access to information: from principles to practice

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Accessible Information and Human Rights from Principle to Practice

Robyn Hunt

AccEase


5% Only 5% of print informationis ever translated into alternative formats


What I will cover

• A new approach to disability – that the CRPD has enabled

• Understanding disability in the CRPD• Disability and human rights

– some history and the significance of Brussels sprouts• The Disability Rights Convention

– some important facts• What does the CRPD say about access to

information – there is clear guidance on practical application

• The CRPD in practice


Impact of the CRPD

• Marks a sea change in the way disabled people and their issues and rights can be understood.

• These developments present exciting opportunities for fundamental and far-reaching changes to the lives of disabled people.


The CRPD perspective

• The CRPD takes a broad and inclusive view of disability, acknowledging the complexity of the relationship between a person’s impairment and the surrounding disabling social and physical environment.

• It sees disability is an evolving concept, allows for change and development.


About the Disability Rights Convention

• The CRPD is the first UN human rights Convention of the 21st Century.

• It was developed in five years. • It was the first ever to involve disabled people and their

organisations. • Disabled people and their organisations forged

international alliances • The CRPD includes a mixture of civil & political rights

and economic social and cultural rights • The Convention does not grant any new rights. • New Zealand ratified the CRPD in 2008. It is now

international law.


The CRPD and access to information

• Article 9 Accessibility

• Article 21 freedom of expression and opinion and access to information

• CRPD http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid

=13&pid=150


Example of what has happened

• Passage of the Sign Language Act.– New Zealand Sign Language third national

language– Result

• increased confidence• Deaf people pursued access to captioned movies

in cinemas, an example of private sector attention to human rights


More examples of what has happened

• Rights and responsibilities as citizens– accessible information – right to vote in local government and parliamentary

elections, (Article 29 participation in political and public life.)

• New Zealand’s recent natural disasters Christchurch and Hawkes Bay . – (Article 11 situations of risk and humanitarian

emergencies.)• Bankers Association guidelines for services to

their older and disabled customers, include accessible information.


What can we do?

• Learn about the CRPD and human rights. – www.odi.govt.nz www.hrc.co.nz

• Help people to complain constructively and strategically, and as groups

• Educate information providers about accessible information Advocate in your communities for information to be provided accessibly

• Engage with the wider disability community, especially those who are print-disabled, to think and act strategically about priorities.

• Create a business case for the private sector in your community. • Acknowledge and celebrate best practice, progress and successful

outcomes. Give credit where credit is due.• Check: is your own information accessible?


Questions - Discussion

Robyn HuntAccEase Ltd

Ph: 64 4 939 0445Mob: 027 449 3019Web: www.AccEase.comBlog: www.lowvisionary.com

access to information: from principles to practice

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