UN Adopts Right to Sport and Recreation in Disability Treaty
(12-13-06) BOSTON, Mass. - Today the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the UN General Assembly in New York. The Center of the Study for Sport in Society is proud to have taken a lead role in the efforts to include article 30.5 of the treaty. The article sets clear guidelines for nations to improve and ensure inclusion for persons with disabilities in recreational, leisure and sporting activities.
"As a deaf person, I know how important sports were to my personal development. To think that we are bringing the right to play sports to more than 650 million people across the world is amazing," said Elise Roy, Human Rights Policy Advisor to Sport in Society and facilitator in the creation of article 30.5.
"The right to play, the right to merely go outside and be physically active, to socialize and learn from sports will be protected for those with disabilities across the world," said Roy.
The adoption of article 30.5 will ensure that the international community will recognize sport as a human right for persons with disability. The treaty will solidify the human rights of persons with disabilities, which means countries that sign up to the convention will be charged with creating laws and other measures to improve disability rights and do away with legislation, customs and practices that discriminate against disabled people.
"It was so wonderful to work collaboratively with so many individuals and organizations toward the inclusion of the right to sport as an integral part of the United Nations disability treaty," said Eli Wolff, manager of research and advocacy activities at Sport in Society and facilitator in the creation of article 30.5. "It is tremendous to see that the right to sport for people with disabilities is now articulated by the UN. It will be important that we continue to all work together to advance and ensure the human rights of people with disabilities in and through sport."
Article 30.5
5. With a view to enabling persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, States Parties shall take appropriate measures:
(a) To encourage and promote the participation, to the fullest extent possible, of persons with disabilities in mainstream sporting activities at all levels;
(b) To ensure that persons with disabilities have an opportunity to organize, develop and participate in disability-specific sporting and recreational activities and, to this end, encourage the provision, on an equal basis with others, of appropriate instruction, training and resources;
(c) To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to sporting, recreational and tourism venues;
(d) To ensure that children with disabilities have equal access with other children to participation in play, recreation and leisure and sporting activities, including those activities in the school system;
(e) To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to services from those involved in the organization of recreational, tourism, leisure and sporting activities.
About the Center for the Study of Sport in Society's Disability in Sport Program
The Disability in Sport program advances access, inclusion, equality, respect, legitimacy and opportunity for people with disabilities in sport and in society. Through research, education and advocacy activities, Disability in Sport addresses the invisibility of people with disabilities.
About the Center for the Study of Sport in Society
The Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University is one of the world's leading social justice organizations that use sport to create social change both nationally and internationally. The flagship organization located in the heart of Boston, Mass. was founded in 1984 by Dr. Richard Lapchick. Through research, education, and advocacy the center promotes physical activity, health, violence prevention, and diversity among young people and college and professional athletes. Sport in Society's innovative programs are all staffed by former college or professional athletes and have been awarded America's most successful violence prevention program by Lou Harris, the Peter F. Drucker Award as the most innovative non-profit program in the social sector, and most recently was recognized by the Boston Red Sox for its dedication and service to the community.
