In addition to the specific monitoring arrangement set up by the Convention, parliament, through its oversight function, plays a key role in ensuring respect for the human rights of persons with disabilities. Various parliamentary mechanisms that could be relied upon include:
Parliamentary committees oversee the executive. To be effective, they must be able to set their own agendas and have the power to oblige ministers and civil servants to appear and answer questions. Parliamentary committees can ask ministers and civil servants questions relating to the establishment of national frameworks or any other matter relating to the implementation and monitoring of the Convention.
Commissions of inquiry are established when a major public concern arises involving aspects not limited to the remit of specific parliamentary committees. This might be the case where certain violations of the rights of persons with disabilities come to light, such as forced institutionalization and forced treatment of persons with mental disabilities or systematic exclusion of persons with disabilities from the general education system.
Direct questioning of ministers is relevant in countries where ministers are members of the legislature. Questioning might be oral or in writing and helps to maintain government accountability. Persons with disabilities, their representative organizations or independent mechanisms under article 33 might contact local members or members of parliamentary committees related to human rights in order to raise questions for ministers with responsibility for implementing the Convention.
Scrutiny of executive appointments is particularly relevant in countries where ministers are not members of the legislature. For example, for the appointments of ombudsmen, human rights commissioners and cabinet members, it would be entirely appropriate for parliament to verify the appointee's knowledge of and attitude towards disability issues.
Parliament also monitors independent agencies to which the Government may have devolved public functions, such as agencies involved in regulatory activities or the delivery of frontline services. These include regulatory bodies for health and safety, service-delivery agencies, public utilities and other agencies whose activities might have a direct impact on the rights of persons with disabilities.
Parliament holds considerable influence over policies through its control of the Government's budget, during the stages of formulation as well as expenditure. As part of this process, parliament can ensure that the impact of the proposed budget on different social groups, such as persons with disabilities, is discussed and monitored.