UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) - UPSC Notes | Testbook

A Closer Look at the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international human rights treaty that focuses on safeguarding the rights of disabled people. This convention is a significant step forward in ensuring the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities worldwide.

• The convention was adopted in 2006 at the New York headquarters of the United Nations and came into effect in 2008.
• As of today, the convention has been ratified by 177 nations.
• The main objectives of the UNCRPD are as follows:
  • To eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities.
  • To empower persons with disabilities to lead independent lives.
  • To make the education system more inclusive for all.
  • To protect persons with disabilities from all forms of abuse, violence, and exploitation.
• This convention is the culmination of several decades of UN's persistent efforts to bring the rights of the disabled to the forefront.
• A primary aim of the convention is to eradicate the perception of disabled people as objects of charity and to emphasize their equal rights as any other member of society.
• The convention also recognizes disabled people as active contributors to society, capable of making informed decisions based on their free will.
• The convention reaffirms that all individuals are entitled to equal rights and fundamental freedoms .
• The convention also highlights the need for certain adaptations to be made so that persons with disabilities can enjoy their rights on an equal footing with others.
• The convention covers a wide array of aspects including health, education, access to justice, employment, personal security, access to information, and independent living.
• Parties to the convention are obliged to take adequate measures to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights and freedoms of individuals with disabilities and promote respect for their dignity.
• The convention is legally binding on all parties.
• The UNCRPD is one of the fastest negotiated human rights treaties and also the one that received the highest number of signatories on its opening day.
• Another distinguishing feature of the convention is that it applies to all types of disabilities, including physical, psycho-social, and intellectual disabilities.

Governance of UNCRPD

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the expert body responsible for monitoring the implementation of the convention by the parties.

• All parties to the convention are required to submit reports to this committee detailing their implementation of the convention and the progress made so far.
• The first report should be submitted within two years of signing the convention.
• Subsequent reports should be submitted every four years.

Optional Protocol to UNCRPD

The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities allows individuals who believe their rights under the convention have been violated to lodge complaints with the UN Disability Committee. This option is only available after all avenues for seeking redress at the national level have been exhausted.

India's Engagement with UNCRPD

India ratified the UNCRPD in October 2007.

To fulfil its obligations under the UNCRPD, the Indian Parliament enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act in 2016. You can learn more about this Act here .

Additionally, the Indian government launched the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) with the aim of making government buildings more accessible to disabled people.

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