Access to justice is the right of people with disabilities to exercise their legal capacity and to be recognized equally before the law. It is defined in Article 13 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (United Nations, 2006):
1. ‘States Parties shall ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others, including through the provision of procedural and age-appropriate accommodations, in order to facilitate their effective role as direct and indirect participants, including as witnesses, in all legal proceedings, including at investigative and other preliminary stages.’
2. ‘In order to help to ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities, States Parties shall promote appropriate training for those working in the field of administration of justice, including police and prison staff.’
These modifications or adjustments may include, among others, access to essential buildings such as courts, banks, social services offices, and voting centres; accessible information about decisions that have legal implications; personal assistance (Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2014); and supported decision-making.
References:
United Nations. (2006). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. United Nations.
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