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The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a group of people that check what countries do to make sure that persons with disabilities can use their rights. On 2-13 September 2013, The Committee checked the reports But the Committee also checked the reports |
The tenth session of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 2 to 13 September 2013. During this session, the Committee considered the initial reports received from three State parties, namely Australia, Austria and El Salvador. It also adopted a list of issues on the initial reports submitted by Azerbaijan, Costa Rica and Sweden.
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Committee) is the body of independent experts which monitors implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the States Parties. It examines reports by state parties and then makes recommendations on the steps which should be taken to improve CRPD implementation.
In a statement, the chairperson of the Austrian Independent Federal Monitoring Committee on the CRPD, Marianne Schulze made a number of recommendations to assisting the implementation of the CRPD in Austria.
“Participation of self-advocates is key in taking discussions and processes forward and we would like to reiterate that there is a need for meaningful participation, which has a demonstrable impact,” she said.
Ms Schulze further underlined the need to raise awareness of the needs of persons with disabilities on the basis of the social model of disability. This is in line with the Convention which identifies barriers to inclusion and stipulates that persons with disabilities are equal holders of rights. Article 4 of the Convention underlies the general obligations of state parties to “promote the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities without discrimination of any kind on the basis of disability.”
Moreover, Ms Schulze stressed the need to ensure that public money goes towards innovative and rights-based efforts. “Pilot-projects should only be a stepping stone on the way to transforming systems and structures in line with the Convention’s obligations.”
The Swedish Disability Federation presented a report to the committee regarding the implementation of the CRPD in Sweden. In this report, the federation outlined a number of key areas of concern. For instance, it raised concern over barriers to accessibility contrary to Article 9 of the Convention.
Many of the laws concerning accessibility relate only to persons with reduced mobility and orientation capacity, the federation explained. According to the transport administration’s evaluation of the implementation of the disability policy strategy, the percentage of wheelchair space has been reduced from 73 to 68 during the last two years.
Moreover, the Swedish Disability Federation noted that the gender perspective is often absent in statistics and inquires relating to persons with disabilities. Clearer assignments should be given to the Equality Ombudsman, the Governmental authority for coordination of disability policies, it continued. Furthermore Local authorities should focus on the implementation of the gender perspective.
A Government bill concerning youth will be adopted by the Parliament during the first quarter of 2014. However, the federation expressed concern that this bill does not cover all rights of the CRPD. Instead, the existing proposal only deals with mental health, livelihood and influence, the federation explained.
Another key area of concern was lack of accessibility in the schools’ premises which has prevented many children with disabilities from fully participating in education. The Federation raised a number of questions regarding accessibility in schools. For instance, it questioned government action in relation to increasing teachers’ knowledge about children with disabilities.
