Part II The law: International human rights law and disability Section I Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities PROMISING PRACTICE In 2013, the United Kingdom’s Government Office for Disability Issues published Fulfilling Potential: Building a deeper understanding of disability in the UK today, which sought to: • Provide an analysis of the current evidence on disability in the United Kingdom to inform the development of the next stage of work on the government’s disability strategy ‘Fulfilling Potential – the development of actions, outcomes and indicators’ • Inform public understanding and prompt debate about disability and the issues faced by persons with disabilities • Raise awareness, drive a change in attitudes and support an increase in commitment to improving the lives of persons with disabilities in the United Kingdom. The evidence base is structured in two parts. The first part provides analysis of the number of persons with disability in the United Kingdom, as well as looking at the way disability develops over the life course and at the fluctuating nature of disability. The second part focuses on the lives of persons with disabilities by looking at trends in outcomes and barriers to taking part in different areas of life. The evidence is structured around the themes of early intervention; choice and control; and inclusive communities. The document also summarises the analytical evidence on disability.114 3.7. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT (ARTICLE 32) 114 It was inevitable that international cooperation would figure prominently in the Convention (article 32). Some States have made tremendous progress on disability issues and the lessons of this progress should be shared to enable other States to take stock. In addition, development aid programs should, at a minimum, not cut across or undermine the objectives of the Convention. Given that the ultimate aim of the UN CRPD is change and sustaining a process of change, it makes sense to ensure that development aid programs do not support old or segregationist systems. In fact, these programs should be reviewed and recalibrated to contribute directly to the process of change. However, where there are deficiencies in development aid programs, contracting States cannot cite this article as a defence for their own failure to meet their treaty obligations (article 32(2)). There are four sets of overlapping obligations in article 32. First, there is an obligation to ensure that international cooperation and international (and bilateral) development assistance programs are accessible to persons with disabilities (article 32(1)(a)). Second, States parties have an obligation to facilitate capacity building, including the sharing of information, experience and training programs. These capacity-building measures should include capacity building between NHRIs. Third, States parties have an obligation to facilitate cooperation in research and access to scientific and technical knowledge. This can and should include research done by NHRIs. Fourth, States parties have an obligation to provide, as appropriate, technical and economic assistance, including sharing accessible and assistive technologies. 114 Available at www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/320509/building-understanding-main-report. pdf. Chapter 3: Overview of the purpose, content and structure of the Convention | 53