A/HRC/43/41
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
17 December 2019
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Forty-third session
24 February–20 March 2020
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Rights of persons with disabilities
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with
disabilities
Summary
In her report, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities,
Catalina Devandas-Aguilar, provides an overview of the activities undertaken in 2019 and a
thematic study on the impact of ableism in medical and scientific practice. The Special
Rapporteur explores how ableism is reflected in legislation, policies, customs and practices
related to prevention, cure and assisted dying. The report contains recommendations to
assist States to develop and implement legal and policy reforms oriented to embracing
disability as part of human diversity, in line with the standards set forth in the Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. They include adopting measures to raise
awareness, implementing rights-based prevention policies, respecting and protecting
personal autonomy, the right to life and the right to personal integrity of persons with
disabilities, and promoting their participation in decision-making.
GE.19-21798(E)