AG/DEC. 50 (XXXVI-O/06)
DECLARATION ON THE DECADE OF THE AMERICAS
FOR THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (2006-2016)
(Adopted at the fourth plenary session, held on June 6, 2006)
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
RECALLING its resolutions AG/RES. 1249 (XXIII-O/93) and AG/RES. 1356 (XXV-O/95), “Situation of Persons with Disabilities in the American Hemisphere”; and AG/RES. 1369 (XXVI-O/96), “Panama Commitment to Persons with Disabilities in the American Hemisphere”;
BEARING IN MIND that the 1999 Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities provides that “[a] distinction or preference adopted by a state party to promote the social integration or personal development of persons with disabilities does not constitute discrimination”;
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that, in the Plan of Action of the Fourth Summit of the Americas (Mar del Plata, Argentina, November 5, 2005), the Heads of State and Government instructed the Organization of American States (OAS) to “consider at the next OAS period of regular sessions of the General Assembly to be held in the Dominican Republic, a Declaration on the Decade of the Americas for Persons with Disabilities (2006-2016), together with a program of action”;
DEEPLY CONCERNED that approximately 90 million people live with disabilities in the Hemisphere, many of whom are subsisting below the poverty line in our countries, excluded from their communities by physical, political, cultural, social, economic, attitudinal, and other barriers;
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that it is especially important for the states to undertake joint efforts to promote the effective exercise of the rights of persons with disabilities and their integration into the countries’ economic, social, cultural, civil, and political activities, and to promote their active participation in social development, so as to comply with international commitments, including the United Nations Millennium Development Goals; and
CONSIDERING that, in order to promote short-, medium-, and long-term action to integrate persons with disabilities, international and regional institutions in various parts of the world have found it advantageous to declare disability decades, the aim of which is to call attention to the actual situation of persons with disabilities, strengthen governments’ political will, and attract human, technical, and economic international cooperation resources through concerted hemispheric and/or regional action to bring about substantive change toward improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities,
DECLARES:
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Its deep concern over the persisting state of disadvantage, inequity, and discrimination in which most persons with disabilities are living.
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The need to adopt urgent hemisphere-wide and/or regional measures and strategies to promote the recognition and exercise of all basic human rights, including civil and political as well as economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the fundamental freedoms, of persons with disabilities.
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The decade from 2006 to 2016 to be the Decade of the Americas for the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, with the theme: “Equality, Dignity, and Participation,” the objectives of which are the recognition and full exercise of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and their right to participate fully in economic, social, cultural, and political life and in the development of their societies, without discrimination and on an equal basis with others.
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The need, during the aforementioned Decade, to undertake programs, plans, and measures to bring about the inclusion of and full participation by persons with disabilities in all aspects of society; to carry out social, political, economic, cultural, and development programs, so as to enable such persons to attain opportunities on an equal basis with others; to promote effective measures to prevent new disabilities; and to provide persons with disabilities with access to rehabilitation services and programs.
AG/DEC. 51 (XXXVI-O/06)
DECLARATION ON HAITI
(Adopted at the fourth plenary session, held on June 6, 2006)
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
RECOGNIZING the success of the electoral process in Haiti with the elections of February 7 and April 21, 2006, and the importance of completing the electoral process at the municipal and local levels;
NOTING with satisfaction that by fully participating in these elections the people of Haiti have exercised their democratic rights in conformity with relevant national legislation and the Inter-American Democratic Charter; and
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the Presidential Statement issued by the United Nations Security Council on May 15, 2006, and the Joint Communiqué of the High-Level International Meeting on Haiti, held in Brasilia on May 23, 2006, and their strong support for, and encouragement of, continued international engagement in Haiti,
EXTENDS its most sincere congratulations to the people of Haiti for their clear resolve and commitment to democracy demonstrated during the recent elections and looks forward to the timely completion of legislative, municipal, and local elections.
CONGRATULATES Mr. René Garcia Préval on his democratic election and assumption of office and extends the support of the member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) for his efforts as President of the Republic of Haiti towards the establishment of a government that fulfills the electors’ expectations.
WELCOMES the opportunity seized by the Haitian people to address current challenges and to work towards a better future for all Haitians and urges all sectors of the Haitian society to work to that end.
WELCOMES ALSO the commitments made by the President of the Republic of Haiti to promote national reconciliation and inclusiveness, good governance, the rule of law, police and justice reform, universal education, restoration of the environment, sustainable development, and prosperity for all Haitians.
CALLS UPON the international community, particularly the United Nations, member states of the OAS, and Haiti’s international partners to express their solidarity by working in cooperation with the new government in support of its efforts to achieve integral development in Haiti and to meet the immediate and longer-term reconstruction needs of the country.
REITERATES the importance of sustained attention to Haiti by the United Nations Security Council and the role played by the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in reinforcing the efforts made to ensure the security conditions necessary for the success of development initiatives in Haiti.
REAFFIRMS the continued engagement by the OAS and Haiti’s international partners to strengthen the rule of law, respect for human rights, political stability, strengthening of democracy, and social and economic development in Haiti.
WELCOMES the support and solidarity of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for Haiti and its return to the activities of that organization.
REMAINS FIRMLY CONVINCED that significant and lasting change in Haiti can be realized through clear Haitian leadership and ownership of the country’s development agenda, the strong and unequivocal support of member states and other partner governments and international organizations, as well as coordination among them.
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