The 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities the Convention (hereafter “the Convention”) and its Optional Protocol are the key international instruments protecting the human rights of persons with disabilities. The UN Treaty Body set up to monitor the implementation of the CRPD is the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Committee). State Parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented, which examines them and provides general recommendations.
According to Article 33(2) of the Convention, State Parties shall in accordance with their national legal, administrative systems, maintain, strengthen, design or establish a framework, including one or more independent mechanisms to promote, protect and monitor implementation of the Convention. In this process, State Parties shall consider the principles relating to the status and functioning of national institutions.
The unique mandate of both equality bodies and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in protecting and promoting human rights and equality makes them a logical choice when designating independent mechanisms at national level. In 2017, 32 equality bodies and NHRIs were designated independent mechanisms to promote, protect and monitor the implementation of the CRPD under article 33(2) in 29 countries. However, equality bodies and NHRIs are faced with numerous challenges and are not always accompanies by adequate human and financial resources to sufficiently engage with the CRPD Committee.
The training event will gather staff members of equality bodies and NHRIs who are responsible for the monitoring, protection and promotion of the Convention. Several UNCRPD Committee members will also be present during the training to provide valuable insight in the work of the UNCRPD Committee and discuss the important role of article 33(2) bodies.
The aim of the training event is to build effective engagement between IMMs, DPOs and the CRPD Committee, to share challenges and good practices as well as to explore ways for securing participation of DPOs in the engagement process with the UNCRPD Committee.
Equinet and ENNHRI members who are (or will become) independent mechanisms will attend this training event in order to reflect and identify means which can guarantee the implementation of the Convention and increase the cooperation with the CRPD Committee and DPOs.
Agenda
Concept Note
Social Media Pack
The registration is now closed and all participants have already been notified.
The event will be preceded by a meeting of ENNHRI’s CRPD WG, taking place on Tuesday, 2nd October.