Today, Monday 4th March, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities opened its 30th session. Throughout this session, the Committee will review the State’s reports and hold public constructive dialogues with seven countries: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Nicaragua, Sweden, and Zambia.
In preparation for the session, the International Disability Alliance (IDA) has worked together with national organizations of persons with disabilities from Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Sweden, and Zambia, providing technical, financial, and logistical support depending on the country. In doing so, IDA has been glad to coordinate with its members and other partners such as the International Commission of Jurists, who contributed to ensure a more numerous and diverse delegation of representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities from Zambia.
All the public documents related to the reviews, including previous CRPD Committee documents, state reports, and public alternative reports by organizations of persons with disabilities, civil society organizations, and national human rights institutions can be found on the CRPD Committee’s website devoted to session 30th.
Please find the full Program of Work of the session here.
All public meetings will be webcast live by UN Web TV.
The opening session: Updates from the CRPD Committee and statement by the International Disability Alliance
The opening session started at 10 AM CET, lasting for 1 hour and 30 minutes approximately. Following the representative of the Secretary-General, several stakeholders delivered statements before the Committee.
The Chair of the CRPD Committee, Ms. Gertrude Fefoame, discussed recent engagements on behalf of the Committee, including her participation in the events on December 11th and 12th, on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in Geneva Switzerland. The Chairperson also stressed the relevance of enhanced inclusion of persons with disabilities in the context of the Summit for the Future and her formal letter to the Permanent Missions of Germany and Namibia, co-facilitators of the Summit and of the Zero draft of the Pact for the Future. Ms. Fefoame encouraged other Committee members and stakeholders to engage with that process and to push for further inclusion.
Mr. Cato Lie, First Vice-President of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) delivered a statement on its behalf.
Among other things, Mr. Cato Lie expressed IDA's concern about "the abrupt discontinuation of remote participation for representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities and other groups in UN Treaty Bodies' official meetings. Despite prolonged discussions on the digital transition, the failure to establish a permanent framework for remote participation in 2024 has significantly hindered OPD and civil society engagement. It would be immensely disappointing if the UN is regressing rather than advancing in terms of ensuring inclusive and meaningful participation, which is essential for a properly functioning human rights framework."
A great level of engagement from organizations of persons with disabilities at the 30th session of the CRPD Committee!
National organizations of persons with disabilities from five out of the seven countries under review are actively engaging with the CRPD Committee during the session, through their alternative reports and their participation and private briefings with the CRPD Committee at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, as foreseen by the CRPD Committee’s informative note, available here. All the public alternative reports can be found here.
The International Disability Alliance has supported OPDs from most of the countries involved in different ways, among other things by sharing information on the review process and on opportunities to participate and providing comments and suggestions to draft reports. IDA has also provided financial and logistical support to ensure the participation in Geneva, Switzerland, of OPD representatives from four countries.
