Third Day

Several co-sponsors of the resolution establishing the Ad Hoc Committee (A/56/168) spoke, including Japan, South Africa and the Philippines. Some states who had not intended to participate did so in order to express concerns that they had not had adequate time to prepare or receive instructions from their capitals. Several states expressed the wish to resolve the pressing procedural questions of NGO participation as a matter of priority. Approximately 25 states took the floor along with 3 NGOs. The Chairperson, Luis Gallegos announced that the Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau of Members would be the Representative from South Africa, part of the African Regional Group. It was also announced that the Asian Group elected the Representative form the Philippines as its representative on the Bureau.

Morning Session

The Representative from the Philippines, Anacleto Rei Lacanilao, stressed that the issue of protecting the rights and dignity of people with disabilities encompasses "relevant issues within the discourse of both social development and human rights." As a result, it would be inappropriate to "highlight one framework at the expense of the other." In addition, while some aspects of the issue would need to "take on the uncompromising status as basic human rights," implementation would depend upon states to introduce "programmatic efforts" which, because of constraints on financial and other resources, "some states my find difficult to assume as outright treaty obligations." "Polarization on the conceptual framework of the draft convention would not be helpful" in achieving the goal of universal acceptance.

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