IDA CRPD Forum

The IDA CRPD Forum has been set up by the International Disability Alliance (IDA) to continue the work of the International Disability Caucus. The IDA CRPD Forum upholds the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as the universal standard for the human rights of all persons with disabilities that takes precedence over previous instruments. It is a binding treaty that entered into force for States Parties on May 3, 2008, together with its Optional Protocol authorizing individual complaints, and it reflects the most recent consensus of the United Nations General Assembly on the subject matter of the human rights of persons with disabilities. As such, it is relevant as a guide to interpretation of other treaties and obligations under international law, all of which must be applied without discrimination based on disability.

The adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is not the end of the process, but the beginning of a long and difficult process to put the CRPD into practice.

If the Convention is really going to have the impact we all wish it to have, the disability movement led by the International Disability Alliance needs to engage actively and in a coordinated way in all the stages of ratification, implementation and monitoring of the Convention. It will be vital to ensure that the DPOs at national, regional and international level, representatives of our diverse constituencies, and allied NGOs such as development and human rights organisations, act in a coordinated way. The aim of the IDA CRPD Forum is to develop a strong unified voice from civil society led by disabled people's organisations, DPOs, in matters concerning the CRPD.

IDA CRPD Forum Working Groups

How to Participate in the IDA CRPD Forum

Organizations seeking to join the IDA CRPD Forum as participants can find the relevant information and instructions in the document accessible through the link below. We encourage all those interested to follow the necessary steps for consideration and look forward to expanding the IDA CRPD Forum with the addition of new perspectives and expertise.

Participant Information and Instructions

Conference of States Parties (October/November 2008)

The IDA CRPD Forum has high expectations for the Conference of States Parties. Article 40 of the CRPD foresees that the Conference of States Parties can deal with any matter related to the implementation of the Convention. The IDA CRPD Forum considers that the Conference of States Parties can and should play an important role to promote the implementation of the Convention and have developed a policy paper on this issue.

CRPD Committee of Experts Elected

Press Release

Summary of Election Day Proceedings

Monitoring the Elections of the CRPD Committee of Experts

Criteria to ensure the nomination of the highest qualified experts to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The IDA CRPD Forum has prepared a list of criteria that we believe best reflect the qualifications demanded of Committee members, as well as a list of procedural criteria to ensure that the nomination and election process is made public and transparent.

We appeal to all governments to fully comply with these guidelines as a further example of their support for the CRPD. Following the principles outlined in these materials will guarantee that the spirit that characterized this ground-breaking process from its start will prevail in this next stage of the election of Committee members.

Criteria for nomination and selection of candidates

Criteria for the nomination and selection process

The below matrix provides complementary information on the 23 candidates, which we hope States Parties will take into account when deciding which candidates to support.

Complementary Information on the Candidates for the CRPD Committee of Experts

Questionnaire to candidates for the CRPD Committee of Experts

November 2008 elections
The IDA CRPD Forum is actively monitoring the nomination and election process for the Committee of Experts, to promote a transparent, fair and consultative process. In keeping with the spirit of the motto throughout the negotiations, "Nothing about us without us", the IDA CRPD Forum has requested all candidates for the Committee of Experts to complete the following questionnaire. The aim of this questionnaire is to gain a better understanding of the knowledge, experience and views of candidates regarding the human rights of persons with disabilities, and to encourage States Parties to consider this information in the election process.

Questionnaire Responses
Below are the responses to the questionnaires received to date, and we will continue to post the responses from the other candidates on this webpage.

Mohamed Al-Tarawneh (Jordan) English

Luis Bulit (Argentina) English | Spanish

Manuel De Jesús Campos Labrador (Panama) Spanish

Monsur Ahmed Choudhuri (Bangladesh) English

Maria Soledad Cisternas Reyes (Chile) Spanish
Examples of writings and publications (Spanish): Example 1 | Example 2 | Example 3

Alpha Baboucar Diop (Guinea) English | French
Examples of writings and publications (French): Example 1 | Example 2 | Example 3

Julio Fretes (Paraguay) Spanish | English
Examples of writings and publications (Spanish): Example 1 | Example 2 | Example 3

Gyorgy Konczei (Hungary) English (Word)

Ron McCallum (Australia) English

Edah Maina (Kenya) English

Sivalingum Moodley (South Africa) English
Examples of writings and publications (English): Example 1 | Example 2 | Example 3

Ana Pelaez (Spain) English | Spanish

Ricardo Tadeu (Brazil) Spanish
Examples of writings and publications (Portuguese): Example 1 | Example 2 | Example 3

Cveto Uršič (Slovenia) English

Jia Yang (China) English
Examples of writings and publications (English): Example 1 | Example 2

Contribution to OHCHR Thematic Study

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is undertaking a thematic study on the legal measures required for the ratification and implementation of the CRPD, following the resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council in March 2008.
On September 15, the IDA CRPD Forum submitted its contribution to the thematic study. On October 24th 2008, a consultation meeting will be held in Geneva, at which the Chair of the IDA CRPD Forum, William Rowland, will present the main conclusions and recommendations of this contribution.

IDA CRPD Forum submission to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) thematic study

This page was created 2008-08-13.
Latest update 2008-10-01.