UN special rapporteur to launch Irish disability rights report

The UN’s special rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities will today launch a new report by NUI Galway’s centre for disability law and policy.

The report, Article 33: Establishing a Monitoring Framework for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, was commissioned by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) and will be launched by UN rapporteur Catalina Devandas Aguilar at IHREC’s invitation.

Under article 33 of the Convention, an independent monitoring framework must be established to scrutinise each ratifying state’s progress in implementing their obligations to protect, respect and uphold the human rights of persons with disabilities.

The report’s key recommendation is that people with disabilities and their organisations be involved in all aspects of the monitoring process.

It also recommends IHREC be jointly designated as the independent monitoring mechanism with an advisory committee composed of a diverse group of persons with lived experience of disability.

Chief Commissioner Emily Logan said: “The aim to realise the commitments set out in the former Government’s Roadmap to Ratification by year end is achievable provided there is political will. There is now an opportunity for cooperation across the Houses of the Oireachtas to enact legislation that would reflect the values of rights and equality publicly invoked in this year of State commemorations.”

“The Convention places the full and direct participation of people with disabilities at the centre of monitoring process. It represents a step change away from the paternalistic, charitable and medical models to an emancipatory approach based on independence, dignity and self-advocacy.”

She continued: “The Convention recognises people with disabilities as active participants in their own decisions, and equal partners in State action on disability.”