Under our umbrella : the evolution of disability rights through legal instruments and increased civil society participation

Abstract

This research thesis was focused on the evolution of disability policy, from the perspectives of International, regional and national (Zambia and France) legislations that have been put in place for their protection. The main goal through this study, was to observe if there has been increased representation of people with disabilities in decision making policies that affect their everyday lives. The research in this study was collected through research of publications dealing with the past a current movements of disability policy, to observe the changes that have occurred in legislation and civil society coordination. This study yielded many positive, but also limiting factors to issues concerning people with disabilities. In the positive scope, there are very tangible changes that have occurred in legislation, with the most important instrument contributing to this change being the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Also with increased legislation, there has been more civil society participation of people with disabilities. In a negative scope, there are groups of persons with disabilities whose issues are still put at the margin and who are still treated undignified, as is the case with people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities.