UN disability rights experts issue findings on Algeria, Bulgaria, Malta, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

GENEVA (26 September 2018) – The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has published its findings on the following countries which it examined during its latest session from 27 August to 21 September: Algeria, Bulgaria, Malta, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The findings cover how the respective State is doing with regard to the rights of persons with disabilities, detailing positive developments, main areas of concern, and recommendations for action. The findings, officially known as concluding observations, can be found here.

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is composed of 18 international independent experts, who monitor implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Committee will next meet from 11 March to 5 April 2019 in Geneva to review Cuba, Niger, Norway, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Turkey and Vanuatu. The Committee will also adopt lists of issues prior to reporting on Belgium, Cook Islands, Czech Republic and Denmark. More information may be found here.

ENDS

If you are a reporter interested in writing about the Committee’s concluding observations, and would like to request an interview with a Committee member, please contact Media Officer Julia Gronnevet in Geneva at jgronnevet@ohchr.org or by phone (+41) 22 917 9310.

Background

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities monitors States parties’ adherence to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which to date has 177 States parties. The Committee is made up of 18 members who are independent human rights experts drawn from around the world, who serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. The Committee’s concluding observations are an independent assessment of States’ compliance with their human rights obligations under the treaty.

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