World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, WNUSP

Suggestions for revision of the Mexican draft Text of Elements for a United Nations Comprehensive and Integral International Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities

Preamble

The States Parties to this Convention:

Considering that the Charter of the United Nations reaffirms the value of the human person and is based on the principles of dignity and equality inherent to human beings;
Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that every person can invoke all the rights and freedoms established in this Declaration;
Recalling that all human beings are equal in the eyes of the law and that, in addition, they all have the same right to protection against any and every form of discrimination ~~based on their condition, race, age, gender, or disability~~;
Considering that the States Parties to International Covenants on Human Rights have the obligation to guarantee all persons - without any distinction whatsoever and, therefore, regardless of their ~~condition~~, disability, ~~ailment, or illness~~ - equality in the enjoyment of all civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights;
Recognizing the efforts of the United Nations to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities mirrored in the resolutions, declarations, rules, and recommendations it has issued to support the exercise of their rights and promote equality of opportunity for them;
Taking into consideration the regional and international instruments aimed at furthering the elimination of all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities and promoting their equality of rights and opportunities enshrined in: the Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities; the United Nations Standard Rules on Equalization of Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities; ~~the Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Mental Healthcare;~~ the Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Mental Disabilities; and, the Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
Mindful of the advances made by adopting the World Program of Action Concerning Disabled Persons and proclaiming 1983-1982 as the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons;
Noting the existing international norms contained in Convention 159 of the International Labor Organization on the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities;
Heeding the recommendations issued by the Committees for Economic, Social, Cultural, Civil, and Political Rights concerning the elimination of discrimination against persons with disabilities;
Noting with concern nonetheless that in spite of these efforts, people with disabilities continue to be the object of grave discrimination;
Recalling that discrimination against any person for reasons of impairment, disability, or illness, whether temporary or permanent, violates the principles of equality of rights and respect for human dignity and that it impedes the enjoyment by persons with disabilities of equality of conditions in social, economic, political, and cultural life;
Recognizing that in order to grant equality of opportunity to persons with disabilities, society must act so as to guarantee them access to physical, economic, social, and cultural resources;
Recognizing also that to achieve equality of opportunity for persons with disabilities, they must be guaranteed exercise of all the political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights established in the International Covenants and other instruments of Human Rights;
Taking into account that in order to guarantee persons with disabilities exercise or enjoyment of all the rights enshrined in the International Covenants and other instruments of Human Rights, every obstacle must be removed that hinders their effective participation, in conditions of equality, in all spheres of social, economic, cultural, and political life, as well as attaining their full integration in education and gainful employment;
Concerned over the fact that poverty, marginalization, social ostracism, wars, and scant development contribute to the existence of high incidences of disability and, as such, that a vast number of disabled persons live in developing countries;
Bearing in mind that in many cases, disability can be prevented by raising the development levels and quality of life of the world's population;
Recognizing that the strengthening of international peace and security and the prevention of conflicts contribute to reducing the high incidences of disability throughout the world;
Bearing witness that discrimination against people with disabilities has resulted in murder and other atrocities committed against them;
Being aware of the worldwide human rights movement of people with disabilities, and the efforts those organizations have made to bring about fundamental changes for the realization of their human rights;

Have agreed to the following:

Article 1

The object of this Convention is to:

Promote, protect, and ensure the exercise and full enjoyment of all the rights of persons with disabilities;
Eliminate all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities in political, civil, economic, social, and cultural spheres;
Achieve their full integration in economic and social life in conditions of equality of treatment and opportunity;
Promote international cooperation so as to achieve the objectives of this Convention.

Article 2

For the purposes of this Convention, the following definitions shall apply:

Persons with disabilities: Persons ~~showing~~ who have or who experience any physical, intellectual, psychosocial, or sensorial impairment, or difference whether permanent or temporary, which limits their capacity to exercise one or more activities essential in everyday life and which may be brought on or made worse by the economic and social environment; also, persons perceived and treated by others as having such an impairment or limitation, or persons with a history of such an impairment or limitation.
Discrimination against persons with disabilities: Any distinction, exclusion, or restriction based on an actual or perceived disability which results in hindering or destroying the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise - in conditions of equality - of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities in political, economic, social, and cultural spheres, or in any other sphere of public life.
Impairment: Any loss or ~~abnormality~~ difference of an organic structure or psychological, cognitive, physiological, or anatomical function.
Prevention: Adoption of measures aimed at stopping physical, intellectual, psycho-social or sensorial impairments from occurring (primary prevention) or if they have already occurred, to stop them from having negative physical, psychological, and social consequences. Prevention shall not include measures aimed at preventing birth of fetuses with disabilities, or at limiting reproduction or sexual activity of persons with disabilities, or the use of medical interventions for disabilities without a rigorously proven physiological cause.
Rehabilitation: Process whose purpose is to give persons with disabilities the wherewithal to achieve and maintain an optimum functional state from a physical, sensorial, intellectual, psychic or social perspective.

Article 3

To achieve the objectives of this Convention, States Parties pledge to:

Adopt the necessary measures, legislative or of any other kind, to eliminate every type of discrimination against persons with disabilities and to promote and protect their dignity and human rights consistent with the provisions of this Convention. Among others, these measures include the following:
1. Include legal equality for persons with disabilities in their national legislation.
2. Amend or abolish laws, regulations, uses, or practices which constitute forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities, and, establish legal norms prohibiting and sanctioning the former. This includes laws, regulations, uses, or practices under the jurisdiction of constitutive states in a federal system, of local governments, and of private or non-governmental entities. Any law, which subjects people to deprivation of any right based on an actual or perceived disability constitutes a form of discrimination.
3. Create adequate legislation to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
4. Establish measures that help to redress harm done to persons with disabilities who have been discriminated against, including damage done in the name of treatment.
5. Include disability as a prohibited ground of discrimination in any legislation which generally prohibits discrimination.
Adopt the necessary specific measures for the full integration of persons with disabilities in all activities of social and economic life.
Have national censuses include detailed information - by age, gender, and type of disability - about the living conditions of persons with disabilities that contains, among other things, detailed data regarding access to public services and other programs concerning their treatment and rehabilitation (including the degree of coercion in these services), education, ~~and~~ employment, and housing.
Guarantee the participation of disabled persons' organizations in the preparation and evaluation of measures and policies to achieve fulfillment of this Convention.

Article 4

Adoption by States Parties of legislative measures or of positive public or compensatory policies which establish different treatment aimed at promoting true equality of opportunity for persons with disabilities should not be taken as discrimination. These special measures will cease, once they have achieved the objectives of equality of opportunity and treatment for which they were designed. A policy will not be understood as a positive or compensatory measure if it violates any of the other provisions of this Convention; and no person with a disability may be coerced to accept differential treatment if they prefer otherwise.

Article 5

States Parties pledge to adopt necessary specific measures in all the areas stated in this Convention so as to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, especially those who for reasons of gender, age, race, ethnic background, or other conditions, find themselves in particularly vulnerable circumstances.

Article 6

The States Parties to this Convention pledge to establish regulations whereby:

Urban outfitting and public service facilities must include provisions for facilitating access, use, and the circulation of persons with disabilities.
Vehicles and public transport services allow the access and mobility of persons with disabilities.
Signs and basic forms of communication are installed to enable freedom of movement and access to all services.
The construction and adaptation of dwellings comply with regulations regarding accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Specific percentages of dwellings are earmarked for persons with disabilities and their families under the framework of related governmental programs.
The participation of disabled peoples' organizations is guaranteed in the drawing up of regulations for said measures.

Article 7

States Parties shall promote changing stereotypes, socio-cultural tendencies, customary practices, or those of any other nature which constitute a hindrance for persons with disabilities in the exercise of their rights. To this end, States Parties must:

Adopt measures to raise society's awareness regarding the rights and needs of persons with disabilities, including the creation of awareness programs at all levels of formal education.
Encourage the mass media to project a positive and non-stereotype image of persons with disabilities and their families.
Conduct campaigns in the mass media to inform interested parties and the general public about existing programs aimed at improving opportunities in education for persons with disabilities.
Guarantee the participation of disabled people's organizations in the execution of these measures.

Article 8

States Parties pledge to ensure that persons with disabilities and their families have access to complete information on their rights, their medical or psychological diagnoses, and available programs and services. For this purpose, they shall adopt the following measures:

Design strategies so that information and documentation services are accessible to different groups of disabled persons using technology appropriate for each type of disability.
Encourage the mass media, especially television, to make their services available to persons with disabilities.
Ensure the permanent and simultaneous use of interpreters for persons with hearing or speaking disabilities in general-interest government programs.
Promote access for persons with disabilities to the use and handling of new technologies.

Article 9

States Parties shall take steps to prevent and reduce the incidence of disability and pledge to:

Adopt all programs and actions necessary to eliminate the causes which bring on or worsen certain disabilities. These include poverty, ~~physical~~ violence inside and outside the home, sexual abuse, the lack of healthcare services during old age, accidents, drug and alcohol abuse, inadequate or harmful medical practices, and the existence of anti-personnel mines.
Provide information and attention to opportunely detect and reduce early signs or symptoms of disability.
Nothing in this article should be construed to deny the value or quality of life of any person with a disability, to support measures to reduce reproduction of people with disabilities or prevent the birth of fetuses with disabilities, or to support unwanted interventions based on a perception of disability.

Article 10

States Parties recognize that all persons with disabilities have the right to receive the medical and rehabilitation services they require. To this end, States Parties shall take appropriate steps to:

Provide all persons with disabilities with the healthcare and rehabilitation services in keeping with each type of disability. Disabilities based only on a social perception of difference should not be understood as requiring medical intervention.
Ensure that all medical, ~~and~~ nursing and other professional staff are properly qualified and have access to the appropriate technologies, ~~and~~ treatment and assistance methods to provide attention to persons with disabilities.
Ensure that ~~persons with disabilities and their relatives participate in the taking of decisions regarding~~ health care providers engage in an interactive process with persons with disabilities to determine the feasibility and type of medical or therapeutic treatment best suited to their particular case, and that persons with disabilities have the final choice about treatment and are provided with the information necessary to make that choice.
Guarantee that persons with disabilities, especially breastfeeding mothers and children, receive quality medical attention within state healthcare systems.
Adopt all measures necessary to guarantee that medical, rehabilitative and assistive attention provided to persons with disabilities includes the following:
1. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
2. Modern medical assistance and treatment which include the use of new technologies.
3. Counseling as well as social, psychological, and other assistance for persons with disabilities, and their families.
4. Training in self-care activities, including aspects of mobility, communication, and skills for daily life.
5. Provision of assistance with technology, mobility, and aid devices.
6. Monitoring of cases.
7. Ongoing health care services unrelated to disability needs.
Ensure that medical treatment in general is provided with recognition of the inherent value of the life, mental and physical integrity, and capacity for subjective experience, of each human being, without discrimination based on actual or perceived disability.
Ensure that children are not subjected to harmful treatments during their period of growth.

Article 11

States Parties must ensure that persons with disabilities are not excluded from public healthcare services, nor - without their full and free informed consent - may they be subjected to any kind of medical or scientific experiment or research, and, must also prevent persons with disabilities from being subjected to any form of exploitation, abusive, coercive, or degrading treatment in hospitals and psychiatric institutions, including unwanted interventions or treatments, and involuntary commitment to treatment or institutional custody.

Article 12

States Parties pledge to adopt the measures necessary ~~to provide the best possible attention in mental healthcare~~, to adopt policies and programs aimed at eliminating institutionalization and unwanted interventions as mental health care, and development of services which respect the right to self-determination, and to guarantee that persons ~~with~~ experiencing ~~intellectual~~ psycho-social or developmental disabilities, or perceived as having such disabilities, are ~~treated in accordance with their rights and dignity as human beings~~ accorded full and equal legal status and civil rights, and not subjected to any discrimination on the basis of their disability. To this end, States Parties must ensure that:

~~The diagnosis of an intellectual impairment is made in compliance with internationally established scientific norms.~~ No "mental health laws" differentiate between people or subject any person to classification or discrimination.
No ~~patient~~ person is subjected to physical or chemical restrictions nor involuntary confinement based on actual or perceived disability ~~without the intercession and approval of the competent medical and legal authorities.~~
While such institutions still exist, public and private psychiatric institutions are painstakingly monitored by the ~~health~~ human rights authorities in order to ensure that the living conditions of and treatment administered to said institutions' patients are in keeping with respect for their dignity and human rights.
~~Personnel employed in these institutions have the proper professional qualifications, as well as ongoing training.~~ Professional and non-professional practices done in the name of treatment for mental illness should come under the oversight of the human rights authority in collaboration with organizations of people with disabilities.
Patients and their chosen representatives ~~or relatives~~ have access to all information contained in the medical records kept by the psychiatric institution, and, have full recourse to mechanisms of ~~question or formal complaint~~ legal redress in cases of abuse or negligence, including the availability of criminal prosecution for intentional or reckless infliction of harm.
No person is subjected to unwanted interventions, counseling, services or treatment for any disability, or based on the perception of a disability.
Any services offered are provided on a purely voluntary and unconditional basis.
The social context of institutionalization and coercive treatment is examined, and appropriate resources are developed to meet the needs of communities, families and individuals experiencing crisis, which do not designate any person or persons as inferior or subject them to unequal treatment.
History of institutionalization is not used to deprive any person of legal status or other civil or human rights.

Article 12-a

States parties should apply the norms contained in other human rights treaties in a non-discriminatory way with regard to disability, including but not limited to:

ICCPR and ICESCR
Convention Against Torture and similar regional treaties
1926 Convention Against Slavery, and other anti-slavery treaties.

In particular, the fact that a practice has been designated as treatment or endorsed by any profession should not prevent its being recognized as a human rights violation.

Article 13

States Parties shall adopt all measures necessary to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities and ensure - in conditions of equality of opportunity - their inclusion, continuance, and participation in formal education activities at all levels: For this purpose, States Party must:

Include education for persons with disabilities in national teaching plans, in the preparation of study programs, and in scholastic organization so as to guarantee their access to the formal education system.
Guarantee public education free of charge at all levels and types for persons with disabilities.
Promote the creation, production, and distribution of educational materials and technical support tailored to the education needs of persons with disabilities.
Promote regulations to ensure that the design of school buildings includes the infrastructure necessary to meet the specific needs of persons with disabilities.
Create, design, and perfect special teaching and evaluation systems tailored to the specific needs of persons with disabilities, to be included in formal education programs.
Establish permanent training and updating for teachers and other professionals involved in the education of persons with disabilities.
Conduct consultations with disabled peoples' organizations to effect adaptations in education plans and programs.

Article 14

States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to gainful employment appropriate to their condition and pledge to adopt all measures necessary for their integration into the labor market, in conditions of equality. To this end, States Parties shall mainly adopt the following measures:

Promote the placement and continuance of persons with disabilities in the labor market and adopt the use of positive measures that further their access to employment.
Promote training, instruction, updating, and employment programs for persons with disabilities and those who assist them.
Regulate the design and adaptation of workplaces, work instruments, and working hours to make them accessible for persons with disabilities.
Grant incentives to companies to hire persons with disabilities and encourage employers to facilitate their freedom of movement to attend medical appointments, therapy, or any other activity necessary for their rehabilitation.
Prohibit and sanction discriminatory regulations and practices which restrict or deny access, continuance, and the promotion of persons with disabilities in the open labor market.
Prohibit and sanction discriminatory regulations and practices with regard to wages, benefits, and working conditions of persons with disabilities for work of equal value.
Implement awareness campaigns to overcome negative attitudes and prejudices that affect men and women with disabilities in the workplace.

Article 15

States Parties pledge to promote efforts so that individual hiring, collective labor agreements, and labor regulations protect persons with disabilities as regards hiring, promotion, and working conditions.

Article 16

States Parties pledge to eliminate all laws or practices which restrict the right of persons with disabilities to enjoy the benefits of social security and shall ensure recognition of this right by adopting measures to:

Ensure that social security systems and other social welfare programs for the public in general do not exclude persons with disabilities.
Develop social security programs which cater to the specific needs of persons with disabilities.
Ensure that any lack of formal or permanent employment on the part of persons with disabilities does not restrict their access to social security services.
Nothing in this article should be construed to allow discriminatory, coercive or restrictive treatment of persons with disabilities in respect to social security programs. Persons with disabilities should have access to both the general programs and the programs catering to their needs, and have the choice whether to participate in them.

Article 17

States Parties recognize that persons with disabilities are fully entitled to form their own families, ~~except in cases of serious intellectual impairment, as established under national legislations~~. For this purpose, States Parties must take steps to:

Guarantee that laws do not discriminate against persons with disabilities in matters of matrimony, procreation, sexual activity and relationships, and patrimonial inheritance.
Guarantee that persons with disabilities have the necessary information regarding sex education and family planning.
Promote special protection and assistance for women with disabilities, particularly during pregnancy, on giving birth, and during breastfeeding.
Undertake awareness campaigns so as to change negative attitudes and social prejudices about the sexuality, marriage, paternity, and maternity of persons with disabilities.
Ensure that people living in institutions or other congregate housing have access to privacy and are not prevented from marriage or sexual activity and relationships.

Article 18

States Parties recognize that persons with disabilities are vulnerable to different forms of sexual abuse, as well as to physical and psychological violence within the family, in schools, the workplace, and in healthcare institutions. Therefore, States Parties pledge to:

In national laws, categorize violence inside and outside the home against and sexual abuse of persons with disabilities as serious crimes, and adopt the necessary measures to sanction them.
Promote efforts so that rehabilitation services also offer orientation and protection against these kinds of abuse.
Inform persons with disabilities and their families regarding the established measures against violence and the different forms of sexual abuse inside and outside the home.

Article 19

States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to participate fully in social, cultural, sports, and recreational activities. For this purpose, States Parties shall adopt the following measures:

Ensure that laws and regulations pertaining to social, cultural, artistic, sports, and recreational centers include the obligation to adapt such centers so as to ease access to and use of their facilities and services for persons with disabilities.
Encourage sports organizations to foster the inclusion of persons with disabilities in their routine activities and in national and international competitions.
Further the establishment of a system of scholarships or special incentives to promote access to artistic and sports activities for persons with disabilities.
Constantly consult with disabled peoples' organizations regarding the creation and development of social, cultural, artistic, sports, and recreational programs.
Encourage persons with disabilities to exercise the same right as others to make use of public spaces designed for social, cultural, sports, and recreational purposes.

Article 20

The States Parties to this Convention pledge to:

Guarantee exercise of the right to universal and equal suffrage and secret vote of all persons with disabilities, and for said purpose, incorporate the use of specialized instruments and technologies for each type of disability in election mechanisms, and to ensure that a variety of means of communication, including those designed to reach people with sensory and cognitive disabilities, is used.
Establish mechanisms and positive steps which promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in public administration posts and as candidates to positions of popular election.
Guarantee the right of persons with disabilities to freedom of association and to form their own organizations.

Article 21

States Parties pledge that all persons with disabilities who are subjects of criminal proceedings or a court sentence must enjoy all their rights, particularly the right to the assistance, free of charge, of interpreters, translators, or legal counsel, in order to conduct their defense and receive specialized healthcare and rehabilitation services. People on trial or convicted of a crime have the same rights as all others to refuse unwanted interventions or treatment, and to not be subjected to medically-supervised interventions that control their behavior or restrict their movement.

Article 22

Based on their internal legal systems, States Parties pledge to create or strengthen national institutions responsible for safeguarding the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, who must also be represented and included among those forming part of said institutions, and have an influential role therein.
The principal functions of these institutions must include monitoring the implementation of this Convention, particularly but not limited to the objectives established in Article 3, as well as drawing up the appropriate recommendations for their fulfillment.
These national institutions shall function as mechanisms of coordination between States Parties and disabled peoples' organizations.
The institutions established shall conduct a five-yearly evaluation of the national implementation of the Convention, and, of the steps that must be taken to achieve its objectives.

Article 23

States Parties agree to consult and cooperate with each other as regards putting into practice the regulations of this Convention. To this end, they pledge to:

Promote international cooperation for the prevention of disabilities.
Promote international programs aimed at rehabilitation, the attainment of equality of opportunity and treatment for persons with disabilities, and achievement of all the objectives established in this Convention.
Effectively exchange the latest advances in scientific research and the development of technology pertaining to the prevention and treatment of disabilities, and, the rehabilitation and integration into society of persons with disabilities.
Promote courses, seminars, and workshops for training and research.
Cooperate in ensuring that all research is done on subjects who have given voluntary informed consent.

Article 24

In order to monitor the implementation of this Convention, a Committee of Experts on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (hereinafter referred to as "the Committee") shall be set up, the functions of which shall be mentioned later in this document. The Committee will be comprised of 12 experts (men and women) of high moral integrity and with recognized competence in matters of the protection and furtherance of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and who shall exercise their functions in a personal capacity. People with disabilities should be preferred when choosing such experts, and attempt should be made to include people from all major disability groups.
Committee members shall be elected by secret vote from a list of persons appointed by States Parties. Each State Party may appoint a person from among its own nationals.
At the latest, initial elections will be held six months following the entry into force of this Convention. At least four months prior to the date of each election, the Secretary General of the United Nations will extend a written invitation to States Parties to submit their candidatures within a period of three months. The Secretary General will then draw up a list, in alphabetical order, of the persons appointed, indicating the States Parties they were put forward by, and informing States Parties to said effect.
Committee members shall be elected at a meeting of the States Parties which will be convened by the Secretary General and held at United Nations headquarters. At this meeting, quorum for which will be constituted by the attendance of two thirds of the States Parties, candidates to the Committee shall be considered elected based on the highest number of votes and on the absolute majority of votes from States Parties' representatives, present and voting.
Committee members shall be elected for a term of four years. They may be reelected, if their candidatures are put forward once again.
In order to cover unexpected vacancies, the State Party whose expert has terminated functions as a Committee member may appoint another expert from among its own nationals, subject to approval of the Committee.

Article 25

States Parties pledge to submit to the Secretary General of the United Nations - to be examined by the Committee - a report on the legislative, judicial, administrative, or any other measures they have adopted to give effect to the provisions of this Convention.
Reports submitted by States Parties must specify advances as well as difficulties affecting fulfillment of the obligations of this Convention. They must likewise contain sufficient information regarding difficulties found in their implementation.
The functions of the Committee will be to evaluate the national reports submitted periodically by the Party States on the advances and difficulties in the implementation of the Convention, and, to make specific recommendations to Party States, to specialized organizations, and to other competent agencies so as to further advance implementation of this Convention.
With a view to facilitating the implementation of the Convention, the Committee shall identify areas of cooperation among States Parties and between these and specialized organizations and other competent agencies. To this end, the Committee, having evaluated the national reports, shall deliver its recommendations to the States Parties, as well as to the representatives of specialized organizations and other competent agencies.
The Committee may deliver - to the specialized organizations and other competent bodies - reports from States Parties which contain requests for financial and technical assistance, together with the Committee's observations and suggestions.
In order to identify advances and difficulties in the implementation of this Convention and to make specific recommendations to States Parties and other competent agencies, the Committee shall invite specialized organizations, other competent agencies, and non-governmental organizations to participate in evaluating the implementation of this Convention and submit reports thereof.
The Committee may recommend technical assistance from United Nations agencies at any stage of the report evaluation process or during the implementation of its final recommendations.
States Parties shall submit their reports for evaluation by the Committee:
1. Within a term of one year following the entry into force of the Convention for the State Party in question.
2. Thereafter, every four years, or, whenever requested by the Committee.
In their periodic reports, States Parties pledge to include a chapter on the situation of boys, girls, women, and elderly persons with disabilities and on steps taken to deal with their particular situation, including special measures to guarantee them equality of access to education and employment, healthcare and social security services, as well as their participation in all spheres of economic, social, and cultural life.
Pursuant to this Convention, the Committee shall present an annual report on its activities to the States Parties and to the United Nations General Assembly.

Article 26

The Committee shall elect its Board for a term of two years. Members of the Board may be reelected for a similar period.
The Committee shall establish its own rules which, among other things, shall stipulate that:
1. Eight members shall constitute quorum.
2. Decisions of the Committee shall be taken by a majority of votes from members present.
The Committee shall normally meet every year for a period not to exceed two weeks to evaluate reports submitted in compliance with Article 26 of this Convention.
The Secretary General of the United Nations shall provide the staff and services necessary for the effective performance of the functions of the Committee, pursuant to this Convention.
Mindful of the importance of the functions of the Committee and subject to prior approval of the General Assembly, the members of the Committee shall receive emoluments from United Nations funds, to be paid in the manner and conditions determined by the General Assembly.

Article 27

All States Parties to this Convention may propose an amendment and deposit it with the Secretary General of the United Nations.
1. The Secretary General shall inform States Parties regarding the proposed amendment, asking them to notify him should they wish to convene a conference of States Parties to examine the proposal and put it to a vote.
2. If within the four months following receipt of this notification at least one third of the Party States come out in favor of convening, then the Secretary General shall convene an amendment conference, under the auspices of the United Nations.
3. Any amendment adopted by a majority of the States Parties present and voting at the conference shall be submitted by the Secretary General to the United Nations General Assembly for its approval.
4. Any amendment adopted pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article shall come into force once it has been approved by the United Nations General Assembly and accepted by a two-thirds majority of the States Parties.
5. When amendments come into force, they shall be obligatory for the States Parties that have accepted them, inasmuch as the other States Parties shall be bound by the regulations of this Convention and by the previous amendments they have accepted.
States not Party to this Convention, as well as specialized organizations, non-governmental organizations, and other competent agencies shall be entitled to attend the Amendment Conference as observers, pursuant to the agreed Rules of Procedure.

Article 28

Each State Party pledges to widely disseminate this Convention and to publicize it.

Article 29

The Secretary General of the United Nations is designated as the repository of this Convention.
This Convention shall be open for signing to all United Nations Member States.
This Convention shall be open for ratification or accession to all United Nations Member States.
Instruments of signing, accession, or ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the United Nations.

Article 30

This Convention shall come into force on the thirtieth day following the date on which the tenth instrument of ratification or accession has been deposited with the Secretary General of the United Nations.

Article 31

The original of this Convention, of which the texts in Chinese, Spanish, French, English, and Russian are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the United Nations.
The Secretary General of the United Nations shall send certified copies of this Convention to all States Parties.