The UN Disability Convention

1. The UN Disability Convention Equality and Human Rights Commission Engagement with disabled people and disabled people’s organisations

2. UNCRPD Engagement • This engagement is about the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the UNCRPD, or the Disability Convention) • You can find out all about the Disability Convention on our website: www.equalityhumanrights.com

3. UN Disability Convention • International human rights agreement ratified by UK Government in 2009 • Goes beyond non-discrimination to civil, political, social and economic rights across all areas of life • Requires full participation of disabled people

4. Why is the Convention important for disabled people in Britain • Legally binding on the UK since 8 June 2009 (Optional Protocol since 7 Aug 2009) • Sets new standards on how Government and public bodies should ensure disabled people’s human rights are protected and promoted • UK will be examined by UN Disability Committee on its record

5. Roles and responsibilities (article 33) • Implementation: UK Government and the devolved administrations • Monitoring: UK Independent Mechanism (UKIM) • Monitoring: Disabled people and their organisations must be involved and participate fully in monitoring process

6. UN monitoring and reporting process • Within two years of ratification, each state party to the Convention must submit a report on measures taken to give effect to its obligations under the Convention and on progress made (article 35) • Each report considered by the UN Disability Cttee, which may make suggestions and general recommendations (article 36) • UK Initial Report submitted in November 2011

7. UN Disability Committee • Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities or UN Disability Committee • Body of 18 independent experts • Meets in Geneva for two sessions per year (April and September) • Diane Mulligan Elected Member for UK

8. Upcoming sessions of the Committee • Expect UK report to be considered during 13th session – April 2015 • Cttee to agree the ‘list of issues’ (LOI) for UK during 12th session – Sept 2014 • NHRI and civil society , especially disabled people’s organisations, encouraged to submit information on issues relevant to implementation

9. Timing and format of submissions • Make submission 4 to 6 weeks before start of session - for LOI, July 2014 • Selective and targeted information • Written information should be concise, specific, reliable and objective • Highlight priority concerns and suggest possible recommendations • Cttee encourages joint submissions

10. Next steps • NHRI submission on the ‘list of issues’ we want the UN Disability Committee to consider • Helps to set the agenda for the examination of the UK report • Engaging with disabled people on the issues to include in our submission to the Committee

11. The questionnaire • Asks about priority areas for the list of issues • Issues listed in the questionnaire are based on what we were told at our previous events • Questionnaire for disabled people and disabled people’s user-led organisations in England and Wales (Scotland has its own questionnaire) • Asks for personal information so we know who has replied and to keep for the next stage of engagement

12. The questionnaire • Available until February 2014 • Would like as many responses as possible by 10 November 2013 to inform the next stage of the process. • Stories about disabled people’s rights in the UK can be submitted to the UK Disabled People’s Council via https://response.questback.com/unitedkingdomdisabledpeoplesco/questionnaire/

13. Please help! • Forward to members, networks, contacts • Share on social media • Help us to reach as many disabled people and disabled people’s organisations as possible • For hard copies/accessibility please email Karen.Grayson@equalityhumanrights.com or ring 020 7832 7824

14. Choosing priorities • The Equality and Human Rights Commission is proposing to focus strategically on a few priority issues, rather than covering every article of the Disability Convention • Do you agree with this approach?

15. Access to justice Accessible information and communication Education Health and social care Independent living Top 3 priority issues from this list or ones of your own? • Involvement • Participation in public life • Transport • Welfare reform • Work and training

16. Issues facing particular groups of disabled people • Disabled women or men • Ethnic minority disabled people • Older or younger disabled people • LGB/T disabled people • Disabled people with a particular religion or belief • Any other specific group of disabled people

17. First UK report on the Convention • Are there any issues in relation to the UK Government report? • Are there any areas where there is a need for clarification? • Are there any areas where the Government should be asked to provide more information?

18. Finally............. • Please tell us about any other issues or information relating to monitoring implementation of the Convention in addition to those above • Thank you!