UNCRPD: Summary, Important Points, PDF and Infographic

The full form of UNCRPD is United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is an international treaty that aims to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. The Convention became one of the most quickly supported human rights instruments in history, with strong support from all regional groups.

Important dates in the history of UNCRPD:

• The Convention was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly  on 13 December 2006
• CRPD was opened for signatures  on 30 March 2007
• It came into force on 03 May 2008 after ratification by 20 parties
• The First Conference of States Parties on UNCRPD was held on 31 October & 3 November 2008
• First session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was held on 23 – 27 February 2008

As in April 2018, 161 countries have ratified UNCRPD. A total of 177 countries have signed this Convention.

Here is a list of Disability Laws and Acts enacted by various countries around the world.

What is the Purpose of UNCRPD?

The purpose of UNCRPD is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

The Convention requires the signing countries to ensure that they take measures to ensure fulfillment of the objectives stated in the UNCRPD treaty.

Infographic on UNCRPD

Title: >Infographic on UNCRPD with Summary and Important Points
Date produced: 30 May 2018
Produced by: WeCapable.com
Designed by: Lalit Kumar
License: Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA) Feel free to use this infographic (please provide a link to www.wecapable.com)

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Preamble of UNCRPD

The preamble of the Convention cites the the principle of Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action that “all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated”.

Download the PDF of Full Text of UNCRPD (and Optional Protocol)

In the twenty-five paragraphs Preamble, the signing countries (States Parties) have given reasons as to why they have found it appropriate to elaborate this international law instrument.

For example, in paragraph (k) States Parties have put it on record that “…persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in their participation as equal members of society and violations of their human rights in all parts of the world”.

Articles of UNCRPD

The UNCRPD has a total of 50 articles. In these articles, States Parties address the purpose of UNCRPD, its principles, the obligations undertaken by States Parties and a number of specific measures intended to give effect through concrete measures to the principles of the Convention.

Article 1 of UNCRPD

It states the main purpose of the Convention. It states, “The purpose of the present Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.”

Article 2 of UNCRPD

This article defines the key concepts used in the Convention, for example, communication, language, discrimination, reasonable accommodation, and universal design.

Article 3 of UNCRPD

General Principles of the Convention are listed and elaborated in this article. These principles include:

1. Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons
2. Non-discrimination
3. Full and effective participation and inclusion in society
4. Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity
5. Equality of opportunity
6. Accessibility
7. Equality between men and women
8. Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities

Article 4 of UNCRPD

Article 4 lists the obligations of the States that have ratified CRPD.

1. Law and Policy Review
   1. States are to adopt new legislation and policy to implement CRPD (for example, India has adopted RPWD Act 2016)
   2. States are to modify or abolish existing legislation and policy that constitutes discrimination against persons with disabilities. For example, India abolished the PWD Act 1995
   3. States are to mainstream the human rights of persons with disabilities in all policies and programmes.
2. States need to ensure Research and Development of universally designed goods, services, equipment and facilities, and new technologies, including information and communications technologies, mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies
3. Training of professionals and staff working with persons with disabilities in the rights recognized in this Convention so as to better provide the assistance and services guaranteed by those rights.

Article 5 of UNCRPD

This article addresses the fundamental concepts of “equality and non-discrimination”.

Other articles of UNCRPD deal with the specific issues in context of disability, for example: education, health, participation in political and public life.

Optional Protocol to the CRPD

The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a side-agreement to the UNCRPD. It was adopted on 13 December 2006, and entered into force at the same time as its parent Convention on 03 May 2008. As of July 2020, the Optional Protocol to the CRPD has 94 signatories and 97 state parties. There are a total of 18 articles in the Optional Protocol to the CRPD.

We hope you will find this summarized information on UNCRPD useful. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have on this topic. Your comments, suggestions and questions are all welcome! Thank you for connecting with WeCapable.