Human Rights and Disability A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions Introduction to Part II 79 What, then, does the Convention do? In essence, it elaborates in considerable detail the rights of persons with disabilities under international law and sets out a code of implementation for governments. It is a practically focused convention because it was so closely informed by the experiences of persons with disabilities worldwide, as represented by their organizations in the negotiations. They clearly articulated the challenges, difficulties, and requirements of persons with disabilities in their interaction with society at large, and it is those areas – and they are myriad – on which the Convention focuses. It will be the benchmark for future standards and action. Ambassador Don MacKay Former Chairperson of the UN Ad Hoc Committee79 Part II of this Manual provides an overview of the structure and content of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It also explores other relevant international and regional human rights standards – both general and thematic – which continue to apply to disability, notwithstanding the adoption of the Convention. In general terms, these ‘extra-Convention’ standards are being interpreted and applied in line with the content and spirit of the Convention. As such, they also play a part in advancing the human rights of persons with disabilities. Section I examines the Convention in detail, while Section II covers other general and thematic human rights instruments that apply to disability. Both are relevant to the work of NHRIs on the ground. 79 36 D. Mackay, ‘The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ in Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce, Vol. 34, 2006, p. 327.