The Convention is an important guide, especially to governments, on how the rights and freedoms of persons affected by disability can be realised. The Convention requires governments to realise, promote, protect and monitor these rights.
The Convention is also important because it requires a change in the way that both governments and societies view disability.
It rejects understandings of disability based on pity, charity and medical approaches and, instead, adopts a “social model” (link to FAQ 6) understanding.
The adoption of the social model, together with a focus on realising the rights of persons with disabilities is collectively known as the “human rights approach to disability”, or “human rights model of disability”.
A human rights approach, as explained by the Convention, is seen as essential if persons with disabilities are to be treated equally in dignity and rights and included in all aspects of Guernsey life.