​​​​OHCHR and the rights of persons with disabilities

Human rights of persons with disabilities

Persons with disabilities face discrimination and barriers that restrict them from participating in society on an equal basis with others every day. They are commonly denied their rights to be included in the general school system and the workplace, to live independently in the community, to vote, to participate in sport and cultural activities, to enjoy social protection, to access justice, to choose medical treatment and to enter freely into legal commitments such as buying and selling property.

Read more about the human rights of persons with disabilities

Our work on the rights of persons with disabilities

OHCHR has a mandate to ensure the inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the United Nations system. The team focuses on providing guidance on the human rights-based approach to disability, including through reporting and activities mandated by the Human Rights Council, in particular, the annual panel on the rights of persons with disabilities.

OHCHR's work includes:

• Raising awareness, understanding and recognition of disability as a human rights issue as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
• Developing guidance on the rights of persons with disabilities and mainstreaming their rights across the United Nations system, including through the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS);
• Facilitating and aligning policy dialogue on the rights of persons with disabilities among intergovernmental bodies and across humanitarian and development agendas including the Sustainable Development Goals;
• Facilitating engagement and participation of persons with disabilities with United Nations processes, in partnership with representative organisations of persons with disabilities

Read more about OHCHR's work on the rights of persons with disabilities

Key documents

SDG-CRPD Resource Package: Disability-Inclusive Sustainable Development Goals

OHCHR developed a package of resources to support realizing the Sustainable Development Goals for persons with disabilities. These include resources on policymaking (Policy Guidelines for Inclusive SDGs; Training Materials and Videos) and resources on monitoring (Human Rights Indicators on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and a Data Sources Guidance).

OHCHR Human Rights Indicators on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2020)

OHCHR developed human rights indicators on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as a key tool to facilitate understanding and implementation of the Convention's provisions.

Human rights indicators on the CRPD are key to facilitating understanding and implementation of the Convention's provisions. They serve to give guidance on actions and measures to be taken in implementing the CRPD and facilitating assessment of this progress.

View the documents in multiple languages and in accessible formats.

Recent reports, publications and resources

A/HRC/46/49: Report on physical activity and sports under article 30 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2021)

OHCHR Guidelines on COVID-19 and the rights of persons with disabilities (2020)

A/HRC/44/30: Analytical study on the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in the context of climate change (2020)

A/HRC/43/27: Awareness-raising under article 8 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2019)

A/HRC/40/27: Empowering children with disabilities for the enjoyment of their human rights, including through inclusive education (2019)

A/HRC/40/32: Habilitation and rehabilitation under article 26 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2019)

Summary report of the consultation on human rights and mental health (2018)

View all OHCHR thematic reports