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special Rapporteur: A person chosen by the UN to report on a particular theme (e.g., on the
sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; on violence against women) or on
the human rights situation in a particular country. In 1993 the standard Rules established a
Special Rapporteur on Disability, who reports annually on the implementation of the Standard
Rules and whose mandate is subject to periodic renewal.
standard Rules: See un standard Rules on the equalization of opportunity for persons
with Disabilities.
state: Often synonymous with “country”; a group of people permanently occupying a fixed
territory having common laws and government and capable of conducting international affairs.
state party (plural states parties): Those countries that have Ratified a Covenant or a
Convention and are thereby bound to conform to its provisions.
treaty: Formal agreement between states that defines and modifies their mutual duties
and obligations; used synonymously with Convention and Covenant. When conventions are
adopted by the UN General Assembly, they create legally binding international obligations for
the Member States who have signed the treaty. When a national government ratifies a treaty,
the articles of that treaty become part of its domestic legal, constitutional obligations.
united nations charter: Initial document of the UN setting forth its goals, functions, and
responsibilities; adopted in San Francisco in 1945.
un standard Rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with Disabilities
(standard Rules): Adopted by the General Assembly in 1993, this nonbinding instrument
represents a strong moral and political commitment of governments to take action to attain
equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities. Its 22 rules cover all aspects of
life of disabled persons and serve as a basis for policy-making and technical and economic
cooperation.
A special Rapporteur monitors the implementation of the Rules.
universal: Human rights apply to every person in the world, regardless of their race, color,
sex, ethnic or social origin, religion, language, nationality, age, sexual orientation, disability,
or other status. They apply equally and without discrimination to each and every person. The
only requirement for having human rights is to be human.
universal Declaration of Human Rights (uDHR) (Adopted by the UN General Assembly on
December 10, 1948): Primary UN document establishing human rights standards and norms.
All UN Member States have agreed to uphold the UDHR. Although the UDHR was intended to
be nonbinding, through time its various provisions have become so respected by states that it
can now be said to be customary international law. One component of the International bill of
Rights.
universal design: the design of products, environments, programs and services to be usable
by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized
design. A curb cut, for example, serves many people (e.g., parents with strollers, people with
rolling luggage, wheelchair users, blind people on the curb, cyclists).
world Health organisation (wHo): an intergovernmental organization under the auspices of
the United Nations that works to promote health worldwide.
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