What are human rights? Expand People with Down syndrome have the same human rights as everyone else. Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death. They apply regardless of where you are from, what you believe or how you choose to live your life. They can never be taken away, although they can sometimes be restricted – for example if a person breaks the law, or in the interests of national security. These basic rights are based on shared values like dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence. These values are defined and protected by law. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is an international legal agreement. It exists to protect and promote the human rights of people with disabilities.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Expand The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13th December 2006 and came into force on 3rd May 2008. The purpose of the Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all people with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. The Convention was adopted as a response to the fact that although pre-existing human rights conventions offer considerable potential to promote and protect the rights of people with disabilities, this potential was not being tapped. People with disabilities continued being denied their human rights and were kept on the margins of society in all parts of the world. The Convention sets out the legal obligations on Member States to promote and protect the rights of people with disabilities. It was also a response to an overlooked development challenge; approximately 10% of the world’s population are people with disabilities (over 700 million persons), approximately 80% of whom live in developing countries. Principally the Convention recognises that people with disabilities have inherent rights, and that they are capable of claiming those rights and making decisions for their lives based on their free and informed consent as well as being active members of society. As of 11 September 2018, the Convention has 161 signatories and has been ratified by 177 countries. DSi has actively campaigned for and supported the UN Convention for a number of years and continues to do so. An easy-read version of the CRPD is available here: Easy-read UN convention on human rights
What is self-advocacy? Expand Self-advocacy is the ability to speak-up for yourself and the things that are important to you. Self-advocacy means you are able to ask for what you need and want and tell people about your thoughts and feelings. Self-advocacy means you know your rights and responsibilities, you speak-up for your rights, and you are able to make choices and decisions that affect your life. The goal of self-advocacy is for you to decide what you want then develop and carry out a plan to help you get it. It does not mean you can’t get help if you need or want it, it just means that you are making the choices and you have to be responsible for the choices you make. When you have good self-advocacy skills you can have more control and make the life decisions that are best for you. Self-advocacy helps to empower you, to speak-up for yourself and make decisions about your life. People with Down syndrome may need the support of advocates to become effective self-advocates. DSi works with self-advocates with Down syndrome from around the world to learn about their lives and determine the best way to offer them support.
What is advocacy? Expand Advocacy is acting with or on behalf of people with Down syndrome to resolve an issue, obtain needed support or promote a change in practices or policies. Advocacy is essential for promoting and protecting the civil and human rights of people with Down syndrome and for establishing, maintaining or improving their quality of life. Individuals and organisations can be advocates for people with Down syndrome. DSi works with advocates in countries around the world to share knowledge and to offer information, advice and support, with the ultimate aim of improving quality of life for people with Down syndrome worldwide and promoting their inherent right to be accepted and included as valued and equal members of their communities.