Equity Public Information Event
Disability rights symposium draws crowd of more than 170
Everyone has a role to play in making the United Nations' disability rights treaty a reality here in Canada, a panel of experts told 170 people attending an access awareness symposium at the Law Society on March 3.
Adopted by the United Nations (UN) in December 2006, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the first human rights treaty to be signed in the 21st century and is the only one of its kind. It sets out a code for participating countries to develop and implement policies, laws and administrative measures to secure disability rights recognized in the Convention.
Symposium panellists included experts from organizations dealing with disabilities, as well as human and equality rights. The symposium and the reception that followed it were hosted jointly by the Law Society and ARCH Disability Law Centre. Both events are held annually as part of the Law Society's Equity Public Education Series.
Human rights and constitutional law lawyer Faisal Bhabha acted as moderator for the symposium.
First Human Rights Treaty in 21st Century
Anna McQuarrie, Director of Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives for the Canadian Association for Community Living, said the Convention is a very significant development in addressing the rights of people with disabilities.
As a participant in the development of the Convention and an advocate for its domestic ratification and implementation, McQuarrie explained the many steps involved in developing the code. To date, some 17 countries have ratified the Convention, including Mexico, Spain, Panama and Hungary. The Canadian federal and provincial governments are currently reviewing the Convention, "but we'd like to see more action," she reported.
ARCH lawyer Debra McAllister noted that the Convention is a great victory for people with disabilities around the world. She said although there will still be an uphill struggle to secure rights for people with disabilities, the UN Convention provides lawyers with "a tool we can use to push forward."
Panellist Michael Gottheil, Chair of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, told the symposium that although the UN Convention doesn't speak directly to complaints, it does focus on accessibility issues that are inherent core values of the Human Rights Tribunal, including: accessibility - both physical and functional; fairness - so the community can have confidence in the decisions made by the tribunal; timeliness - so that resolutions are reached and complaints are resolved; and the opportunity to be heard - so that all cases are presented in a way that is relevant.
Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) Director of Litigation, Fiona Sampson, said the Convention has the potential to advance the rights of women with disabilities, by exposing sources of discrimination and addressing them. It also obligates states to actively work towards the rights of persons with disabilities and to make sure social development programs are inclusive.
Once ratified by the Canadian government, Sampson suggested that non-government organizations produce "shadow reports" to point out any discrepancies in government reports and ensure the Convention is used as a critical tool in advancing human rights for people with disabilities,
She cited particular articles of the Convention, which could help to serve women with disabilities in particular. They include a section which provides laws and administrative measures to guarantee freedom from violence and abuse; a section which deals with discrimination regarding marital status; a section which provides equal rights to work and earn a living; and a section which requires that signatory countries recognize that persons with disabilities have a right to adequate housing and assistance.
Disability Mentoring Program Launched
The symposium was followed by a reception, which was highlighted by the launch of the Law Society's Disability Mentoring Program by Margherita Braccio, a member of the Law Society's Disability Working Group and counsel with the Immigration Law Section of the Department of Justice Canada.
Braccio told those gathered that the new program is designed to promote awareness and accommodation for those with disabilities - "from law school, to the bar and beyond."It will achieve this by matching law students with disabilities with lawyers - who do and don't have disabilities - as well as with peers throughout law school and post-Call to the Bar. The program provides networking opportunities and lasting professional relationships.
"The existing mentoring program was not tailored to disabled students. There is a need for this program," she told those attending the reception.
Braccio called on lawyers to join the program and "gain new experiences through exposure to new communities." Volunteering with the Disability Mentoring Program will also help lawyers incorporate accommodations for the disabled into their own practices, she said.
Bencher and Vice-Chair of the Law Society's Equity and Aboriginal Issues Committee Raj Anand told those gathered at the reception that the Law Society continues to make progress in advancing equality rights by working with organizations like ARCH Disability Law Centre.
Peter Wells, Chair of the Board of Directors for ARCH, brought greetings on behalf of the organization.