The Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance addresses the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council

 

Geneva, 4 March 2016 – Thailand, in its capacity as Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance, addressed the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council on the rights of persons with disabilities in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies (Article 11 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, CRPD).

H.E. Thani Thongphakdi, Permanent Representative of Thailand to the UN in Geneva, the following points from the thematic study on the rights of persons with disabilities under Article 11,

• First, the need to ensure that persons with disabilities are not excluded from services and assistance in conflicts and emergency situations, and ensuring the restoration of communities and assets in a manner that makes them less vulnerable and strengthens their resilience (“Build Back Better”).
• Second, the importance of data collection and the report's conclusions and recommendations on integrating disability-related strategies in the prevention of risk and humanitarian action, with the aim to promote peace, and curb the growing number of people affected and acquiring disabilities in conflicts and emergency situations.

“The Human Rights Council’s thematic discussion on the rights of persons with disabilities in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies has the potential to form synergies with the implementation of the Maputo Action Plan and the aim to achieve a world free of mines by 2025”, underlined H.E. Thongphakdi.

Thailand emphasized that the preparation of the World Humanitarian Summit, to take place in May 2016, has included the issue of “Making humanitarian action work for people with disabilities”, which reflects Article 11 of the CRPD.

The preparatory process stresses the importance of considering persons with disabilities affected by humanitarian crisis not only as victims but as agents of change and as assets in the different phases of preparedness, response, recovery and building resilience. Thus, there is a need to empower persons with disabilities at the local, national and international level.

Statement by the Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance PDF 30KB