Over 55 delegates attended from countries including  Austria, Colombia, Costa Rica,  Cuba, Indonesia, the Ivory Coast, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg , Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, the Philippines, Senegal,  Swaziland, and the United States. Delegates met with WYA staff and interns to discuss the ongoing negotiations for a convention that would protect the rights of persons with disabilities.

Delegates will seek to bring to a conclusion the draft convention on the rights of persons with disabilities during their meetings until 25 August 2006. The Convention covers rights such as equality, non-discrimination and equal recognition before the law; liberty and security of the person; accessibility, personal mobility and independent living; right to health, work and education; and participation in political and cultural life.

Five main issues in the working text remain unresolved: international monitoring, international cooperation, legal capacity , the definition of “disability,” and the definition and scope of health services.

The WYA continues to urge countries to finalize this treaty that would guarantee persons with disabilities the full enjoyment of their rights without discrimination, as well as equal access to health, transportation, justice, employment and education opportunities.

We continue to monitor the ongoing deliberations, in order to ensure that the dignity of all persons with disabilities will be recognized and protected in the final text of the Convention.

Anna, Steve and Dominic	Us Mission
Phillipines Ambassator and Attache Nigeria Minister	Mexican Delegation	USA, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Austria
Repr. Nigeria and Ivory Coast	Issa, Anna, Steve, Guadalupe

The WYA is extraordinarily grateful to Ambassador Paul Badji [Senegal], Ambassador Lauro Baja, Jr. [Philippines], Minister-Counsellor Jorge Ballestero [Costa Rica], and Minister Chijioke Wigwe [Nigeria], as well as the personnel of our co-host Missions for all of their assistance and support.




The World Youth Alliance is a global coalition of young people committed to promoting the dignity of the person and building solidarity among youth from developed and developing nations. We train young people to work at the regional and international levels to impact policy and culture. Through this lived experience of the dignity of the person young people are able to affirm life at all levels of society.