United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

On March 11, 2010 Canada Ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).   IDEA celebrated Canada’s ratification, along with many others.   We hoped ratification would usher in a new era of respect and cooperation, among all stakeholders, directed at removing the many barriers barring people with disability from obtaining full-citizenship.

What is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

The “preamble” of the CRPD

The “preamble” of the CRPD clearly recognizes that disability has been traditionally linked to poverty and that people with disabilities need to be involved in addressing these issues. 

What is the Optional Protocol?

The OP is a separate document that requires its own ratification.  The OP is designed to hold national governments more accountable for meeting their Convention obligations.

What has happened since Ratification?

 Article 33.2 of the CRPD calls on states to establish “frameworks” that “promote, protect and monitor” implementation of the Convention.   Article 4.3 requires state parties to work closely with persons with persons based on the motto of advocates involved in drafting the Convention, “Nothing about us, without us”.  

A national framework for implementation

Link to a working paper developed by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) and the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL).  It is intended to spark dialogue on implementation of the CRPD. IDEA strongly endorses this document