Article 21 [Freedom of Expression and Opinion, and Access to Information]

Under Article 21 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, rights to freedom of opinion and expression consist in the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their choice. Article 21 does not address the parameters of the rights to freedom of expression and opinion in the vein as other human rights treaties. The right of non-interference with personal opinion and expression, in fact, is transformed into a positive State obligation to provide public information in accessible formats and to recognize sign languages, Braille, and augmentative and alternative communication.