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Research Report on Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Ireland signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities back in 2007, and is one of only two EU member states, along with Finland, who have not yet ratified the Convention. The former Government published a Roadmap to Ratification in October 2015 outlining legislation which it aimed to enact before the end of 2016 and Under Article 33 of the Convention, an independent monitoring framework must be established to scrutinise the State’s progress in implementing the Convention’s obligations to protect, respect and uphold the human rights of persons with disabilities.

A research report commissioned by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission was launched in May 2016 by UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The report is entitled Article33: Establishing a Monitoring Framework for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and was prepared by the National University of Ireland Galway, Centre for Disability Law and Policy.

The report provides an overview on what mechanisms are in place in six other countries in relation to Article 33 of the UN Convention looks at the relationship between civil society and the independent monitoring mechanism in each of the six countries. Chapter four of the report looks at disability rights in Ireland and the report also provides a number of options for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to implement including:

  1. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Becomes the only body of the independent monitoring mechanism.
  2. Two bodies form the independent monitoring mechanism. This Could be the Commission and another state body.
  3. Setting up an independent monitoring mechanism that includes the Commission and a permanent body of people with disabilities. This is the preferred option recommended in the report.

To find out more and to download a copy of the research report here.

Alternatively, if you need further information on Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, please do not hesitate to contact one of our team on 01-4151285 or e-mail [email protected]