IDA has been working closely with Ms Catalina Devandas in supporting her mandate in different manners and occasions.
During its 26th session (10 – 27 June 2014), the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) approved Resolution 26/20, creating the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SRPD).
According to the resolution, the mandate of the SRPD should be guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) and other relevant human rights instruments. Furthermore, its mandate allows the Special Rapporteur to work directly and intervene with all UN Member States, regardless of whether or not they ratified the UN CRPD. The Special Rapporteur will be appointed for a period of three years.
IDA has been actively involved in the inaugural nomination process of this mandate, providing information, guidance and producing documents to persons with disabilities, their representative organizations and relevant stakeholders in order to promote the highest level of candidatures.