...... 10 DISABILITY - A PARADIGM SHIFT: FROM WELFARE TO HUMAN RIGHTS Human Rights Institutions are able to contribute their experience to the elaboration of the new Convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities’, the Commission therefore undertook a number of initiatives to mobilize support for a binding instrument in the international law on the theme of disability. 2.29 As the Commission is of the firm view that a coherent and integrated approach to disability in the international law cannot be developed under the present treaty system, an exclusive convention is therefore, necessary to give “status, authority and visibility” to disability issues which cannot be achieved through the process of reform of existing international instruments and monitoring mechanisms. Moreover, the Commission believes that a single comprehensive treaty would enable the State Parties to understand their obligations in clear terms and it would set clear targets for the development of disabilityinclusive infrastructure and processes. Adding a new treaty would also complement existing international standards for the rights of the disabled. 2.30 During the period under review, the Commission focused its interventions in some of the key areas. The Government of India was engaged in a constructive dialogue encouraging its active participation in the treaty elaboration process. Towards this end, a number of meetings were convened involving representatives of the Ministries of External affairs and Social Justice and Empowerment. These meetings proved useful in overcoming some misgivings about disproportionate financial burden that the new treaty may bring. 2.31 The Commission also actively promoted awareness about the Convention among disability organizations and related bodies with the aim to inform them about the international treaty system and procedures. These dialectical consultations not only proved helpful for the disability sector but they were extremely useful for the Commission to have a closer view of the ground realities of persons with disabilities. Most importantly these workshops acted as an interface between the people and the Government, which has the primary responsibility to translate the lived realities of people with disabilities into various provisions of the treaty. INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON CONVENTION 2.32 Responding positively to the invitation of the Ad hoc Committee to make available suggestions and proposals to be considered in the development of a new Disability Convention, the Commission also hosted an International Workshop in cooperation with Asia Pacific Forum and the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights inviting National Human Rights Institutions from the Commonwealth and Asia Pacific Region between 26-29 May 2003 at New Delhi. The Workshop not only crystallized a proposal regarding the nature, scope and key elements of the proposed Convention but also identified the specific role that NHRIs could play in the process of treaty elaboration. The concluding statement issued at the workshop is at Annexure 1. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION