Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-g7rbq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-25T21:41:53.677Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

THE INDIVISIBILITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 December 2018

Gauthier de Beco
Gauthier de Beco*
Affiliation:
Reader in Human Rights, University of Huddersfield, gauthier.debeco@gmail.com.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article argues that a new understanding of the indivisibility of human rights has emerged through the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRPD has blurred the distinction between civil and political rights, on the one hand, and economic and social rights, on the other. After showing how this distinction has been blurred in the Convention, the article critically analyses the impact this has had on the concept of indivisibility, as well as its consequences for international human rights law more generally. It shows that there is now a shift away from a preoccupation with different categories of rights and towards concern for the real and actual enjoyment of human rights.

Keywords

civil and political rightsdisabled peopleeconomic and social rightshuman rightsindivisibility
Type
Articles
Information
International & Comparative Law Quarterly , Volume 68 , Issue 1 , January 2019 , pp. 141 - 160
Copyright
Copyright © British Institute of International and Comparative Law 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

The author wishes to thank Paul Hunt (University of Essex), Margot Salomon (London School of Economics), Jenny Goldschmidt (University of Utrecht), Surya Subedi (University of Leeds), Michael Stein (Harvard University), Ian Cram (University of Leeds) and Jean d'Aspremont (University of Manchester and Sciences Po) for their valuable comments on an earlier version of this article. He benefited from feedback during a presentation on the topic at the occasion of the 16th Association of Human Rights Institutions (AHRI) Conference organized by the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights in Utrecht on 2–4 September 2016. The author is also grateful for the helpful comments of the two anonymous reviewers as well as the editor-in-chief. All errors remain his sole responsibility.

References

1 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) 46 ILM 443.

2 Degener, T, ‘10 Years of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ (2017) 35 NQHR 153–4Google Scholar; Bartlett, P, ‘The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Mental Health Law’ (2012) 75 MLR 757CrossRefGoogle Scholar; van Boven, T, ‘Categories of Rights’ in Moeckli, D, Shah, S, Sivakumaran, S and Harris, D (eds), International Human Rights Law (2nd edn, Oxford University Press 2014) 148Google Scholar.

3 See inter alia Coomans, F (ed), Justiciability of Economic and Social Rights: Experiences from Domestic Systems (Intersentia 2006)Google Scholar; Langford, M (ed), Social Rights Jurisprudence: Emerging Trends in International and Comparative Law (Cambridge University Press 2009)CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

4 Hunt, P et al. , ‘Implementation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ in Sheeran, S and Rodley, N (eds), Routledge Handbook of International Human Rights Law (Routledge 2014) 545Google Scholar.

5 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) 999 UNTS 171; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) 993 UNTS 3.

6 UNGA, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (10 December 1948) A/RES/217.

7 W Osiatyński, ‘The Historical Development of Human Rights’ in Sheeran and Rodley (n 4) 14–15; De Schutter, O, International Human Rights Law (2nd edn, Cambridge University Press 2014) 18–19Google Scholar; Riedel, E, Giacca, G and Golay, C, ‘The Development of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in International Law’ in Riedel, E, Giacca, G and Golay, C (eds), Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in International Law Contemporary Issues and Challenges (Oxford University Press 2014) 7–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

8 Riedel, Giacca and Golay (n 7) 7.

9 Tomuschat, C, Human Rights: Between Idealism and Realism (Oxford University Press 2014) 136–9Google Scholar; Sheinin, M, ‘Characteristics of Human Rights Norms’ in Krause, K and Scheinin, M (eds), International Protection of Human Rights: A Textbook (2nd edn, Åbo Akademi University 2009) 22Google Scholar. The former include the freedom from torture, right to liberty, right to privacy, right to access courts, freedom of opinion and freedom of assembly. The latter include the right to health, right to food, right to housing, right to education, right to work and right to social security.

10 HRC, General Comment No 31: Nature of the General Legal Obligation Imposed on States Parties to the Covenant (26 May 2006) CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.13, para 6.

11 Seibert-Fohr, A, ‘Domestic Implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Pursuant to Its Article 2 para 2’ (2001) 5 UNYB 414–16Google Scholar.

12 ECOSOC Res 1985/17 (28 May 1985). The role of overseeing the implementation of the ICESCR was initially given to ECOSOC, which subsequently established the CESCR for this purpose.

13 CESCR, General Comment No 3: The Nature of State Parties Obligations (Art. 2, Para. 1) (14 December 1990) E/1991/23, para 9.

14 CESCR, General Comment No 20: Non-Discrimination in Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Art. 2, Para. 2) (29 May 2009) E/C.12/GC/20, para 7; ‘Maastricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ (1998) 20 HumRtsQ 691 (para 11)Google Scholar.

15 See inter alia Craven, M, The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights: A Perspective on Its Development (Clarendon Press 1995)Google Scholar; Hunt, P, Reclaiming Social Rights: International and Comparative Perspectives (Ashgate 1996)Google Scholar; Eide, A, Krause, C and Rosas, A (eds), Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. A Textbook (2nd edn, Martinus Nijhoff 2001)Google Scholar; Merali, I and Oosterveld, V (eds), Giving Meaning to Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (University of Pennsylvania Press 2001)CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Sepúlveda, M, The Nature of the Obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Intersentia 2003)Google Scholar.

16 A Eide, The Right to Adequate Food as a Human Right: Final Report (7 July 1987) E/CN.4/Sub.2/1987/23; Shue, H, Basic Rights: Subsistence, Affluence and U.S. Foreign Policy (2nd edn, Princeton University Press 1996) 52Google Scholar.

17 CESCR, General Comment No 18: The Right to Work (Art. 6) (24 November 2005) E/C.12/GC/18, paras 19–28; CESCR, General Comment No 15: The Right to Water (Arts 11–12) (20 January 2003) E/C.12/2002/11, paras 17–29; CESCR, General Comment No 14: The Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health (Art. 12) (11 August 2000) E/C.12/2000/4, paras 30–7; CESCR, General Comment No 13: The Right to Education (Art. 13) (8 December 1999) E/C.12/1999/10, para 46; CESCR, General Comment No 12: The Right to Adequate Food (Art. 11) (12 May 1999) E/C.12/1999/5, paras 14–15.

18 Künnemann, R, ‘A Coherent Approach to Human Rights’ (1995) 17 HumRtsQ 327–31Google Scholar.

19 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965) 660 UNTS 195; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979) 1249 UNTS 13.

20 Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) 1577 UNTS 3.

21 Rishmawi, M, A Commentary on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 4: The Nature of States Parties’ Obligations (Martinus Nijhoff 2006) 16Google Scholar.

22 Art 4 of the CRC provides that ‘[w]ith regard to economic, social and cultural rights, States Parties shall undertake all … measures to the maximum extent of their available resources … for the implementation of the rights recognized in the present Convention’.

23 Rishmawi (n 21) 16. As stated by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC Committee), there is ‘no simple or authoritative division of human rights in general or of Convention rights into the two categories’ (CRC Committee, General Comment No 5: General Measures of Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (27 November 2003) CRC/GC/2003/5, para 6).

24 I Cismas, ‘The Intersection of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ in Riedel, Giacca and Golay (n 7) 455–6. This can also be observed with non-binding international legal instruments, such as the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNGA, Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (13 September 2007) A/RES/61/295).

25 Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (10 December 2008) A/RES/63/117.

26 Hunt et al. (n 4) 553.

27 See <https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=IND&mtdsg_no=IV-3-a&chapter=4&clang=_en>.

28 The HRC and CESCR have considered to date 1854 and 16 communications, respectively. See <http://juris.ohchr.org/search/documents>.

29 World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, A/Conf.157/23 (25 June 1993) Pt II, para 5.

30 UNGA, World Summit Outcome (24 October 2005) A/RES/60/1, paras 13 and 120; UNGA, Res 60/251: Human Rights Council (15 March 2006) A/RES/60/251, Preamble; HRC, Res 5/1: Institution-building of the United Nations Human Rights Council (18 June 2007) A/HRC/RES/5/1, Preamble.

31 Such arguments have especially been made in the Asian context. See M Freeman, ‘Universalism of Human Rights and Cultural Relativism’ in Sheeran and Rodley (n 4) 54–7; Tomuschat (n 9) 68–70.

32 Donnelly, J, ‘Cultural Relativism and Universal Human Rights’ (1984) 6 HumRtsQ 414–17Google Scholar; de Varennes, F, ‘The Fallacies in the “Universalism Versus Cultural Relativism” Debate in Human Rights Law’ (2006) 7 APJHRL 76–82Google Scholar.

33 Donnelly, J, Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice (3rd edn, Cornell University Press 2013) 104–5CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

34 Scott, C, ‘Interdependence and Permeability of Human Rights Norms: Towards a Partial Fusion of the International Covenants on Human Rights’ (1989) 27 OsgoodeHallLJ 798–802Google Scholar.

35 For instance, one cannot exercise the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly without the right to an adequate standard of living or exercise the right to education and right to work without the freedom of expression and freedom of association.

36 For instance, the right to education has both a ‘social aspect’ and a ‘freedom aspect’, the last of which concerns the choice of education, and the right to work has both economic and political dimensions, via the right to form trade unions which is protected by the two Covenants.

37 Thérien, J-P and Joly, P, ‘“All Human Rights for All”: The United Nations and Human Rights in the Post-Cold War Era’ (2014) 36 HumRtsQ 381–2Google Scholar.

38 International Conference on Human Rights, Proclamation of Teheran: Final Act of the International Conference on Human Rights (22 April–13 May 1968) A/CONF. 32/41 at 3, para 13.

39 Sen, A, Development as Freedom (Oxford University Press 1999) 149–51Google Scholar; Guariglia, O, ‘Enforcing Economic and Social Human Rights’ in Pogge, T (ed), Freedom from Poverty as a Human Right: Who Owes What to the Very Poor? (Oxford University Press 2007) 353Google Scholar.

40 HRC, General Comment No 35 – Article 9 (Liberty and Security of Person) (16 December 2014) CCPR/C/GC/35, paras 53–68; HRC, General Comment No 32 – Article 14 (Right to Equality before Courts and Tribunals and to Fair Trial) (23 August 2007) CCPR/C/GC/32, paras 58–65.

41 CESCR Committee, General Comment No 22 on the Right to Sexual and Reproductive Health (Art. 12) (2 May 2016) E/C.12/GC/22, para 10; CESCR Committee, General Comment No 21 on the Right of Everyone to Take Part in Cultural Life (Art. 15) (21 December 2009) E/C.12/GC/21, para 3.

42 CRC Committee, General Comment No 19 on Public Budgeting for the Realization of Children's Rights (Art. 4) (20 July 2016) CRC/C/GC/19, para 30.

43 CRPD Committee, General Comment No 1. Article 12: Equal Recognition before the Law (19 May 2014) CRPD/C/GC/1, paras 31–49; CRPD Committee, General Comment No 2. Article 9: Accessibility (22 May 2014) CRPD/C/ GC/2, paras 34–48.

44 Steiner, J, Alston, P and Goodman, R, International Human Rights in Context: Law, Politics, Morals (3rd edn, Oxford University Press 2007)Google Scholar; Rehman, J, International Human Rights Law (Pearson 2010)Google Scholar; Bantekas, I and Oette, L, International Human Rights Law and Practice (Cambridge University Press 2013)CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Krause and Scheinin (n 9); Sheeran and Rodley (n 4).

45 De Schutter (n 7); Moeckli, Shah, Sivakumaran and Harris (n 2).

46 Nickel, J, ‘Rethinking Indivisibility: Towards a Theory of Supporting Relations between Human Rights’ (2008) 30 HumRtsQ 987–91Google Scholar.

47 Gilabert, P, ‘The Importance of Linkage Arguments for the Theory and Practice of Human Rights: A Response to James Nickel’ (2010) 32 HumRtsQ 429–30Google Scholar; Nickel, J, ‘Indivisibility and Linkage Arguments: A Reply to Gilabert’ (2010) 32 HumRtsQ 441–2Google Scholar.

48 S Soiffer and D Rowlands, ‘Examining the Indivisibility of Human Rights: A Statistical Analysis’ (2016) JHR <http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14754835.2016.1255549>.

49 Nickel (n 46) 994–7.

50 Whelan, J, Indivisible Human Rights: A History (Pennsylvania University Press 2010) 208CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

51 G Quinn, ‘Disability and Human Rights: A New Field in the United Nations’ in Krause and Scheinin (n 9) 257.

52 See <https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities>.

53 Bartlett (n 2) 758–61; P Harpur, ‘Embracing the New Disability Rights Paradigm: The Importance of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ (2012) 27 Disability & Society 3–4; Kayess, R and French, P, ‘Out of Darkness into Light? Introducing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ (2008) 8 HRLR 24Google Scholar.

54 Oliver, M, Understanding Disability. From Theory to Practice (2nd edn, Palgrave Macmillan 2009) 42–6CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

55 Degener, T, ‘A Human Rights Model of Disability’ in Blanck, P and Flynn, E (eds), Routledge Handbook of Disability Law and Human Rights (Routledge 2016) 39–40Google Scholar.

56 Art 1, CRPD.

57 World Health Organization (WHO) and World Bank, World Report on Disability (WHO and World Bank 2011) 39–40.

58 Sen (n 39) 88; Sen, A, Inequality Re-examined (Clarendon 1992) 20 and 28Google Scholar.

59 Mégret, F, ‘The Disabilities Convention: Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities or Disability Rights’ (2008) 30 HumRtsQ 515–16Google Scholar.

60 Preamble (c), CRPD.

61 The CRC's Preamble does not include such a statement.

62 Flóvenz, B, ‘The Implementation of the UN Convention and the Development of Economic and Social Rights as Human Rights’ in Arnardóttir, O and Quinn, G (eds), The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: European and Scandinavian Perspectives (Martinus Nijhoff 2009) 265–6Google Scholar.

63 See (n 22).

64 Mégret (n 59) 506.

65 Art 5(3), CRPD.

66 Art 2, CRPD. Art 2 of the Convention defines reasonable accommodation as ‘necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms’.

67 Art 13(1) (access to justice), 14(2) (right to liberty and security of the person), 24(2)(c) (right to education) and 27(1)(i) (right to work), CRPD.

68 This had been confirmed earlier by the CESCR Committee (CESCR Committee, General Comment No 5: Persons with Disabilities (9 December 1994) E/1995/22, para 15).

69 Art 19(a), CRPD.

70 OHCHR, Thematic Study on the Right of Persons with Disabilities to Live Independently and Be Included in the Community (12 December 2014) A/HRC/28/37, paras 20–22; J Mendez, Report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1 February 2013) A/HRC/22/53, paras 69–70.

71 CRPD Committee, General Comment on Article 19: Living Independently and Being Included in the Community (29 August 2017) CRPD/C/18/1, para 18.

72 Art 19(b), CRPD.

73 CRPD Committee (n 71) para 29.

74 Arts 13 and 14, ICESCR.

75 Art 18(4), ICCPR.

76 See (n 36).

77 Art 24(1), CRPD.

78 CRPD Committee, General Comment No 4. Article 24: Right to Inclusive Education (2 September 2016) CRPD/C/GC/4, para 9.

79 Art 24(1)(a), CRPD.

80 Batterbury, S, ‘Language Justice for Sign Language Peoples: the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ (2012) 11 Language Policy 256–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

81 Art 24(3)(b), CRPD. See also art 30(4), CRPD and CRPD Committee (n 78) para 56.

82 Beco, G de, ‘The Right to Inclusive Education According to Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Background, Requirements and (Remaining) Questions’ (2014) 32 NQHR 286Google Scholar; Arnardóttir, O, ‘The Right to Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities – Innovations in the CRPD’ in Eide, A et al. (eds), Making Peoples Heard: Essays on Human Rights in Honour of Gudmundur Alfredsson (Martinus Nijhoff 2011) 219–20Google Scholar.

83 F Mégret, ‘The Disabilities Convention: Towards a Holistic Concept of Rights’ (2008) 12 IJHR 265.

84 UNGA, Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons (20 December 1971) A/RES/26/2856; UNGA, Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons (9 December 1975) A/RES/3447 (XXX).

85 Posner, E, ‘Human Welfare, not Human Rights’ (2008) 108 ColumLRev 1775–82Google Scholar.

86 Mégret (n 83) 265–6.

87 Art 1, CRPD.

88 Johnstone, R, ‘Feminist Influences on the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies’ (2006) 28 HumRtsQ 149–50Google Scholar.

89 This is what the CRPD Committee proposed with the right to independent living (CRPD Committee (n 71) para 39).

90 Flóvenz (n 62) 267.

91 Mégret (n 59) 524.

92 Whelan, D and Donnelly, J, ‘The West, Economic and Social Rights, and the Global Human Rights Regime: Setting the Record Straight’ (2007) 29 HumRtsQ 946Google Scholar. See however Kang, L, ‘The Unsettled Relationship of Economic and Social Rights and the West: A Response to Whelan and Donnelly’ (2009) 31 HumRtsQ 1009–13Google Scholar; Whelan, D and Donnelly, J, ‘The Reality of Western Support for Economic and Social Rights: A Reply to Susan L Kang’ (2009) 31 HumRtsQ 1047–9Google Scholar; Kirkup, A and Evans, T, ‘The Myth of Western Opposition to Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights? A Reply to Whelan and Donnelly’ (2009) 31 HumRtsQ 226–7Google Scholar.

93 Osiatynski, W, Human Rights and Their Limits (Cambridge University Press 2009) 36CrossRefGoogle Scholar; O'Cinneide, C, ‘Austerity and the Faded Dream of a ‘‘Social Europe’’’ in Nolan, A (ed), Economic and Social Rights after the Global Financial Crisis (Cambridge University Press 2014) 170–1Google Scholar; Van Bueren, G, ‘More Magna than Magna Carta: Magna Carta's Sister – the Charter of the Forest’ in Hazell, R and Melton, J (eds), Magna Carta and Its Modern Legacy (Cambridge University Press 2015) 196Google Scholar.

94 Berlin, I, Four Essays on Liberty (Oxford University Press 1969) 121–2 and 131–4Google Scholar.

95 There are, however, differences between the two concepts, since positive freedom involves giving increased powers to the State whereas positive obligations emphasize the steps to be taken with a view to guaranteeing human rights.

96 Posner, E, The Twilight of Human Rights Law (Oxford University Press 2014) 89–90Google Scholar; Garland, D, ‘On the Concept of ‘‘Social Rights’’’ (2016) 2 S&LS 626Google Scholar; Griffin, J, On Human Rights (Oxford University Press 2008) 169CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

97 Saul, B, Kinley, D and Mowbray, J, The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Commentary, Cases, and Materials (Oxford University Press 2014) 143–4Google Scholar.

98 A Kendrick, ‘Measuring Compliance: Social Rights and the Maximum Available Resources Dilemma’ (2017) HumRtsQ 657; Skogly, S, ‘The Requirement of Using the “Maximum of Available Resources” for Human Rights Realisation: A Question of Quality as Well as Quantity?’ (2012) 12 HRLR 393Google Scholar; Robertson, R, ‘Measuring State Compliance with the Obligation to Devote the “Maximum Available Resources” to Realizing Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights’ (1994) 16 HumRtsQ 693Google Scholar.

99 Art 2(1), ICESCR.

100 Nickel, J, Making Sense of Human Rights (2nd edn, Blackwell Publishing 2007) 151Google Scholar; De Schutter (n 7) 527.

101 Sheppard, C, ‘Indignation, Socio-economic Inequality and the Role of Law’ (2015) 5 Oñati Socio-legal Series 240Google Scholar.

102 Parijs, P Van, Real Freedom for All: What (if Anything) Can Justify Capitalism? (Oxford University Press 1995) 22–3 and 28Google Scholar.

103 Airey v Ireland, App No 6289/73, Judgment of 9 October 1979, para 24.

104 Anderson, J and Honneth, A, ‘Autonomy, Vulnerability, Recognition, and Justice’ in Christman, J and Anderson, J (eds), Autonomy and the Challenges to Liberalism: New Essays (Cambridge University Press 2005) 129Google Scholar.

105 O'Connell, P, ‘Let Them Eat Cake: Socio-Economic Rights in an Age of Austerity’ in Nolan, A, O'Connell, R and Harvey, C (eds), Human Rights and Public Finance: Budgets and the Promotion of Economic and Social Rights (Hart Publishing 2013) 60–1 and 66Google Scholar.

106 Whelan (n 50) 210.

107 Gearty, C and Mantouvalou, V, Debating Social Rights (Hart Publishing 2010) 98–107Google Scholar.

108 P Alston, Report of the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights (28 April 2016,) A/HRC/32/313, para 63 (emphasis added).

109 UNGA, Res 543 (VI) (5 February 1952) A/RES/543(VI).