2019 Survey Report

National Human Rights Institutions and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Introduction

To gather information on CRPD monitoring and  implementation, in 2019 GANHRI commissioned a survey for NHRIs with a view on updating and sharing the information in a concise report. The Canadian Human Rights Commission led the effort.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), includes reference to national implementation and monitoring mechanisms in its article 33.2, which identifies the need for States to establish or designate a framework that includes one or more independent mechanisms to promote, protect and monitor the Convention’s implementation and that States Parties shall take into account the principles relating to the status and functioning of national human rights institutions.

NHRIs were previously surveyed on CRPD monitoring and implementation by the Canadian Human Rights Commission (2011) and the German Institute for Human Rights (2017).

Objective

This survey attempts to build on the previous surveys, while also gathering information on existing legislative frameworks, accountability mechanisms and activities undertaken by NHRIs which seek to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.

In total, 42 NHRIs responded to the survey. This represents 34% of all GANHRI members. The responses came from all four GANHRI regions. Most of the responses (81%) were from A-status institutions. The results are based on this survey sample.