Given that State parties to the Convention have different forms of government and are organized differently, the article relating to focal points and coordination mechanisms is flexible and therefore adaptable.
However, since other international instruments, such as the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, have also called for the establishment of similar entities, it is worth reflecting on their experience to orient the implementation of article 33.
If a decision is taken to appoint one overall focal point, the following considerations are relevant:
The Handbook for Parliamentarians on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol 12 identifies possible tasks of the national focal point(s) as follows:
Although optional, the establishment of a coordination mechanism at governmental level in addition to focal points is encouraged under the Convention.
A coordination mechanism could, for example, take the shape of an interministerial group, i.e., representatives from the ministries concerned tasked with coordinating the Convention's implementation across departments/sectors or levels of government. Given the breadth of the Convention, all ministries will have some responsibilities for implementing parts of it.
Some coordinating mechanisms include representatives of various ministries as well as of organizations of persons with disabilities, other civil society organizations, the private sector and trade unions. Their mandate often focuses on policy development, the promotion of dialogue on disability, awareness-raising and similar functions.
Note that coordination mechanisms could prove particularly beneficial in countries with systems of devolved administration, such as federal States.
Trainers should endeavour to identify national and regional mechanisms that are relevant to the context of the training so that participants are provided with sufficient examples of existing mechanisms.