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human rights. They must adopt laws and policies that promote human rights. They must
develop programs and take other measures to implement these rights. They must allocate the
necessary resources to enforce laws and fund programmatic efforts.
General comment: A written statement by the committee that monitors a UN treaty (e.g.,
committee on economic, social and cultural Rights) advising States Parties how best to
fulfill their obligations under that treaty. They also analyze and interpret the meaning, content
and scope of a treaty.
Habilitation: Effective and appropriate measures aimed to help people attain and maintain
maximum independence and full inclusion and participation in all aspects of life and for the
benefit of people who are born with a disability or acquire a disability at an early age, to
empower them to reach their full potential as they learn and grow. By contrast, rehabilitation
refers to re-gaining and maintaining maximum independence and full inclusion after acquiring
a disability or a change in one’s disability.
Human Rights committee: The body of independent experts that monitors implementation of
the International covenant on civil and political Rights by its states parties.
Inalienable: Refers to the principle that human rights belong to every person and cannot be
taken from a person under any circumstances. Human rights automatically belong to each
human being. They are not given to people by their government or any other authority, nor can
they can be taken away.
Inclusive education: The education of all children, youth and adults - with and without
disabilities - in the general education system of their community. Inclusion involves having
access to education with appropriate networks of support and changing the policies, practices,
and attitudes within the school system to remove barriers to their learning.
Independent living movement: Part of global advocacy for disability rights, the independent
living movement is based on the premise that any person with disabilities should have the
choice of living in the community. This can be accomplished through the creation of personal
assistance services allowing an individual to manage his or her personal care, to keep a home,
to have a job, go to school, worship, and otherwise participate in the life of the community.
Indivisible: Refers to the principle that each human right is of equal importance. A person
cannot be denied a right because someone decides it is “less important” or “nonessential.”
Informed consent: Refers to the process by which a person is provided with the information
necessary to fully participate in decisions about his or her health care. Based on a patient’s
right to direct what happens to his or her body and the ethical duty of the physician to involve
the patient in decision-making.
Inherent: Principle that human rights are a natural part of who you are. The text of Article 1 of
the universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) begins “All human beings are born free
and equal in dignity and rights.”
Instrument: A formal, written, official document, such as a treaty or declaration, in which a
State expresses its intention to uphold certain human rights principles or norms. May be legally
binding or nonbinding. May be global, regional, or national.
Integrated education: Placing children with disabilities in the general education system
with the expectation that they adapt or “fit in” to the existing system and culture and without
providing necessary supports and removing barriers to their learning; differs from inclusive
302 HumAn RIGHts. yes! ActIon AnD ADvocAcy on tHe RIGHts oF peRsons wItH DIsAbIlItIes