United Nations CRPD/C/ARG/1 Convention on the Rights Distr.: General 28 June 2011 of Persons with Disabilities English Original: Spanish Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Initial reports submitted by States parties under article 35 of the Convention Argentina*,** [6 October 2010] * In accordance with the information transmitted to States parties regarding the processing of their reports, the present document was not formally edited before being sent to the United Nations translation services. ** Annexes can be consulted in the files of the Secretariat. GE.11-43813 (EXT) CRPD/C/ARG/1 Table of Contents Paragraphs Page I. Introduction............................................................................................................. 1–15 3 A. Agencies and groups involved in preparing the report ................................... 4–9 3 B. Drafting process.............................................................................................. 10–15 4 II. General provisions of the Convention (articles 1 to 4)............................................ 16–22 4 III. Specific rights ......................................................................................................... 23–723 5 Article 5. Equality and non-discrimination ......................................................... 23–59 5 Article 6. Women with disabilities...................................................................... 60–77 11 Article 7. Children with disabilities..................................................................... 78–87 13 Article 8. Awareness-raising ............................................................................... 88–99 16 Article 9. Accessibility ........................................................................................ 100–147 17 Article 10. Right to life.......................................................................................... 148–150 25 Article 11. Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies ................................ 151–168 25 Article 12. Equal recognition before the law......................................................... 169–191 28 Article 13. Access to justice .................................................................................. 192–198 30 Article 14. Liberty and security of person............................................................. 199–202 31 Article 15. Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment...................................................................................... 203–212 32 Article 16. Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse.................................. 213–224 34 Article 17. Protecting the integrity of the person................................................... 225–242 35 Article 18. Liberty of movement and nationality .................................................. 243–245 38 Article 19. Living independently and being included in the community............... 246–255 38 Article 20. Personal mobility................................................................................. 256–268 39 Article 21. Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information.......... 269–279 40 Article 22. Respect for privacy.............................................................................. 280–287 41 Article 23. Respect for home and family............................................................... 288–305 42 Article 24. Education............................................................................................. 306–324 44 Article 25. Health .................................................................................................. 325–411 48 Article 26. Habilitation and rehabilitation............................................................. 412–472 58 Article 27. Work and employment ........................................................................ 473–558 67 Article 28. Adequate standard of living and social protection............................... 559–608 76 Article 29. Participation in political and public life............................................... 609–622 82 Article 30. Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport................... 623–646 84 Article 31. Statistics and data collection................................................................ 647–707 87 Article 32. International cooperation..................................................................... 717–716 97 Article 33. National implementation and monitoring............................................ 717–723 99 2 GE.11-43813 (EXT) CRPD/C/ARG/1 I. Introduction 1. By adopting the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto, Argentina demonstrated its deep-seated commitment to moving forward towards building an inclusive and compassionate society based on social justice and its recognition of the need to ensure the enjoyment and the full and equal exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms. 2. Argentina has approached the preparation of its initial report as an opportunity to take stock of its public policies and to plan more effectively the measures it will take to implement the Convention, working in synergy with civil society. 3. In accordance with the Guidelines on treaty-specific document to be submitted by States parties under article 35, paragraph 1, of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD/C/2/3), the Government decided to: (a) Conduct an exhaustive review of public policies and practices; (b) Verify progress made towards ensuring enjoyment of established rights; (c) Determine what problems and shortcomings have been encountered in applying the Convention; (d) Use the report to adjust policies to be applied in complying with the treaty. A. Agencies and groups involved in preparing the report 4. The National Advisory Commission on the Integration of Persons with Disabilities was the Government agency responsible for overseeing and coordinating the process. It was supported by the General Directorate of Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship. 5. To this end, a National Working Group was set up to gather the relevant information and draft the report according to the Committee’s Guidelines. 6. The National Working Group was made up of representatives of the following agencies and civil society organizations: (a) Ministries and the designated national Government agency; (b) The Advisory Committee; (c) The Consultative Council on Civil Society of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; (d) The Consultative Council of the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism; (e) Regional office of the Federal Disability Council in Government agencies; (f) Regional office of the Federal Disability Council in NGOs; (g) Disability Commission of the Chamber of Deputies; (h) The Judiciary; 7. The following were present as observers: (a) The Office of the Ombudsperson of the Nation; (b) Experts assigned to the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations. GE.11-43813 (EXT) 3 CRPD/C/ARG/1 8. A list of designated representatives is attached to this report. 9. The members of the National Working Group were convened as follows: (a) A note was sent by the competent authorities to representatives of the national Government, decentralized agencies, the Advisory Committee, the consultative councils, the judiciary, the legislature and the ombudspersons’ offices. The note provided background information on the report, stressing its importance, and asked each body concerned to designate a representative to serve as focal point; (b) Representatives of the Federal Council were convened by means of a note to the Assembly of the Federal Council and by notices sent to the governors of provinces. B. Drafting process 10. A timetable of meetings was set up (attached in the annex). The process began with an informational meeting with the Foreign Ministry at the headquarters of the National Advisory Commission on the Integration of Persons with Disabilities in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. This meeting was held on 18 and 26 March 2010 during the Ordinary Assembly of the Federal Disability Council in the city of Trelew, Chubut province. 11. The objectives of the drafting exercise, the Guidelines to be followed and the types of information sources were presented at this meeting. 12. At each meeting, different agencies of national Government, as well as representatives of provincial Governments, reported on their activities as they related to specific articles of the Convention. Civil society representatives were also invited to report on their work in this regard. 13. At the national level, representatives of the regions coordinated their participation in the Assembly, which then gathered the relevant information. 14. The meeting with focal groups included representatives of indigenous peoples. 15. Prior to completion of the report, a joint consultative meeting was held which included the National Working Group, the Technical Committee and the Advisory Committee of the Advisory Commission on the Integration of Persons with Disabilities. II. General provisions of the Convention (articles 1 to 4) 16. The Argentine Republic adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by Act No. 26378 of 21 May 2008. Pursuant to article 75, paragraph 22 of the National Constitution, and given the Convention’s status