16.03.2017 UN disability rights committee to review 8 countries
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is meeting in Geneva from 20 March to 12 April 2017 to review the following countries: Moldova (21-22 March); Iran (22-23 March); Cyprus (23-24 March); Bosnia and Herzegovina (27-28 March); Jordan (28-29 March); Armenia (29-30 March); Honduras (30-31 March) and Canada (3-4 April).
CBM will present a statement in the Committee’s opening session highlighting the importance of retaining a focus on Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals in its final recommendations to each country.
The eight countries to be reviewed are among the 172 States that have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and so are required to submit regular reports to the Committee, which is composed of 18 international independent experts. CBM’s presence in Canada enabled critical input into shaping how Canada will deliver disability-inclusive Sustainable Development Goals, so we hope this will be reflected in recommendations on international cooperation. In the same light we hope the recommendations for Jordan will highlight the additional barriers faced by refugees with disabilities in camps who have fled from Syria.
During the meetings in Geneva, Committee members will hold question and answer sessions with the respective State delegations. They will also hear from organisations representing persons with disabilities, NGOs and national human rights institutions.
Venue: Room 17, Palais des Nations, Geneva
Time: Each review runs from 15:00 to 18:00 Geneva time and continues the following day from 10:00 to 13:00. The public sessions will be webcast at http://webtv.un.org/
The issues likely to be discussed, the States’ reports, plus information from civil society organisations can be found here.
The Committee will publish its findings here on 13 April 2017.
What is CRPD and why is it important?
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a human rights treaty designed by representatives of the international community – including people with disabilities, government officials, representatives of non-governmental organisations and others – to change the way people with disabilities are viewed and treated in their societies.
The Convention lies at the heart of what CBM strives for in its vision to contribute to an inclusive world where persons with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.
Rather than considering disability as an issue of medicine, charity or dependency, the Convention challenges people worldwide to understand disability as a human rights issue. The Convention covers many areas where obstacles can arise, such as physical access to buildings, roads and transportation, and access to information through written and electronic communications. The Convention also aims to reduce stigma and discrimination, which are often reasons why people with disabilities are excluded from education, employment and health and other services.
There are around 1 billion people with disabilities in the world. They are often the poorest of the poor. The stigma and discrimination they are subjected to are common in all societies. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is important because it is a tool for ensuring that people with disabilities have access to the same rights and opportunities as everybody else.
The CRPD commmittee is the international monitoring body that currently exists to guarantee that States that have ratified the treaty (CRPD) will promote and protect the rights of people with disabilities.
– See more here