The Inter-American Convention
The Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (1999) was the first regional treaty that clearly and directly banned discrimination against people with disabilities. It asks member states to take clear actions to remove obstacles and support full social integration.
Key point
The Inter-American Convention was created seven years before the CRPD, making it one of the first important laws to protect disability rights. But it covers less than the CRPD. It aims to stop discrimination and remove barriers, while the CRPD uses a wider human rights approach.