1. The UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD)

2. Written by disabled people for disabled people
Disabled people don’t enjoy basic human rights taken for granted by others
Non-discrimination & civil, political, social, economic rights across all areas of life
Legally binding on the UK since 8 June 2009

3. UK must implement the rights in the Convention
Civil and political rights must be realised immediately
Social, economic and cultural rights must be achieved progressively – to the maximum of available resources.
No regression – always moving forward

4. UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN Disability Committee)
Monitoring compliance State party submits Report of progress Committee can request further information (List of Issues) Considers Report Committee issues its Concluding Observations Civil society and Independent Mechanism can provide submissions at each stage

5. Obligations and issues under specific articles

6. General principles – Participation and Inclusion
Participation is important to correctly identify specific needs, and to empower the individual
Full and effective participation and inclusion in society is recognised in the Convention as:
A general principle (article 3)
A general obligation (article 4)
A right

7. General principles – Non discrimination and equality
Fundamental principle of international human rights law
Includes direct and indirect discrimination
Reasonable accommodation must be made for persons with disabilities
reasonable accommodation: ‘necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms’

8. General principles - Accessibility
Important as a means to empowerment and inclusion
Both a general principle and a stand-alone article (article 9)
Access must be ensured to:
Justice (article 13)
Living independently and being included in the community (article 19)
Information and communication services (article 21)
Education (article 24)
Health (article 25)
Habilitation and rehabilitation (article 26)
Work and employment (article 27) - human resource policies and practices
Adequate standard of living and social protection (article 28)
Participation in political and social life (article 29)
Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport (article 30)

9. Accessibility – priority issues
Housing
Access to the built environment
Transport
Information in accessible formats

10. Article 8 – Awareness raising
State parties must raise awareness, throughout society, to foster respect for the rights of persons with disabilities.
They must take measures to combat stereotypes and prejudices and to promote awareness of the capabilities and contributions of disabled people.

11. Article 8 – Priority issues
Strategies to address prejudice and negative attitudes towards disabled people across different sectors (e.g. workplaces, healthcare, media)

12. Article 19 – living independently and being included in the community
State parties must facilitate disabled people to live as independently as possible in their communities and to make their own choices about their lives.

13. Article 19 – Priority issues
Reductions in local authority budgets and impact on adult social care provision
Changes to eligibility criteria for social care
Increase in charging for social care
Portability of care packages
Changes to the Independent Living Fund

14. Article 28 – Adequate standard of living
Right of disabled people to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing and housing and to continuous improvement
Right to social protection including access for those living in poverty to assistance with disability-related expenses, financial assistance, respite care

15. Article 28 – Priority issues
Income poverty
Cumulative impact of welfare reform measures: Universal credit, transition from DLA to PIP, “bedroom tax”
Self-directed Support