HUMAN RIGHTS,
DISABILITY AND
CATHOLIC SOCIAL
TEACHING
Presentation by
Anthony Steel
Institute for Advancing
Community Engagement
May, 2010
International Human Rights Treaties
Together, these three documents and their
optional protocols are referred to as the
International Bill of Human Rights.
(1) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
(2) International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights (1966/1976)
(3) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(1966/1976)
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International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination (1965/1969)
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (1979/1981)
Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989/1990)
Convention against Torture or Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984/1987)
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International Convention on the Protection of the Rights
of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
(1990/2003)
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Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(2006/2008)
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International Convention for the Protection of All Persons
from Enforced Disappearance (2006/not yet in force)

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
General principles
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Respect for the inherent dignity, autonomy, including the
freedom to make one’s own decisions, and independence of
persons;
Non-discrimination;
Full and effective participation and inclusion in society;
Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with
disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity;
Equality of opportunity;
 Accessibility;
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Equality between men and women; and
Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and
for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.
Rights
While the civil, cultural, economic, political and
social rights specified in the Convention apply to all
human beings, the Convention focuses on the
actions States must take to ensure that persons with
disabilities enjoy these rights on an equal basis with
others.
….. there is a growing awareness of the sublime
dignity of human persons, who stand above all
things, and whose rights and duties are universal
and inviolable. They ought, therefore, to have ready
access to all that is necessary for leading a
genuinely human life: for example, food, clothing,
housing, the right to freely choose their state of life
and set up a family, the right to education, to work,
to their good name, to respect, to proper
knowledge, the right to act according to the dictates
of conscience and to safeguard their privacy, and
rightful freedom, including freedom of religion.
PASTORAL CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD
GAUDIUM ET SPES, 1965
Principles of Catholic Social Teaching:
1. Dignity of the Human Person
2. Common Good and Community
3. Option for the Poor *
* Preferencia: priority rather than preference
* Opcion: Decision/commitment of where to stand
* Pobre: the common people, people who are
overlooked, who are not respected; not just the
materially poor
(Nuances from Professor James Nickoloff, EREA Seminar, Strathfield 11th May, 2010)
4. Rights and Responsibilities
5. Economic Justice
6. Promotion of Peace and Disarmament
7. Stewardship of God's Creation
8. Participation
9.Role of Government and Subsidiarity
10. Global Solidarity and Development
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/
http://www.bayefsky.com/
http://www.bayefsky.com/tree.php/area/treaties