OHCHR released a study on the implementation of Article 33 of the CRPD in Europe

United Nations did a study in Europe. They wanted to see how different European countries try to make the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities happen. They put the results of this study in a report. You can find the report here. You will need the help of another person to understand this report.

Inclusion Europe welcomes the initiative of the Regional Office for Europe of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to shed light upon the implementation of Article 33 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Europe. Its findings have been gathered in a newly published report revealing great differences among all European countries concerning their work to apply the Convention in practice.

The Article 33 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reminds European Member States, which have signed the Convention that their work has just begun; they need to take on action in order to implement the principles of the Convention to improve the lives of their citizens with disabilities.

Launched by the Regional Office for Europe of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the study has collected information on the implementation of the Article 33 of the CRPD both from official sources and through questionnaires. The date of the ratification of the Convention by each Member State, as well as the special characteristics of each of them, had been taken into account when examining the level of the implementation.

The study aims at offering Member States thorough information on the bodies set up under the Article 33 of the Convention, so that they can take stock of the experiences of other States. It also intends to help world human rights mechanisms –including the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities- to give guidance on the implementation of the Article 33 of the Convention.

Examining the strengths and weaknesses of the solutions adopted by different Member States, the study offers a wide range of good examples and experiences explaining how States could overcome certain barriers and guarantee the rights and equal chances for people with disabilities.

While the study showed diversity mostly related to the different characteristics of each Member States (size, constitutional structure etc), at the same time it revealed remarkable similarities in the solutions adopted by the EU Member States in order to implement Article 33. For example, “Almost all EU member States Parties to CRPD have appointed the ministries of social affairs or ministries with broader competences including that of social affairs. These ministries usually lead the process of the ratification of the CRPD at the domestic level. They also have a sound knowledge of disability policies and are in touch with both State authorities and organizations of persons with disabilities. Their designation will most often simply confirm existing responsibilities, while adding a human rights perspective to their mandate. In other words, the major change is that the ministries of social affairs or ministries with broader competences including that of social affairs will now have to focus on CRPD. This means that these ministries will now have to ensure that disability policies comply with the rights of persons with disabilities”.

To read the report and find out how each Member State tries to implement Article 33 of the Convention, follow this link.