Skip to main content
In order to provide complete functionality, this web site needs your explicit consent to store browser cookies. If you don't allow cookies, you may not be able to use certain features of the web site including but not limited to: log in, buy products, see personalized content, switch between site cultures. It is recommended that you allow all cookies.
 

ECNI

 
RSS

New Chairperson for the Disability Forum

New Chairperson for the Disability Forum
01/09/2021
Equality Commission press release







The new chairperson of the IMNI Disability Forum, Michael Lorimer, is enthusiastic about the potential of the Forum to positively influence the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Northern Ireland.

The role of the Forum is to help and advise the Equality Commission and the NI Human Rights Commission (as IMNI, the Independent Mechanism for Northern Ireland) in delivering on their joint responsibility of promoting, protecting and monitoring implementation of the UNCRPD here.

Michael writes: “Disabled people were fully involved and played a decisive role in the development and drafting of the UNCRPD. It is essential that disabled people also play a leading role in monitoring the implementation of the Convention and more broadly can participate in decision making about matters that affect our lives. The UNCRPD upholds the right of disabled people to be closely consulted and actively involved in the development of policy and legislation to implement the Convention and to participate in the process for monitoring its implementation.

“I am proud to chair the new IMNI Disability Forum. In creating the Forum IMNI has demonstrated meaningful and practical implementation of General Comment Number 7. I am looking forward to working with members of the Forum and IMNI officials to ensure disabled people play an active and significant role in monitoring the implementation of the Convention here. More broadly I hope the Forum will demonstrate the importance of prioritising the voice of disabled people in wider policy and decision making.”

The Disability Forum currently involves 11 people from representative organisations and individuals with disabilities and will seek to take account of the interests of people with a wide range of disabilities, including children and older people.

Anyone with a concern or question about the implementation of the UNCRPD in Northern Ireland can contact the Forum by emailing
bdrury@equalityni.org, phoning 028 9050 0638 or writing to Brian Drury, Equality Commission, 7-9 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DP.
 

Further information
 


 
< News archive
2020 press releases