  
(ii) Forming and joining organizations of persons with disabilities to  
represent persons with disabilities at international, national, regional and  
local levels.  
Article 30  
Participation in cultural life, recreation,  
leisure and sport  
1.  
States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to take part  
on an equal basis with others in cultural life, and shall take all appropriate  
measures to ensure that persons with disabilities:  
(
a
)
Enjoy access to cultural materials in accessible formats;  
(
b
)
Enjoy access to television programmes, films, theatre and other  
cultural activities, in accessible formats;  
(c)  
Enjoy access to places for cultural performances or services, such  
as theatres, museums, cinemas, libraries and tourism services, and, as far as  
possible, enjoy access to monuments and sites of national cultural importance.  
2.  
States Parties shall take appropriate measures to enable persons with  
disabilities to have the opportunity to develop and utilize their creative, artistic  
and intellectual potential, not only for their own benefit, but also for the  
enrichment of society.  
3.  
States Parties shall take all appropriate steps, in accordance with  
international law, to ensure that laws protecting intellectual property rights do  
not constitute an unreasonable or discriminatory barrier to access by persons  
with disabilities to cultural materials.  
– 22 –  
4.  
Persons with disabilities shall be entitled, on an equal basis with others,  
to recognition and support of their specific cultural and linguistic identity,  
including sign languages and deaf culture.  
5.  
With a view to enabling persons with disabilities to participate on an  
equal basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, States  
Parties shall take appropriate measures:  
(
a
)
To encourage and promote the participation, to the fullest extent  
possible, of persons with disabilities in mainstream sporting activities at all  
levels;  
(
b
)
To ensure that persons with disabilities have an opportunity to  
organize, develop and participate in disability-specific sporting and  
recreational activities and, to this end, encourage the provision, on an equal  
basis with others, of appropriate instruction, training and resources;  
(
c
)
To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to sporting,  
recreational and tourism venues;  
(
d
)
To ensure that children with disabilities have equal access with  
other children to participation in play, recreation and leisure and sporting  
activities, including those activities in the school system;  
(
e
)
To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to services  
from those involved in the organization of recreational, tourism, leisure and  
sporting activities.  
Article 31  
Statistics and data collection  
1.  
States Parties undertake to collect appropriate information, including  
statistical and research data, to enable them to formulate and implement  
policies to give effect to the present Convention. The process of collecting and  
maintaining this information shall:  
(
a
)
Comply with legally established safeguards, including legislation  
on data protection, to ensure confidentiality and respect for the privacy of  
persons with disabilities;  
(
b
)
Comply with internationally accepted norms to protect human  
rights and fundamental freedoms and ethical principles in the collection and  
use of statistics.  
2.  
The information collected in accordance with this article shall be  
disaggregated, as appropriate, and used to help assess the implementation of  
– 23 –  
States Parties’ obligations under the present Convention and to identify and  
address the barriers faced by persons with disabilities in exercising their rights.  
3.  
States Parties shall assume responsibility for the dissemination of these  
statistics and ensure their accessibility to persons with disabilities and others.  
Article 32  
International cooperation  
1.  
States Parties recognize the importance of international cooperation and  
its promotion, in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose  
and objectives of the present Convention, and will undertake appropriate and  
effective measures in this regard, between and among States and, as  
appropriate, in partnership with relevant international and regional  
organizations and civil society, in particular organizations of persons with  
disabilities. Such measures could include, inter alia:  
(
a
)
Ensuring that international cooperation, including international  
development programmes, is inclusive of and accessible to persons with  
disabilities;  
(
b
)
Facilitating and supporting capacity-building, including through  
the exchange and sharing of information, experiences, training programmes  
and best practices;  
(
c
)
Facilitating cooperation in research and access to scientific and  
technical knowledge;  
(
d
)
Providing, as appropriate, technical and economic assistance,  
including by facilitating access to and sharing of accessible and assistive  
technologies, and through the transfer of technologies.  
2.  
The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the obligations of  
each State Party to fulfil its obligations under the present Convention.  
Article 33  
National implementation and monitoring  
1.  
States Parties, in accordance with their system of organization, shall  
designate one or more focal points within government for matters relating to  
the implementation of the present Convention, and shall give due consideration  
to the establishment or designation of a coordination mechanism within  
government to facilitate related action in different sectors and at different  
levels.  
– 24 –  
2.  
States Parties shall, in accordance with their legal and administrative  
systems, maintain, strengthen, designate or establish within the State Party, a  
framework, including one or more independent mechanisms, as appropriate, to  
promote, protect and monitor implementation of the present Convention. When  
designating or establishing such a mechanism, States Parties shall take into  
account the principles relating to the status and functioning of national  
institutions for protection and promotion of human rights.  
3.  
Civil society, in particular persons with disabilities and their  
representative organizations, shall be involved and participate fully in the  
monitoring process.  
Article 34  
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities  
1.  
There shall be established a Committee on the Rights of Persons with  
Disabilities (hereafter referred to as “the Committee”), which shall carry out  
the functions hereinafter provided.  
2.  
The Committee shall consist, at the time of entry into force of the  
present Convention, of twelve experts. After an additional sixty ratifications or  
accessions to the Convention, the membership of the Committee shall increase  
by six members, attaining a maximum number of eighteen members.  
3.  
The members of the Committee shall serve in their personal capacity  
and shall be of high moral standing and recognized competence and experience  
in the field covered by the present Convention. When nominating their  
candidates, States Parties are invited to give due consideration to the provision  
set out in article 4, paragraph 3, of the present Convention.  
4.  
The members of the Committee shall be elected by States Parties,  
consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution, representation  
of the different forms of civilization and of the principal legal systems,  
balanced gender representation and participation of experts with disabilities.  
5.  
The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a  
list of persons nominated by the States Parties from among their nationals at  
meetings of the Conference of States Parties. At those meetings, for which two  
thirds of States Parties shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the  
Committee shall be those who obtain the largest number of votes and an  
absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States Parties present  
and voting.  
6.  
The initial election shall be held no later than six months after the date  
of entry into force of the present Convention. At least four months before the  
date of each election, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall  
– 25 –  
address a letter to the States Parties inviting them to submit the nominations  
within two months. The Secretary-General shall subsequently prepare a list in  
alphabetical order of all persons thus nominated, indicating the State Parties  
which have nominated them, and shall submit it to the States Parties to the  
present Convention.  
7.  
The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years.  
They shall be eligible for re-election once. However, the term of six of the  
members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years;  
immediately after the first election, the names of these six members shall be  
chosen by lot by the chairperson of the meeting referred to in paragraph 5 of  
this article.  
8.  
The election of the six additional members of the Committee shall be  
held on the occasion of regular elections, in accordance with the relevant  
provisions of this article.  
9.  
If a member of the Committee dies or resigns or declares that for any  
other cause she or he can no longer perform her or his duties, the State Party  
which nominated the member shall appoint another expert possessing the  
qualifications and meeting the requirements set out in the relevant provisions  
of this article, to serve for the remainder of the term.  
10. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure.  
11. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary  
staff and facilities for the effective performance of the functions of the  
Committee under the present Convention, and shall convene its initial meeting.  
12. With the approval of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the  
members of the Committee established under the present Convention shall  
receive emoluments from United Nations resources on such terms and  
conditions as the Assembly may decide, having regard to the importance of the  
Committee’s responsibilities.  
13. The members of the Committee shall be entitled to the facilities,  
privileges and immunities of experts on mission for the United Nations as laid  
down in the relevant sections of the Convention on the Privileges and  
Immunities of the United Nations.  
Article 35  
Reports by States Parties  
1.  
Each State Party shall submit to the Committee, through the Secretary-  
General of the United Nations, a comprehensive report on measures taken to  
give effect to its obligations under the present Convention and on the progress  
– 26 –  
made in that regard, within two years after the entry into force of the present  
Convention for the State Party concerned.  
2.  
Thereafter, States Parties shall submit subsequent reports at least every  
four years and further whenever the Committee so requests.  
3.  
The Committee shall decide any guidelines applicable to the content of  
the reports.  
4.  
A State Party which has submitted a comprehensive initial report to the  
Committee need not, in its subsequent reports, repeat information previously  
provided. When preparing reports to the Committee, States Parties are invited  
to consider doing so in an open and transparent process and to give due  
consideration to the provision set out in article 4, paragraph 3, of the present  
Convention.  
5.  
Reports may indicate factors and difficulties affecting the degree of  
fulfilment of obligations under the present Convention.  
Article 36  
Consideration of reports  
1.  
Each report shall be considered by the Committee, which shall make  
such suggestions and general recommendations on the report as it may  
consider appropriate and shall forward these to the State Party concerned. The  
State Party may respond with any information it chooses to the Committee.  
The Committee may request further information from States Parties relevant to  
the implementation of the present Convention.  
2.  
If a State Party is significantly overdue in the submission of a report, the  
Committee may notify the State Party concerned of the need to examine the  
implementation of the present Convention in that State Party, on the basis of  
reliable information available to the Committee, if the relevant report is not  
submitted within three months following the notification. The Committee shall  
invite the State Party concerned to participate in such examination. Should the  
State Party respond by submitting the relevant report, the provisions of  
paragraph 1 of this article will apply.  
3.  
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall make available the  
reports to all States Parties.  
4.  
States Parties shall make their reports widely available to the public in  
their own countries and facilitate access to the suggestions and general  
recommendations relating to these reports.  
– 27 –  
5.  
The Committee shall transmit, as it may consider appropriate, to the  
specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations, and other  
competent bodies, reports from States Parties in order to address a request or  
indication of a need for technical advice or assistance contained therein, along  
with the Committee’s observations and recommendations, if any, on these  
requests or indications.  
Article 37  
Cooperation between States Parties and the Committee  
1.  
Each State Party shall cooperate with the Committee and assist its  
members in the fulfilment of their mandate.  
2.  
In its relationship with States Parties, the Committee shall give due  
consideration to ways and means of enhancing national capacities for the  
implementation of the present Convention, including through international  
cooperation.  
Article 38  
Relationship of the Committee with other bodies  
In order to foster the effective implementation of the present Convention  
and to encourage international cooperation in the field covered by the present  
Convention:  
(
a
)
The specialized agencies and other United Nations organs shall be  
entitled to be represented at the consideration of the implementation of such  
provisions of the present Convention as fall within the scope of their mandate.  
The Committee may invite the specialized agencies and other competent  
bodies as it may consider appropriate to provide expert advice on the  
implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their  
respective mandates. The Committee may invite specialized agencies and other  
United Nations organs to submit reports on the implementation of the  
Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities;  
(
b
)
The Committee, as it discharges its mandate, shall consult, as  
appropriate, other relevant bodies instituted by international human rights  
treaties, with a view to ensuring the consistency of their respective reporting  
guidelines, suggestions and general recommendations, and avoiding  
duplication and overlap in the performance of their functions.  
Article 39  
Report of the Committee  
The Committee shall report every two years to the General Assembly  
and to the Economic and Social Council on its activities, and may make  
– 28 –  
suggestions and general recommendations based on the examination of reports  
and information received from the States Parties. Such suggestions and general  
recommendations shall be included in the report of the Committee together  
with comments, if any, from States Parties.  
Article 40  
Conference of States Parties  
1.  
The States Parties shall meet regularly in a Conference of States Parties  
in order to consider any matter with regard to the implementation of the  
present Convention.  
2.  
No later than six months after the entry into force of the present  
Convention, the Conference of States Parties shall be convened by the  
Secretary-General of the United Nations. The subsequent meetings shall be  
convened by the Secretary-General biennially or upon the decision of the  
Conference of States Parties.  
Article 41  
Depositary  
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be the depositary of  
the present Convention.  
Article 42  
Signature  
The present Convention shall be open for signature by all States and by  
regional integration organizations at United Nations Headquarters in New York  
as of 30 March 2007.  
Article 43  
Consent to be bound  
The present Convention shall be subject to ratification by signatory  
States and to formal confirmation by signatory regional integration  
organizations. It shall be open for accession by any State or regional  
integration organization which has not signed the Convention.  
Article 44  
Regional integration organizations  
1.  
“Regional integration organization” shall mean an organization  
constituted by sovereign States of a given region, to which its member States  
have transferred competence in respect of matters governed by the present  
Convention. Such organizations shall declare, in their instruments of formal  
– 29 –  
confirmation or accession, the extent of their competence with respect to  
matters governed by the present Convention. Subsequently, they shall inform  
the depositary of any substantial modification in the extent of their  
competence.  
2.  
References to “States Parties” in the present Convention shall apply to  
such organizations within the limits of their competence.  
3.  
For the purposes of article 45, paragraph 1, and article 47, paragraphs 2  
and 3, of the present Convention, any instrument deposited by a regional  
integration organization shall not be counted.  
4.  
Regional integration organizations, in matters within their competence,  
may exercise their right to vote in the Conference of States Parties, with a  
number of votes equal to the number of their member States that are Parties to  
the present Convention. Such an organization shall not exercise its right to  
vote if any of its member States exercises its right, and vice versa.  
Article 45  
Entry into force  
1.  
The present Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after  
the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession.  
2.  
For each State or regional integration organization ratifying, formally  
confirming or acceding to the present Convention after the deposit of the  
twentieth such instrument, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth  
day after the deposit of its own such instrument.  
Article 46  
Reservations  
1.  
Reservations incompatible with the object and purpose of the present  
Convention shall not be permitted.  
2.  
1.  
Reservations may be withdrawn at any time.  
Article 47  
Amendments  
Any State Party may propose an amendment to the present Convention  
and submit it to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-  
General shall communicate any proposed amendments to States Parties, with a  
request to be notified whether they favour a conference of States Parties for the  
purpose of considering and deciding upon the proposals. In the event that,  
within four months from the date of such communication, at least one third of  
– 30 –  
the States Parties favour such a conference, the Secretary-General shall  
convene the conference under the auspices of the United Nations. Any  
amendment adopted by a majority of two thirds of the States Parties present  
and voting shall be submitted by the Secretary-General to the General  
Assembly of the United Nations for approval and thereafter to all States Parties  
for acceptance.  
2.  
An amendment adopted and approved in accordance with paragraph 1 of  
this article shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the number of  
instruments of acceptance deposited reaches two thirds of the number of States  
Parties at the date of adoption of the amendment. Thereafter, the amendment  
shall enter into force for any State Party on the thirtieth day following the  
deposit of its own instrument of acceptance. An amendment shall be binding  
only on those States Parties which have accepted it.  
3.  
If so decided by the Conference of States Parties by consensus, an  
amendment adopted and approved in accordance with paragraph 1 of this  
article which relates exclusively to articles 34, 38, 39 and 40 shall enter into  
force for all States Parties on the thirtieth day after the number of instruments  
of acceptance deposited reaches two thirds of the number of States Parties at  
the date of adoption of the amendment.  
Article 48  
Denunciation  
A State Party may denounce the present Convention by written  
notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The denunciation  
shall become effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by  
the Secretary-General.  
Article 49  
Accessible format  
The text of the present Convention shall be made available in accessible  
formats.  
Article 50  
Authentic texts  
The Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts of the  
present Convention shall be equally authentic.  
IN WITNESS THEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly  
authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present  
Convention.  
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