Today, the CRPD Committee opened its 32nd session (March 3-21, 2025). Throughout the next three weeks, the Committee will undertake the State reviews of Tuvalu, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Canada, European Union and Palau. All public sessions will be webcasted by UN Web TV. The Concluding Observations to these countries will be published by March 21.
At the opening session, Mr. Andrea Ori, Chief of the Groups-in-Focus Section at OHCHR, delivered a statement on behalf of the UN Secretary General. He referenced several recent international developments related to persons with disabilities, including OHCHR’s ongoing work on the right to care and support. He also highlighted the January 2025 report on the rights of persons with disabilities in digital technologies, including assistive devices, pursuant to a request by the Human Rights Council. The report explores key concepts and measures that promote the autonomy of persons with disabilities.
Mr. Ori addressed the UN liquidity crisis, noting the continuous resources constraints to the planning and the work of the OHCHR in its support to the UN Treaty Bodies, expressing as well that they are likely to continue.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Gertrude Fefoame reported on her activity as Chair during the inter-sessional period. Ms. Fefoame highlighted, among other things, her interactions with the 3rd Committee of the UN General Assembly to discuss the work and situation of the CRPD Committee. She also highlighted the CRPD Committee's ongoing work on general comments on articles 11 CRPD and 29 CRPD and the more interactive methodology adopted for constructive dialogues with States delegations.
Mr. José Viera, Executive Director of the International Disability Alliance (IDA), delivered a statement on behalf of IDA. He welcomed and congratulated the new CRPD Committee members. Mr. Viera expressed IDA's disappointment over the potential discontinuation of national sign language interpretation for constructive dialogues with State Parties. This, he noted, contradicts 14 years of commitment and practice by the United Nations Office Geneva (UNOG).
Mr. Viera also regretted the lack of explicit reply by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Director of United Nations Office Geneva to a joint letter from IDA, the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI). The letter sent last year, supported the provision of sign language interpretation for new Committee member Mr. Hiroshi Tamon. The WFD, the WASLI and the IDA requested a meeting with a high-level official of both UNOG and OHCHR to discuss the status of sign language within UN’s work, but as of now, no response has been received.
Finally, Mr. Viera finally reminded the Committee and the public about the grave situation being faced by persons with disabilities in on-going situations of conflict such as the one in the Occupied Palestinian territories. He closed the statement by expressing IDA's solidarity with all persons with disabilities impacted by humanitarian emergencies and conflicts.
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Find the programme of work of the 32nd CRPD Committee session here.
Access all session-related documents, including public alternative reports from OPDs here.
Watch all public sessions live on UN Web TV.
