View source for Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

{{Infobox treaty
| name                = Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
| long_name           =
| image               =CRPD members.svg|thumb|right|400px|Signatories to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
| image_width         =200px
| caption             =<div style="text-align: left">{{legend|#008000|states parties}}
{{legend|#00ff00|states that have signed, but not ratified}}
{{legend|#b9b9b9|states that have not signed}}</div>
| type                =
| date_drafted        =13 December 2006
| date_signed         = 30 March 2007
| location_signed     =New York
| date_sealed         =
| date_effective      =  3 May 2008
| condition_effective = 20 ratifications
| date_expiration     =
| signatories         =160
| parties             =173
| ratifiers           =
| depositor           = Secretary-General of the United Nations
| languages           = Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish
| wikisource          =
}}
The '''Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities''' is an [[international human rights instrument|international human rights]] [[multilateral treaty|treaty]] of the [[United Nations]] intended to protect the rights and dignity of persons with [[Disability|disabilities]]. Parties to the Convention are required to promote, protect, and ensure the full enjoyment of [[human rights]] by persons with disabilities and ensure that they enjoy full [[equality under the law]]. The Convention has served as the major catalyst in the global movement from viewing persons with disabilities as objects of charity, medical treatment and social protection towards viewing them as full and equal members of society, with human rights. It is also the only UN human rights instrument with an explicit [[sustainable development]] dimension. The Convention was the first human rights treaty of the third millennium.

The text was adopted by the [[United Nations General Assembly]] on 13 December 2006, and opened for signature on 30 March 2007. Following ratification by the 20th party, it came into force on 3 May 2008.<ref name="Scoop-EiF">{{cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00048.htm |title=Landmark UN treaty on rights of persons with disabilities enters into force |publisher=Scoop |date=2008-05-05 |accessdate=2008-06-28}}</ref> As of April 2017, it has 160 signatories and 173 parties, which includes 172 states and the [[European Union]] (which ratified it on 23 December 2010 to the extent responsibilities of the member states were transferred to the European Union).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15&chapter=4&clang=_en |title= UN Treaty Collection: parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: List of parties |publisher=United Nations |date=2016-10-12 |accessdate=2017-04-20}}</ref> In December 2012, a vote in the United States Senate fell six votes short of the two-thirds majority required for ratification.<ref>{{cite web|last=Helderman |first=Rosalind S. |url=http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-12-04/politics/35624605_1_treaty-disabled-children-americans-with-disabilities-act |title=Senate rejects treaty to protect disabled around the world - Washington Post |publisher=Articles.washingtonpost.com |date=2012-12-04 |accessdate=2013-09-20}}</ref> The Convention is monitored by the [[Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]].

==History==

1981 to 1992 was the UN "Decade of Disabled Persons". In 1987, a global meeting of experts to review progress recommended that the UN General Assembly should draft an international convention on the elimination of discrimination against persons with disabilities. Draft convention outlines were proposed by [[Italy]] and subsequently [[Sweden]], but no consensus was reached. Many government representatives argued that existing human rights documents were sufficient. Instead, non-compulsory "Standard Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities" were adopted by the General Assembly in 1993. In 2000, leaders of five international disability NGOs issued a declaration, calling on all governments to support a Convention. In 2001, the General Assembly, following a proposal by [[Mexico]], established an Ad Hoc Committee to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based on a holistic approach.<ref>O'Reilly, A. (2003) [http://www.disabilityworld.org/01-03_03/news/unconvention.shtml A UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: The Next Steps] Paper presented at the General Assembly Meeting of Rehabilitation International Arab Region, 8–9 March 2003, Kingdom of Bahrain.</ref> Disability rights organisations, including the [[International Disability Alliance]] as coordinator of an ad hoc International Disability Caucus, participated actively in the drafting process, in particular seeking a role for disabled people and their organisations in the implementation and monitoring of what became the Convention.<ref>[http://www.handicap-international.org.uk/what_we_do/disability_rights/un_convention Handicap International UK - UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]</ref>

Mexico initiated negotiations, with active support from [[United Nations Regional Groups#Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)|GRULAC]] (the Latin American regional group). When support for a Convention was foundering in 2002 due to [[Western European and Others Group|WEOG]] opposition, [[New Zealand]] played a pivotal role in achieving cross-regional momentum. Acting as facilitator from 2002–03, New Zealand eventually assumed the formal role of Chair of Ad Hoc Committee and led negotiations to a consensus agreement in August 2006, working closely with other Bureau members Jordan, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, and South Africa, as well as Korea and Mexico. The Convention became one of the most quickly supported human rights instruments in history, with strong support from all regional groups. 160 States have signed the Convention upon its opening in 2007 and 126 States ratified the Convention within its first five years. In recognition of its role in creating the Convention, as well as the quality of New Zealand's landmark national Disability Strategy, [[Governor-General of New Zealand]] [[Anand Satyanand]] received the 2008 World Disability Award on behalf of the nation.

As of 2015, for the first time in its history, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities opened an investigation into a signatory state for breaching their convention obligations. The investigation was triggered by article 6 of the optional protocol, which provides that an investigation will be carried out once the Committee receives “reliable information indicating grave and systematic violation” of the human rights of persons with disabilities. The [[government of the United Kingdom]] is being investigated, with the final report currently due to be released in 2017.<ref name="UN inquiry considers alleged UK disability rights violations">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/20/un-inquiry-uk-disability-rights-violations-cprd-welfare-cuts |title=UN inquiry considers alleged UK disability rights violations |publisher=The Guardian |date=2015-10-20 |accessdate=2016-08-12}}</ref>

==Summary==

The Convention follows the civil law tradition, with a preamble, in which the principle that "all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated " of [[Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action]] is cited, followed by 50 articles.  Unlike many UN covenants and conventions, it is not formally divided into parts.

'''Article 1''' defines the purpose of the Convention:
: ''to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity''

'''Articles 2 and 3''' provide definitions and general principles including [[communication]], [[reasonable accommodation]] and [[universal design]].

'''Articles 4–32''' define the rights of persons with disabilities and the obligations of states parties towards them. Many of these mirror rights affirmed in other UN conventions such as the [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]], [[International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights]] or the [[United Nations Convention Against Torture|Convention Against Torture]], but with specific obligations ensuring that they can be fully realised by persons with disabilities.

Rights specific to this convention include the rights to [[accessibility]] including the [[information technology]], the rights to live independently and be included in the community (Article 19), to personal mobility (article 20), habilitation and rehabilitation (Article 26), and to participation in political and public life, and [[culture|cultural life]], [[recreation]] and [[sport]] (Articles 29 and 30).

In addition, parties to the Convention must raise awareness of the human rights of persons with disabilities (Article 8), and ensure [[accessibility|access]] to [[road]]s, [[building]]s, and [[information]] (Article 9).

'''Articles 33–39''' govern reporting and monitoring of the convention by [[national human rights institutions]] (Article 33) and [[Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]] (Article 34).

'''Articles 40–50''' govern ratification, entry into force, and amendment of the Convention.  '''Article 49''' also requires that the Convention be available in accessible formats.

==Core provisions==

===Guiding principles of the Convention===
There are eight guiding principles that underlie the Convention:

#Respect for inherent dignity, individual [[autonomy]] including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence of persons
#Non-discrimination
#Full and effective participation and [[inclusion (disability rights)|inclusion]] in society
#[[Respect diversity|Respect for difference]] and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human [[diversity (politics)|diversity]] and humanity
#[[Equal opportunity|Equality of opportunity]]
#[[Accessibility]]
#[[gender equality|Equality between men and women]]
#Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities

===Definition of disability===
The Convention adopts a [[social model of disability]], and defines disability as including

:''those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory [[Disability|impairments]] which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.''

===Principle of "reasonable accommodation"===
The Convention defines "[[reasonable accommodation]]" to be "necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and [[fundamental rights|fundamental freedoms]]" at the Article 2 and demands this all aspects of life including [[inclusion (education)|inclusive education]].

===Prevention of discrimination===
The Article 8 of Convention stresses the [[awareness raising]] to foster respect for the rights and dignity against discrimination:
#To raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding persons with disabilities, and to foster respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
#To combat [[stereotype]]s, [[prejudice]]s and harmful practices relating to persons with disabilities, including those based on sex and age, in all areas of life.
#To promote awareness of the capacities and contributions of persons with disabilities.
#Initiating and maintaining effective public awareness campaigns designed: (i) to nurture receptiveness to the rights of persons with disabilities. (ii) to promote positive perceptions and greater social awareness towards persons with disabilities. (iii) to promote recognition of the skills, merits and abilities of persons with disabilities, and of their contributions to [[wikt:Special:Search/workplace|workplace]] and the [[labour market]]. 
#Encouraging all organs of the [[mass media]] to portray persons with disabilities in a manner consistent with the purpose of the present Convention.
#Promoting awareness-training programmes regarding persons with disabilities and the rights of persons with disabilities.

===Accessibility===
The Convention stresses that persons with disabilities should be able to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life. To this end, States Parties should take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access, to the physical environment, to transportation, to [[information and communications technology]], and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public.
accessibility can be grouped into  three main groups. 
1. physical  accessibility
2. service  accessibility 
3. [[accessibility]]  to  [[information and communication technology|communication and information]]

===Situations of risk and humanitarian emergency===
Article 11 of the Convention affirms that States Parties shall take, in accordance with their obligations under international law, including [[international humanitarian law]] and [[international human rights law]], all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of [[armed conflict]], humanitarian [[emergency|emergencies]] and the occurrence of [[natural disaster]].

===Recognition before the law and legal capacity===
Article 12 of the Convention affirms the equal recognition before law and [[capacity (law)|legal capacity]] of the persons with disabilities.

States Parties should: 
#reaffirm that persons with disabilities have the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
#recognize that persons with disabilities enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life.
#take appropriate measures to provide access by persons with disabilities to the support they may require in exercising their legal capacity.
#ensure that all measures that relate to the exercise of legal capacity provide for appropriate and effective safeguards to prevent abuse in accordance with [[international human rights law]]. Such safeguards shall ensure that measures relating to the exercise of legal capacity respect the rights, will and preferences of the person, are free of [[conflict of interest]] and undue influence, are proportional and tailored to the person's circumstance, apply for the shortest time possible and are subject to regular [[judicial review|review]] by a competent, independent and impartial authority or judicial body. The safeguards shall be proportional to the degree to which such measures affect the person's rights and interests.

===Access to justice===
Article 13 of the Convention affirms the effective access to justice for persons with disabilities, stating that:
#States parties shall ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others, including through the provision of procedural and [[reasonable accommodation|age-appropriate accommodations]], in order to facilitate their effective role as a direct and indirect participants, including as [[witness]]es, in all legal proceeding, including at investigative and other preliminary stages.
#In order to help to ensure effective access to [[criminal justice|justice]] for persons with disabilities, states Parties shall promote appropriate training for those working in the field of administration of justice, including [[police]] and prison staff. This Article together with the Article 12 are cited by the "Handbook on prisoners with special needs"<ref>[http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4a0969d42.html Handbook on prisoners with special needs, pp. 47-48]</ref> by [[United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime]].

===Right to education===
The Convention states that persons with disabilities should be guaranteed the right to [[inclusive education]] at all levels, regardless of age, without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity.

States Parties should ensure that:
#children with disabilities are not excluded from [[free education|free]] and compulsory [[primary education]], or from [[secondary education]];
#adults with disabilities have access to general tertiary education, [[vocational training]], [[adult education]] and [[lifelong learning]];
#persons with disabilities receive the necessary support, within the general education system, to facilitate their effective education; and
#effective individualized support measures are put in place to maximize academic and social development.

States Parties should take appropriate measures, such as:
#endorsing the learning of Braille, alternative script, [[augmentative and alternative communication|augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication]] and orientation and mobility skills, and facilitating [[peer support]] and mentoring;
#supporting the learning of sign language and promoting the linguistic identity of the deaf community;
#advocating that education of persons, particularly children, who are blind and/or deaf, is delivered in the most appropriate languages and means of communication for the individual; and
#employing teachers, including teachers with disabilities, who are qualified in sign language and/or Braille, and to train education professionals and staff about disability [[awareness]], use of augmentative and alternative modes and formats of communication, and educational techniques and materials to support persons with disabilities.

===Right to health===
Article 25 specifies that "persons with disabilities have the right to the enjoyment of the [[right to health|highest attainable standard of health]] without discrimination on the basis of disability."<ref>[http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/disabilities-convention.htm#25 Article 25]</ref>

===Protecting the integrity of the person===
Article 17 of the Convention states that every person with disabilities has a right to respect for his or her physical and mental [[integrity]] on an equal basis with others.

===Respect for the family===
Article 23 of the Convention prohibits [[compulsory sterilization]] of disabled persons<ref>[http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/Regularsession/Session22/A.HRC.22.53_English.pdf?u Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (A/HRC/22/53)] states that persons especially with psychological disability are often subjected to unhuman treatment or medical abuses (para 57-70)</ref> and guarantees their right to [[adoption|adopt children]].

===Habilitation and rehabilitation===
Article 26 of the Convention affirms that "States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures, including through [[peer support]], to enable persons with disabilities to attain and maintain maximum independence, full physical, mental, social and vocational ability, and full inclusion and participation in all aspects of life. To that end, States Parties shall organize, strengthen and extend comprehensive [[habilitation]] and [[physical medicine and rehabilitation|rehabilitation]] services and programmes, particularly in the areas of health, [[employment]], [[education]] and [[social services]], in such a way that these services and programmes:
#Begin at the earliest possible stage, and are based on the [[multidisciplinarity|multidisciplinary]] assessment of individual needs and strengths;
#Support participation and inclusion in the community and all aspects of society, are voluntary, and are available to persons with disabilities as close as possible to their own communities, including in rural areas.
#States Parties shall promote the development of initial and continuing training for professionals and staff working in habilitation and rehabilitation service.
#States Parties shall promote the availability, knowledge and use of [[assistive device]]s and technologies, designed for persons with disabilities, as they relate to habilitation and rehabilitation.

===Participation rights===
The Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities recognised that "that disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others" and that "persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in their participation as equal members of society."

The Convention makes participation of the disabled one of its principles, stating "The principles of the present Convention shall be:...Full and effective participation and [[inclusion (disability rights)|inclusion]] in society", subsequently enshrining the right of disabled to participate fully and equally in the community, education, all aspect of life (in the context of habilitation and [[Physical medicine and rehabilitation|rehabilitation]]), political and public life, [[right to science and culture|cultural life]], leisure and sports.<ref>[http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

States Parties should take appropriate measure such as:
#To enables persons with disabilities to have the opportunity to develop and utilize their creative, [[art]]istic and intellectual potential, not only for their own benefit, but also for the enrichment of society.
#In accordance with [[international law]], to ensure that law protecting intellectual property rights do not constitute an unreasonable or discriminatory barrier to access by persons with disabilities to cultural materials.
#So that persons with disabilities should be entitled, on an equal basis with others, to recognition and support of their specific cultural and linguistic identity, including [[sign languages]] and [[deaf culture]].

===Work and employment===
Article 27 requires that States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work, on an equal basis of others; this includes the right to the opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a [[labour market]] and work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. And that States Parties shall safeguard and promote the realization of the [[right to work]], including for those who acquire a disability during the course of employment, by taking appropriate steps, including through legislation, to inter alia:
#Prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to all matters concerning all forms of employment, continuance of employment, career advancement and safe and healthy working conditions;
#Protect the rights of persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, to [[decent work|just and favourable conditions of work]], including equal opportunities and [[equal pay for equal work|equal remuneration for work of equal value]], safe and healthy working conditions, including protection from [[harassment]], and the [[redress]] of grievances;
#Ensure that persons with disabilities are able to exercise their labour and [[trade union]] rights on an equal basis with others;
#Enable persons with disabilities to have effective access to general technical and vocational guidance programmes, placement services and [[vocational education|vocational]] and continuing training;
#Promote employment opportunities and career advancement for persons with disabilities in the labour market, as well as assistance in finding, obtaining, maintaining and returning to employment;
#Promote opportunities for [[self-employment]], [[entrepreneurship]], the development of cooperative and starting one's own business.
#Ensure that [[reasonable accommodation]] is provided to persons with disabilities in the [[wikt:Special:Search/workplace|workplace]].
#Promote the acquisition by persons with disabilities of work experience in the open [[labour market]].
#Promote vocational and professional rehabilitation, job retention and return-to-work programmes for persons with disabilities.

States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are not held in slavery or in servitude, and are protected, on an equal basis with others, from [[unfree labour|forces or compulsory labour]].

===Adequate standard of living and social protection===
Article 28 requires that States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to an [[right to an adequate standard of living|adequate standard of living]] for themselves and their families, including [[right to food|adequate food]], [[right to clothing|clothing]] and [[right to housing|housing]], and to the continuous improvement of living conditions, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realization of this rights without discrimination on the basis of disability.

States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to [[social security|social protection]] and to the enjoyment of that rights without discrimination on the basis of disability, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realization of the rights, including measures;
#To ensure equal access by persons with disabilities to clean water service, and to ensure access to appropriate and affordable service, [[assistive technology|device]] and other [[social assistance|assistance]] for disability-related needs.
#To ensure access by persons with disabilities, in particular women and girls with disabilities and older persons with disabilities, to social protection programmes and [[poverty reduction]] programmes.
#To ensure access by persons with disabilities and their families living in situations of poverty to assistance from the State with disability-related expenses, including adequate training, [[counselling]], financial assistance and respite care.
#To ensure access by persons with disabilities to [[public housing]] programmes.
#To ensure equal access by persons with disabilities to retirement benefits and programmes.

===Right to vote===
[[Image:topvoter2.jpg|thumb|400px|ISG TopVoter, a machine designed specifically to be used by voters with disabilities.]]
Article 29 requires that all Contracting States protect "the right of persons with disabilities to vote by [[secret ballot]] in [[elections]] and public [[referendums]]".<ref>Ron McCallum, 'Participating in Political and Public life' (2011) 32 ''AltLJ'' 80. http://www.altlj.org/news-and-views/opinion/92-participating-in-political-and-public-life</ref> According to this provision, each Contracting State should provide for voting equipment which would enable disabled voters to vote independently and secretly. Some democracies, e.g., the US,  Japan, Netherlands, Slovenia, Albania or India allow disabled voters to use electronic [[voting machines]] or electronic aides which help disabled voters to fill the paper ballot. In others, among them Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Canada, Ghana, United Kingdom, and most of African and Asian countries, visually impaired voters can use ballots in [[Braille]] or paper ballot templates. Many of these and also some other democracies, Chile for example, use adjustable desks so that voters on wheelchairs can approach them. Some democracies only allow another person to cast a ballot for the blind or disabled voter. Such arrangement, however, does not assure secrecy of the ballot.

Article 29 also requires that Contracting States ensure "that voting procedures, facilities and materials are appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use." In some democracies, i.e. Sweden and the US, all the polling places already are fully accessible for disabled voters.

==Reservations==

A number of parties have made reservations and interpretative declarations to their application of the Convention.<ref name="reservations">https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15&chapter=4&clang=_en Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Declarations and Reservations. UN Treaties Collection. Retrieved 2016-10-13.</ref>

[[Australia]] does not consider itself bound to stop forcibly medicating those labeled mentally ill when it is considered a last resort.<ref name="reservations"/>

[[El Salvador]] accepts the Convention to the extent that it is compatible with its constitution.<ref name="reservations"/>

[[Malta]] interprets the right to health in Article 25 of the Convention as not implying any right to [[abortion]].  It also reserves the right to continue to apply its own election laws around accessibility and assistance.<ref name="reservations"/>

[[Mauritius]] does not consider itself bound by the Article 11 obligation to take all necessary measures to protect people with disabilities during natural disasters, armed conflict or humanitarian emergencies, unless permitted by domestic legislation.<ref name="reservations"/>

The [[Netherlands]] interprets the right to life in Article 10 within the framework of its domestic laws.  It also interprets Article 25(f), which bars the discriminatory denial of health care, as permitting a person to refuse medical treatment, including food or fluids.<ref name="reservations"/>

[[Poland]] interprets Articles 23 and 25 as not conferring any right to abortion.<ref name="reservations"/>

The [[United Kingdom]] has reservations relating to the right to education, immigration, service in the armed forces and an aspect of social security law.<ref name="reservations"/>

==Optional protocol==
[[File:OP-CRPD-members.svg|thumb|400px|{{legend|#008000|states parties}}
{{legend|#00ff00|states that signed, but have not ratified}}
{{legend|#b9b9b9|states that have not signed}}</div>]]
The [[Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]] is a side-agreement to the Convention which allows its parties to recognise the competence of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to consider complaints from individuals.<ref>[http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/disabilities-op.htm  Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ], Article 1.</ref>  The text is based heavily on the [[Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women]].

The Optional Protocol entered into force with the Convention on 3 May 2008.<ref name="Scoop-EiF"/> As of April 2017, it has 92 signatories and 92 parties.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15&chapter=4&clang=_en |title= UN Treaty Collection: Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities |publisher=United Nations |accessdate=2017-04-20}}</ref>

==Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities==

The [[Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]] is a body of human rights experts tasked with monitoring the implementation of the Convention. It initially consisted of 12 independent human rights experts, with half elected for a two-year term and half elected for four-years.<ref name="Art34">Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 34.</ref> Thereafter members will be elected for four-year terms, with half the members elected every two years.  As the Convention has achieved 80 ratifications, the Committee will be expanded to 18 members.<ref name="Art34"/>

==See also==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* [[Ableism]]
* [[Americans with Disabilities Act]]
* [[Augmentative and alternative communication]]
* [[Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons]]
* [[Disability and poverty]]
* [[Disability Discrimination Act 1995]]
* [[Disability rights movement]]
* [[Handicap International]]
* [[Information technology]]
* [[International Day of People with Disability]]
* [[International Disability and Development Consortium]]
{{col-2}}
* [[International human rights law]]
* [[International Year of Disabled Persons]]
* [[National human rights institutions]]
* [[Nothing About Us Without Us]]
* [[Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness]]
* [[Psychiatric survivors movement]]
* [[Reasonable accommodation]]
* [[Transgenerational design]]
* [[Universal design]]
* [[World report on disability]]
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2.html Text of the Convention (HTML)]
* [http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/convention/convention_accessible_pdf.pdf Text of the Convention (accessible PDF)]
* [http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15&chapter=4&lang=en List of parties]
* [http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/CRPDIndex.aspx Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities] - Official monitoring body
* [http://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html UN Enable]
* [http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/crpd/crpd.html Procedural history note and audiovisual material] on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the [http://legal.un.org/avl/historicarchives.html Historic Archives of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law]

{{International human rights legal instruments}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2011}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Disabilities Persons Convention}}
[[Category:Anti-discrimination treaties]]
[[Category:United Nations treaties]]
[[Category:Disability rights|Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]]
[[Category:Treaties concluded in 2006]]
[[Category:Treaties entered into force in 2008]]
[[Category:Treaties of Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Albania]]
[[Category:Treaties of Algeria]]
[[Category:Treaties of Andorra]]
[[Category:Treaties of Angola]]
[[Category:Treaties of Antigua and Barbuda]]
[[Category:Treaties of Argentina]]
[[Category:Treaties of Armenia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Australia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Austria]]
[[Category:Treaties of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Bahamas]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bahrain]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Treaties of Barbados]]
[[Category:Treaties of Belarus]]
[[Category:Treaties of Belgium]]
[[Category:Treaties of Belize]]
[[Category:Treaties of Benin]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bolivia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Treaties of Brazil]]
[[Category:Treaties of Brunei]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bulgaria]]
[[Category:Treaties of Burkina Faso]]
[[Category:Treaties of Burundi]]
[[Category:Treaties of Cambodia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Canada]]
[[Category:Treaties of Cape Verde]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Central African Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of Chile]]
[[Category:Treaties of the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:Treaties of Colombia]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Comoros]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Republic of the Congo]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Cook Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties of Costa Rica]]
[[Category:Treaties of Ivory Coast]]
[[Category:Treaties of Croatia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Cuba]]
[[Category:Treaties of Cyprus]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of Denmark]]
[[Category:Treaties of Djibouti]]
[[Category:Treaties of Dominica]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of Ecuador]]
[[Category:Treaties of Egypt]]
[[Category:Treaties of El Salvador]]
[[Category:Treaties of Estonia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Treaties entered into by the European Union]]
[[Category:Treaties of Finland]]
[[Category:Treaties of France]]
[[Category:Treaties of Gabon]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Gambia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Treaties of Germany]]
[[Category:Treaties of Ghana]]
[[Category:Treaties of Greece]]
[[Category:Treaties of Grenada]]
[[Category:Treaties of Guatemala]]
[[Category:Treaties of Guinea]]
[[Category:Treaties of Guinea-Bissau]]
[[Category:Treaties of Guyana]]
[[Category:Treaties of Haiti]]
[[Category:Treaties of Honduras]]
[[Category:Treaties of Hungary]]
[[Category:Treaties of Iceland]]
[[Category:Treaties of India]]
[[Category:Treaties of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Iran]]
[[Category:Treaties of Iraq]]
[[Category:Treaties of Israel]]
[[Category:Treaties of Italy]]
[[Category:Treaties of Jamaica]]
[[Category:Treaties of Japan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Jordan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Kenya]]
[[Category:Treaties of Kiribati]]
[[Category:Treaties of Kuwait]]
[[Category:Treaties of Laos]]
[[Category:Treaties of Latvia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Lesotho]]
[[Category:Treaties of Liberia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Lithuania]]
[[Category:Treaties of Luxembourg]]
[[Category:Treaties of Madagascar]]
[[Category:Treaties of Malawi]]
[[Category:Treaties of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Maldives]]
[[Category:Treaties of Mali]]
[[Category:Treaties of Malta]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Marshall Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties of Mauritania]]
[[Category:Treaties of Mauritius]]
[[Category:Treaties of Mexico]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Federated States of Micronesia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Mongolia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Montenegro]]
[[Category:Treaties of Morocco]]
[[Category:Treaties of Mozambique]]
[[Category:Treaties of Myanmar]]
[[Category:Treaties of Namibia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Nauru]]
[[Category:Treaties of Nepal]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Treaties of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Treaties of Nicaragua]]
[[Category:Treaties of Niger]]
[[Category:Treaties of Nigeria]]
[[Category:Treaties of North Korea]]
[[Category:Treaties of Norway]]
[[Category:Treaties of Oman]]
[[Category:Treaties of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Palau]]
[[Category:Treaties of Palestine]]
[[Category:Treaties of Panama]]
[[Category:Treaties of Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:Treaties of Paraguay]]
[[Category:Treaties of Peru]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Treaties of Poland]]
[[Category:Treaties of Portugal]]
[[Category:Treaties of Qatar]]
[[Category:Treaties of South Korea]]
[[Category:Treaties of Moldova]]
[[Category:Treaties of Romania]]
[[Category:Treaties of Russia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Rwanda]]
[[Category:Treaties of Samoa]]
[[Category:Treaties of San Marino]]
[[Category:Treaties of São Tomé and Príncipe]]
[[Category:Treaties of Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Senegal]]
[[Category:Treaties of Serbia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Seychelles]]
[[Category:Treaties of Sierra Leone]]
[[Category:Treaties of Singapore]]
[[Category:Treaties of Slovakia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Slovenia]]
[[Category:Treaties of South Africa]]
[[Category:Treaties of Spain]]
[[Category:Treaties of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
[[Category:Treaties of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Republic of the Sudan (1985–2011)]]
[[Category:Treaties of Swaziland]]
[[Category:Treaties of Sweden]]
[[Category:Treaties of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Treaties of Syria]]
[[Category:Treaties of Thailand]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Republic of Macedonia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Togo]]
[[Category:Treaties of Trinidad and Tobago]]
[[Category:Treaties of Tunisia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Turkey]]
[[Category:Treaties of Turkmenistan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Uganda]]
[[Category:Treaties of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Treaties of the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Treaties of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Treaties of Tanzania]]
[[Category:Treaties of Tuvalu]]
[[Category:Treaties of Uruguay]]
[[Category:Treaties of Vanuatu]]
[[Category:Treaties of Venezuela]]
[[Category:Treaties of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Treaties of Yemen]]
[[Category:Treaties of Zambia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Disability law|Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]]
[[Category:2006 in New York]]
[[Category:Treaties adopted by United Nations General Assembly resolutions]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Faroe Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Greenland]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Macau]]