United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is an international treaty that aims to promote, protect and ensure the rights and dignity of disabled people. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006 and came into force in 2008. The Convention is based on the principles of non-discrimination, equality of opportunity, accessibility, respect for inherent dignity, and full and effective participation and inclusion in society.

Disabled people must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms without any discrimination.

Measures must be taken to make sure that disabled people have equal opportunities in all areas of life.

Disabled people should have access to the physical environment, transport, information, and communication technologies, and other facilities and services.

Disabled people have the right to live independently and be included in the community.

Disabled people should be actively involved in decision-making processes and have access to support services to make sure they are included in society.

Ireland ratified the UNCRPD in 2018, committing to uphold the rights outlined in the Convention. The implementation of the UNCRPD in Ireland includes a number of key steps:

Ireland has introduced legislation and policies to align with the principles of the UNCRPD. For example, the Disability Act 2005 aims to promote the rights of disabled people and provide for their assessment of needs.

Ireland has developed a National Disability Inclusion Strategy to promote the inclusion and participation of disabled people in all aspects of life. This strategy focuses on areas such as education, employment, health, and social protection.

Efforts are being made to improve accessibility in Ireland, including accessible public transport, buildings, and information and communication technologies.

Awareness-raising campaigns and training programmes to promote understanding of the rights of disabled people and to fight against discrimination and stigma.

The Irish government consults with disability organisations and representative organisations of disabled people (DPOs) to make sure that their voices are heard in policy development and implementation.

Ireland sends reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with details on our progress in implementing the Convention and addressing any challenges or concerns.

While progress has been made in implementing the UNCRPD in Ireland, there are still challenges. These include issues such as accessibility barriers, gaps in service provision, and poor support for disabled people. Moving forward, it is important to continue efforts to address these challenges and to fully realise the rights of disabled people as outlined in the Convention.