UN disability rights committee to review Moldova, Iran, Cyprus, Jordan, Armenia, Honduras, Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina

GENEVA (15 March 2017) – 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).

The above 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.

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 disabled persons, 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.

ENDS

For media requests please contact:
Nicoleta Panta,  +41(0) 22 9179310/npanta@ohchr.org

Media accreditation – please go here.   

Background

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 organizations and others - to change the way people with disabilities are viewed and treated in their societies.

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 suffer 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.

CRPD 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.

More information on the CRPD: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/CRPDIndex.aspx

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