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    The Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Article 12: prospective feminist lessons against the “Will and Preferences” paradigm

    Kong, Camillia (2015) The Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Article 12: prospective feminist lessons against the “Will and Preferences” paradigm. Laws 4 (4), pp. 709-728. ISSN 2075-471X.

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    Abstract

    Human rights have recently impacted on current conceptualisations of the rights and obligations owed to individuals with impairments, culminating in the UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Particularly significant is Article 12, where interpretations have heralded a “will and preferences” paradigm which rejects substituted decision-making mechanisms, even in situations where an individual should make personally harmful or unwise decisions about their treatment, care, or relationships. This paper explores problems with “strict” and “flexible” interpretations of Article 12, focusing specifically on safeguarding issues in cases of relational abuse, exploitation, and coercion. Drawing analogies with feminist arguments opposing violence against women in the domestic sphere, I challenge the private/public and individualistic account of autonomy which is implicit in interpretations of the “will and preferences” paradigm, and suggest that proponents of Article 12 should consider the possible justifiability of expanded protectionist measures in cases of abuse involving individuals with impairments.

    Metadata

    Item Type: Article
    Keyword(s) / Subject(s): UNCRPD, supported decision-making, autonomy, human rights, impairments, abuse, feminism
    School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
    Research Centres and Institutes: Crime & Justice Policy Research, Institute for
    Depositing User: Camillia Kong
    Date Deposited: 12 Dec 2018 12:49
    Last Modified: 02 Aug 2023 17:47
    URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/25446

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