Sri Lanka – IMM situation

IMM name: National Council for Persons with Disabilities

IMM type: Other

CRPD ratification date: 8 February 2016

IMM legal framework: Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, No. 28 of 1996 Certified on 24th October 1996

Sri Lanka ratified the CRPD on 8 February 2016. The National Council for Persons with Disabilities was established under the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act No. 28 of 1996. This Council consists of officials who are ex officio and representatives of organizations representing persons with disabilities appointed by the President. The National Council for Persons with Disabilities is not part of a Monitoring Framework consisting of other entities.

The IMM is mandated with the following functions:

• Promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, including through education, outreach, the media, training and capacity building
• Protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, including by receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints or by mediating conflicts and monitoring activities and reporting
• Monitoring the implementation of the CRPD

The IMM undertakes/has undertaken the following activities:

• Offering legal and policy advice to ensure compliance with the CRPD and other relevant international human rights obligations of the State
• Initiating or undertaking research studies on the rights of persons with disabilities
• Receiving and considering complaints or reviewing the outcome of complaints received by the NHRI
• Participating in the preparation of the State party’s periodic reports to the CRPD Committee

The IMM is composed of persons with disabilities and representatives of organisations of persons with disabilities. The responsible officers of the leading organizations representing persons with disabilities are selected for this purpose. Women with disabilities and their representative organizations participate in the membership and managerial functions of the independent monitoring mechanism or framework. The Minister and Secretary of the ministry in charge of the subject are officially appointed. The President appoints twenty-one members of the leading organizations representing persons with disabilities in consultation with the Minister.

The monitoring activities in which persons with disabilities or their representatives’ organizations have been involved include:

• Monitoring of public policies and legislation concerning persons with disabilities
• Monitoring the situation of persons with disabilities in institutions such as residential care centres and other places of institutionalization

Participation of persons with disabilities in the monitoring process:

Persons with disabilities take part in the decision-making process of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism; they have a voice and the right to vote. Persons with disabilities attend the decision-making process of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism; they have a voice throughout the deliberations. Furthermore, persons with disabilities as designated experts on disability are invited and/or hired to support specific programmes in the Independent Monitoring Mechanism. Persons with disabilities monitoring their rights may submit findings or allegations of human rights violations to the Independent Monitoring Mechanism.

Note: If you wish to rectify or provide more information regarding your IMM, please contact ohchr-CRPDIMM@un.org