Chapter 3- Report of the Research and Policy Development Group I. RESEARCH AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION The respect for human rights is nowadays not so much a matter of having international standards, but rather questions of compliance with those standards. Michelle Bachelet President of Chile During the year, the Research and Policy Development Division (RPDD) finalised its reports of the thematic areas identified in 2013, namely, ‘The Right to Education of Children with Learning Disabilities’ and ‘Care Services for Older Persons and Support for Caregivers’. In addition, the RPDD intensified its work and advocacy on issues related to ratification of the remaining core international treaties; monitoring of State implementation of international treaties; removal of reservations made ​​to the treaties and accession of optional protocols; the right to health and HIV/AIDS; and anti-trafficking in persons. The Division also led a project to formulate a plan of action for Business and Human Rights in Malaysia through the adoption of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights which was funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). 1. 2013 THEMATIC AREAS (a) Right to Education of Children with Learning Disabilities As reported in 2013, the Commission decided to conduct a study on the issue of the right to education, with focus on primary education, for children with learning disabilities (CWLD). There were two main reasons for the focus on this issue. Firstly, it was observed that unlike access to primary education for visually and hearing-impaired children, information on education for children with learning disabilities was not readily available, to say nothing of the accessibility. Secondly, during the Commission’s awareness programmes on persons with disabilities (PWD), concerns were raised with regard to the issues of accessibility and quality of education for children with disabilities, in particular learning disabilities. It is a matter of public perception that a large number of CWLD appear to be excluded from primary education. 60

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