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How is our work influencing life in Northern Ireland and delivering equality? Learn more about our policy, legal and research work.
 
 

UNCRPD - earlier submissions

What you need to know

 

UNCRPD Developments - Earlier submissions


The United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The UK uses an independent process to ensure the Convention is properly implemented. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and NI Human Rights Commission form the 'Independent Mechanism for Northern Ireland' (IMNI) which promotes, protects and monitors implementation of UNCRPD here. Together with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (GB) and Scottish Human Rights Commission we form the United Kingdom's Independent Mechanism (UKIM).

The UK submits regular reports to the UN Committee on how the rights enshrined in the Convention are being implemented. The Committee examines each report and then forwards recommendations in the form of concluding observations. This follows IMNI's participation in the formal examination process having worked closely with stakeholders to highlight key issues crucial to the realisation of Convention rights.

You can read some of the earlier submissions, reports and developments below.

UNCRPD examination of UK State Party (23 & 24 August 2017)

On 23rd and 24th August 2017, the UN Committee examined how the UK, including Northern Ireland, is delivering on its obligations to those with disabilities. The Independent Mechanism for Northern Ireland participated in the formal examination process as part of the UK Independent Mechanism delegation, working closely with stakeholders to highlight key issues crucial to the realisation of Convention rights. (Read our press release)

Download UKIM's updated submission to the UN Committee:
 

View video recordings and transcripts (available with subtitles and in-screen BSL translation):
 
 

NI 'Parallel' Jurisdictional Report - IMNI Working Paper (August 2017)

The information summarised in this working paper has been used to shape the input of the Independent Mechanism for Northern Ireland (IMNI) to the creation of a UKIM ‘List of Issues’ submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the subsequent UKIM ‘Shadow Report’ in support of the UN Committee’s examination of the UK State party.


We hope that publication of this working document, containing Northern Ireland specific detail, will raise awareness of key issues in Northern Ireland and drive action by Government and others to address identified shortfalls, thereby advancing the full implementation of the UNCRPD in Northern Ireland.

 

UKIM List of Issues: main report and supplementary nation reports (Feb 2017)

The UK Independent Mechanism has released its submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the accompanying supplementary reports on implementation of the UN Convention (CRPD) in Northern Ireland and the other UK regions. These were in respect to forthcoming consideration by the Committee of a List of Issues for examination of the First State Party report by the UK.

This was particularly relevant to NI Executive Departments with respect to the development of a revised Disability Strategy for NI and the delivery plan for Programme for Government Indicator 42 ‘Average life satisfaction score of life of people with disabilities’ in order to ensure the effective implementation of the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Northern Ireland.
 

 

UKIM concerns following UK Government's response to CRPD Committee Inquiry (Dec 2016)

The UK Independent Mechanism raised a number of key concerns following the release of the CRPD Committee’s inquiry into the UK under Article 6 of the CRPD Optional Protocol, and the UK Government’s response.

For full details download:

 

 

Inquiry concerning the UK (GB & NI) carried out by the UNCRPD Committee (Oct 2016)

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities carried out an inquiry concerning the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland under article 6 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention.

 

UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of disabled persons (Dec 2014)

In December 2014, the UN Human Rights Council created the role of UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of disabled people.

Part of this role is to report annually to the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly with recommendations on how to better promote and protect the rights of disabled people. The Special Rapporteur focused her first report on the right to social security. The report was published in October 2015.

The Special Rapporteur’s second study looked at disabled people’s right to participate in decision making. The report was published in March 2016 (word doc).
 

 

UKIM List of Issues interim report (Dec 2014)

The UK Independent Mechanism has released its list of issues interim report (pdf, 2014). The report was drawn together by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the Scottish Human Rights Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission and brings together the available evidence to set out the key issues faced by disabled people in the UK today.
 

 

NI 'Parallel' Jurisdictional Report - IMNI Working Paper (July 2014)

We produced a Parallel Report on Implementation in Northern Ireland (pdf, 2014) to shape our input to the UKIM's 'List of Issues' and subsequent submissions to the UN Committee.*  Our working assessment of key issues is based on extensive engagement with the Northern Ireland Executive, Departments and key stakeholders as well as an analysis of key policy documents.  We hope that dissemination of this working paper, containing Northern Ireland specific detail, will raise awareness of key issues in Northern Ireland and drive action by Government and others to address identified shortfalls, thereby advancing the full implementation of the UNCRPD in Northern Ireland.

*It had been anticipated that the 'list of issues' regarding the United Kingdom would be considered by the UN Committee in their October 2014 meeting. However, the UN Committee indicated (via an 'informative note'*) that the Adoption of List of Issues of the United Kingdom had been postponed to a later date.
 

Shoftfalls in public policy / Key gaps aligned to UNCRPD articles (May/July 2014)

Key gaps aligned to UNCRPD articles (July 2014)

Following the publication of the NI 'Parallel' Jurisdictional Report (pdf, 2014) which is being used to shape IMNI's input to the UKIM's 'List of Issues' and subsequent submissions to the UN Committee, we drew particular attention to key gaps aligned to the following UNCRPD articles:
 

  • Equality and non-discrimination (Article 5)
  • Awareness raising (Article 8)
  • Equal recognition before the law (Article 12)
  • Living independently and being included in the community (Article 19)
  • Education (Article 24)
  • Health (Article 25)
  • Adequate standard of living and social protection (Article 28)
  • Participation in public and political life (Article 29)
  • Access to information and Statistics and Data collection (Articles 9, 21 and 31)

Shortfalls in public policy

Shortfalls in public policy and programme delivery in NI relative to the Articles of the UNCRPD



Disability programmes and policies: How does Northern Ireland measure up?

 

The UK's initial State Report (May 2011)

CRPD is monitored by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a body made up of 18 independent experts. The Committee members are nominated by states that have ratified CRPD.

States send an initial report to the Committee after they ratify the treaty and then provide progress reports every four years. These ‘State Reports’ set out the laws and policies put in place to implement CRPD and their impact on the rights of disabled people.
 

 
 
 
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