It was paramount that the knowledge and experience of people with disabilities should be central to a UN treaty on their rights, an international forum was told on Saturday.
The public seminar in Dublin discussed the most effective way to supervise and monitor implementation of the proposed UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In addition, representatives from national human rights institutions from France, Denmark, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Greece and the Republic, met to discuss ways of reaching a common position on monitoring.
The treaty has the potential to affect 600 million people with disabilities throughout the world.
William Binchy, an Irish Human Rights member, said the task of formulating the best monitoring mechanisms for the forthcoming convention was hugely challenging and difficult. The reporting obligations of states were complex and growing and there were debates about individual claims procedures over economic, social and cultural rights, he said. "The need to have the knowledge and experience of people with disabilities at the centre of the operation of the convention is paramount," he said.
Dr Donal McAnaney, of Rehabilitation International, said: "A significant education and awareness-raising programme is required. This needs to equip the people, upon whom this convention impacts, to understand the limitations of monitoring in UN terms and to express their opinions and concerns in a way that can practically contribute to the debate," he said.