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Frequently Asked Questions

 

How can people use the Human Rights. YES! manual most effectively?

Is there a summary of the content of Human Rights. YES! available?

What is the International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities?

When will Human Rights. YES! be available?

In which languages will Human Rights. YES! be available?

Can text from Human Rights. YES! be reproduced?

Who are the authors, partners, and funders involved in the development of Human Rights. Yes!?

 

 

 

How can people use the Human Rights. YES! manual most effectively?

 

Human Rights. YES! is a facilitated learning program that emphasizes active, participatory learning.  Each chapter includes group exercises designed to involve all participants in discussions and creative problem-solving as they learn about human rights principles, human rights law and advocacy strategies for promoting the human rights of persons with disabilities.  These materials are best used in a group setting, with a qualified facilitator who can guide participants through the materials and exercises.  A Facilitator Guidelines section is included in the manual to help new facilitators prepare their trainings.

 

The Human Rights. YES! project team encourages disability rights organizations (DPOs) in particular to develop “train the trainer” programs within their organizations. While we hope to secure additional funding in the future in order to provide facilitator training to groups that request it, it is anticipated that most organizations will seek to develop, provide and fund this training internally.  Requests for training assistance should be directed to:

 

University of Minnesota Human Rights Center

229 19th Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55455

1-888-HREDUC8

humanrts@umn.edu     http://www.hrusa.org

 

 

Individual advocates not associated with DPOs or other human rights groups are encouraged to find organizations in their community or country to collaborate with on Human Rights. YES! training initiatives.  At the same time, Human Rights. YES! can be used by anyone with a desire to learn – individually or in groups as small as two or three people!

 

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Is there a summary of the content of Human Rights. YES! available?

Human Rights. YES! includes three main parts, with topical sub-chapters addressing a range of human rights.  Click the link below to view the Human Rights. YES! table of contents:

 

 

 

What is the International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities?

 

A convention (also known as a treaty) is a written agreement between States.  It is drafted by a working group appointed by the UN General Assembly.  Once the convention is drafted, it goes to the UN General Assembly for adoption.  The next step is for countries to sign and ratify it.  By signing a convention, a country is making a commitment to follow the principles in the convention and to begin the ratification process, but the convention is not legally binding on a country until it is ratified.  Ratification is a process that takes place in each country, whereby the legislative body of the government takes the necessary steps to officially accept the convention as part of its national legal structure.  Once a country signs and ratifies a convention, it becomes State Party to that convention, meaning it has a legal obligation to uphold the rights the convention defines.  Each convention must be ratified by a particular number of countries before it enters into force and becomes part of international law.

 

Persons with disabilities have long fought to have their human rights formally recognized in human rights law.  In 2006 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the first convention that specifically addresses the human rights of people with disabilities. The CRPD is the first global convention addressing disability.

 

From the first meeting to draft this convention, members of the global disability rights movement insisted that people with disabilities be included in deciding what the convention should say.  The disability community was able to exercise a greater level of participation and influence in the drafting of the CRPD than any other specific group has ever been able to achieve in a UN human rights treaty process.  As a result, the CRPD covers the full spectrum of human rights of persons with disabilities and takes much stronger positions than it would have if governments alone had drafted it.  In addition, disability organizations, individuals with disabilities, governments and the United Nations forged important relationships during this drafting process. 

 

Now that the human rights of people with disabilities have been recognized in international law through the CRPD, the next step is for disabled people in all countries to continue to advocate and work with their governments to ensure that the convention is ratified and implemented.  Every person who advocates for their rights under this convention becomes an important member of the global disability rights movement!

 

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When will Human Rights. YES! be available?

The English version of Human Rights. YES! is now available both in hard copy and online. 


In which languages will Human Rights. YES! be available?

The manual will be published in English, French, Spanish and Arabic by the University of Minnesota Human Rights Resource Center.

Permission is granted for non-governmental organizations and non-profit groups to translate into languages other than Arabic, French, and Spanish. The only conditions for other language versions are 1) that the language of the United Nations bodies appears in its entirely, 2) that no human rights are deleted, and 3) that the Human Rights Resource Center receive a) notification of intention to translate, b) a hard copy of the translation, and c) an electronic version of the translation and permission to make it available on its website. Organizations interested in undertaking their own translations should contact the University of Minnesota at humanrts@umn.edu
.

 

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Can text from Human Rights. YES! be reproduced?

 

Human Rights. YES! may be reproduced without permission for educational purposes only. Excerpted or adapted material from this publication must include full citation of the source. To reproduce for any other purposes, a written request must be submitted to the University of Minnesota Human Rights Resource Center.

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Who are the authors, partners, and funders involved in the development of Human Rights. YES!?

Please click here to go to the Contributors page.