Human Rights-Based Approach t o Disability- 'he C o m m i s s i o n o n H u m a n Rights seeks t o Qnsure that t h e dignity h u m a n rights and freedom o f all persons, includ n g persons with disabilities, a r e always respected, promoted and protected i n a rightsi p p r o a c h since P W D s h a v e t h e s a m e h u m a n right;> a s otjiers, a n d , therefore, m u s t b e able t o enjoy t h e m o n a n equal basis \yith others. A n persons m u s t b e treated equally before t h e w i lt hao Wu t d i s c r i r n i n a t i o n o n t h e b a s i s o f r a c e , c o l o r , s e x , l a n g u a g e , pt oe ll ii tg ii co anl o r o t h ^ r o p i n i o n , n a t i o n a l o r s o c i a l o r i g i n , p r o p e r t y , b i r t eh r! os tr a ot tu ls:,( including disability. I n protecting a n d p r o m o t i n g H wg h Dt s , t h e M a n u e l o n A c c e s s t o J u s t i c e o f P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b i l i t y s ;! j u gt gheas t i st h e t h r e s h o l d p r o b l e m i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s i s t h e n o t i o n t h a t t h• ec l aP iW mJ ) t o e q u a l i t y a n d n o n - d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i s a p l e a f o r p r i v i l e g e . i v iTt hh o s te h i s attitude assume that i t i s optional forgovernment, e m p;l otye ea rc sh e r s a n d p r i v a t e b u s i n e s s e s t o g r a n t P W D c l a i m s , a n d t h a t i f : t hs oe ,y i t i s o u t o f m e r c y , n o t d u t y . I n d e e d , i t i s i n g r a i n e d i n P h i l i p p ri en e t hc aU tl t u i t i s a v i r t u e t o f e e l p i t y f o r o t h e r s - t o s a y " k a w a w a an na di n ta hn i" s e n t r e n c h e s a n d e n n o b l e s w h a t i s e s s e n t i a l l y a d i s c r i m i n a t o i y a t t1 2t i t u d e . inhuman rights-based approach t o P W D protection enables victims to take direct action t o enforce their legally protected rights lecognized both internationally a n d domestically.^^ It ensures respect f o r P W D s b y provid n g objective a n d n e u t r a l standards for equal treatment; identifying the go /ernment agencies that will apply and interpret these Standards; a n d empowering these agencies t o order t h e implementation o f these s t a n d a r d s o r p u n i s h those w h o failed t o d o W D claims a r e seen a s a plea f o r special treatment, rather t h a n a s a pe a f o r a p p r o p r i a t e t r e a t m e n t . I n t h e f i r s t , t h i s y a r e s e e n a s a s k i n g f o r e x c e p ti o n s t o t h e g e n e r a l r u l e . I n t h e s e c o n d , i t i s r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e h a s been drafted b y t h e majority t o suit their o w n genera 1 rule condit o n s , a n d t h a t different r u l e s a r e n e e d e d t o s u i t those w h o live T o m a k e P W D s live b y r u l e s designed under other conditions like PWDs. for othler people i s d i s c r i m i n a t o r y a n d exclusionary. he traditional approach looks a t the P W D and asks w h a t h e lacks compat-ed t o fully-abled persons. I n contrast, this m a n u a l begins with the fu idamental guarantees o f equal citizenship, a n dasks w h a t laws, procedure and structures prevent t h e P W D f r o m t h e full exercise o f h i s / hpr legally prptected rights, C o m m their 1 n ensuring equal treatment and access t o equal opportunities, the ssion o p H u m a n Rights believes i n the capacity o f P W D s t o claim r i g h t s a p d ^ a k e decisions f o r t h e i r lives b a s e d o n t h e i r free a i i d • .