Civitas Maxima endorses the Initiative for Disability Inclusion in the Convention on Crimes against Humanity
In January, Civitas Maxima endorsed the Initiative for Disability Inclusion in the Convention on Crimes against Humanity. This important initiative seeks to ensure that the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity (“the Convention”), that is in the process of being negotiated and drafted at the United Nations, is appropriately inclusive of the rights of persons with disabilities.
Persons with disabilities make up around 15% of the global population—or over 1 billion people—and this number increases in situations of armed conflict. They are both more vulnerable to risks and more likely to be discriminated against and excluded from humanitarian responses. Historically they have been disproportionately subject to serious violations of international law without appropriate redress and recognition.
The negotiation of the Convention is an opportunity to rectify this accountability gap. Moreover, the incorporation of ‘disability’ as a specific identifiable group within the definition of the crime of persecution would go some way towards recognizing that persons with disabilities have been and continue to be victimized based on their disability. On the other hand, incorporation of specific provisions related to ensuring equal and effective participation, equal recognition before and protection under the law, and access to justice on an equal basis with others for persons with disabilities will facilitate their meaningful and effective inclusion within the justice mechanism and secure the full scope of their rights.
Endorsement of the Initiative is a natural step for Civitas Maxima, given our steadfast commitment to victims and survivors of international crimes and our firm adherence to justice, the rule of law, and the right to a fair trial. Full inclusion within the Convention of disability-specific provisions—substantive as well as procedural—will serve to strengthen the Convention by shrinking the impunity gap for crimes committed against persons with disabilities and uphold their rights as full participants in the justice process.
You can read the Policy Brief here.
Illustration: Christian Blind Mission (CBM)
