Building Inclusive Societies: the Role of NHRIs in Promoting, Protecting, and Monitoring the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
23 September 2024 | 14:00-15:00 CEST | Geneva, Palais des Nations, Room XXV, and online (webex)
Event hosted by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)
With the co-sponsorship of the Permanent Missions of Australia, New Zealand, and Timor-Leste, the European Union, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the International Disability Alliance (IDA)
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), adopted in 2006 and entered into force in 2008, marked a ‘paradigm shift’ from traditional charity-oriented and medical-based approaches to disability to a model based on human rights. Whilst the obligation to promote, protect and fulfil the rights of persons with disabilities lies with States, national human rights institutions (NHRIs) are pivotal in supporting efforts to promoting, protecting, and monitoring the human rights of persons with disabilities, in close consultation with persons with disabilities, and civil society. Many NHRIs are formally designated by their States as independent monitoring mechanisms under Article 33(2) of the CRPD.
NHRIs are uniquely placed to address intersectional discrimination affecting persons with disabilities who face multiple barriers based on factors such as gender, race, age, ethnicity or socio-economic status. NHRIs advocate for inclusive policies in areas such as climate change, torture prevention and accountability efforts (see, the Kyiv-Copenhagen Declaration), and the integration of persons with disabilities into global development strategies and reducing inequalities globally, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
GANHRI provides vital support to NHRIs by offering technical assistance, facilitating capacity-building, and fostering the exchange of peer learning and good practices among members as well as with partners, including through its Working Group on Persons with Disabilities. GANHRI and the CRPD Committee have long emphasized NHRIs’ essential role in monitoring CRPD implementation, urging States, in a joint declaration, to ensure that NHRIs designated under Article 33(2) are independent and adequately resourced. The 2023 OHCHR Practical Guide for National Monitoring Mechanisms further underscores that NHRIs, consistent with the Paris Principles, must maintain independence and collaborate closely with civil society, particularly organizations of persons with disabilities.
At this 57th session of the Human Rights Council, Australia and Timor-Leste are proposing a resolution to highlight NHRIs’ key role in promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. It presents an important opportunity to renew international support for independent, pluralistic, and effective NHRIs in line with the Paris Principles.
The event aims to:
- Showcase NHRI Experiences: Highlight how NHRIs from various regions are promoting, protecting, and monitoring the rights of persons with disabilities, with a focus on their national and international engagement.
- Strengthen Partnerships: Facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing among NHRIs, states, the UN and international mechanisms, particularly regarding the implementation of the Convention.
- Promote Inclusive Policy Development: Encourage states to adopt and implement inclusive national policies that address intersectional discrimination and include persons with disabilities in all aspects of social, economic, and political life.
The panel discussion will include representatives from the NHRIs of Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, and Germany. The discussion will be moderated by H.E. Ambassador Maria de Lurdes Bessa, Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah, GANHRI Chairperson and Chairperson of Qatar National Human Rights Committee, will provide the opening remarks. Juan Ignacio Pérez Bellos, Senior Human Rights Advisor at the International Disability Alliance (IDA) will close proceedings.
The side event will be a panel discussion with both in-person and virtual participation. It is open to all interested participants, including NHRIs, NHRI regional networks, Permanent Missions in Geneva, GANHRI members, NGO representatives, and UN partners.
To register for the event and confirm your participation, please fill out the registration form. Please note that GANHRI is not responsible for issuing badges to access the building. The registration is for internal purposes only and will not give you access the Palais des Nations.
For any questions, please contact: events@ganhri.org.