Geneva, The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has released its findings on the state of disability rights in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Nicaragua, Sweden, and Zambia. These findings follow the committee’s latest session, where it reviewed the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in these countries. The report highlights both concerns and recommendations for each country, alongside acknowledging positive aspects of their current practices.
According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the CRPD’s findings cover a range of issues, from constitutional rights and derogatory terminology to the lack of involvement of persons with disabilities in legislative processes. In Azerbaijan, the committee noted concerns regarding the exclusion of persons with disabilities from certain rights and duties and the usage of derogatory language in laws. It recommended integrating the human rights model of disability across all legal and policy frameworks and engaging persons with disabilities more closely in decision-making processes.
In Bahrain, the committee expressed alarm over the arrest and long-term imprisonment of persons with disabilities for expressing political opinions, urging the state to respect their freedom of expression. Concerns were also raised about the lack of protection for women with disabilities from violence and abuse, prompting a call for legislative reforms.
Costa Rica was encouraged to improve accessibility to health services for persons with disabilities and to include them more comprehensively in health programs, particularly those related to sexual and reproductive health. The committee also highlighted the issue of high unemployment rates among persons with disabilities, recommending measures to foster their inclusion in the private labor market.
Kazakhstan’s practice of institutionalizing children and adults with disabilities was criticized, with a call to end such practices and support community living. The country was also urged to remove marriage restrictions for persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities.
Nicaragua’s failure to participate in the review process was noted, alongside concerns about the forced closure of civil society organizations and violence against women with disabilities. The committee recommended legal and protective measures to support human rights defenders and combat violence.
Sweden was advised to address the issue of personal assistance for persons with disabilities, particularly those over the age of 66, and to counteract the trend towards institutionalization. The committee also recommended a revision of the disability definition to align with the human rights model.
Finally, the CRPD urged Zambia to take immediate action to protect persons with albinism from violence and to implement educational programs to combat discrimination and myths surrounding albinism.
These findings, termed as Concluding Observations, are intended to guide the involved countries towards fulfilling their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The committee also conducted follow-up dialogues on inquiries related to Spain and the United Kingdom, with reports to be released in April 2024.