Promoting the rights of Children with disabilities innocenti digest no

particular. In article 32, the Convention recognizes 
the importance of international cooperation in 
support of national efforts for the realization of 
its purpose and objectives, and stresses that 
cooperation should aim at ensuring that development 
programmes are inclusive of, and accessible to 
persons with disabilities. The Convention is also open 
for accession to regional integration organizations.
In addressing the need for all development 
programmes to be inclusive and accessible to 
persons with disabilities, article 32 identifies a range 
of areas in which international partners are expected 
to play a facilitating and supportive role. With the 
establishment of the Convention, disability will 
take on a more prominent role in the development 
process. In these actions disability must be 
increasingly addressed within all programmes, not 
only as a separate item.
Once a country ratifies the Convention, its provisions, 
and compliance with them, should be reflected 
in elements of its national development agenda, 
including its poverty reduction strategy and UN 
Development Assistance Framework. The UN and 
other international actors will in turn be called upon 
by governments and civil society to provide guidance 
and assistance in the implementation process. 

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Innocenti Digest No. 13
Promoting the Rights of Children with Disabilities
monitoring implementation of the Convention
In order for the Convention to have a positive impact 
on the quality of life of persons with disabilities 
and on society as a whole, effective procedures 
are required for its implementation at the national 
level. The roles and responsibilities of stakeholders 
– including member States, persons with disabilities 
and their organizations, UN system entities, 
development partners, and regional entities – in the 
implementation and monitoring of the Convention 
need to be clearly established and defined.
The Convention sets out reporting obligations at both 
the national and international levels. Particular priority 
must be given to the actions needed at the national 
level. As outlined in article 33 of the Convention, 
States parties are required to designate focal point(s) 
within government, and consider the establishment 
of a coordination mechanism within government to 
facilitate relevant actions. The article also highlights 
the importance of an independent mechanism for 
monitoring at the national level, and the engagement 
of civil society, especially the involvement and