The Regional Human Rights System

When domestic institutions fail to uphold the law and are in some cases the violators of law, it may be possible or necessary to seek redress beyond national boundaries. In order to achieve an effective improvement in the exercise of the rights of disabled persons, it is important to understand the regional and international mechanisms that exist and the remedies they provide.

Legal provisions at the regional level are generally created according to the rules on treaty making in public international law as laid down in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. For those States who are not Parties to the Convention, the substantive rules embodied in the Convention may be applicable as part of customary law.

The World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons paragraph 34 states that “�the regional commissions of the United Nations and other regional bodies should encourage regional and sub-regional co-operation in the area of prevention of disability, rehabilitation of disabled persons and equalisation of opportunities.”