Geneva, The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is set to conduct its latest round of reviews assessing the progress of seven countries in implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The session, which will run from March 4 to 22, will examine Kazakhstan, Zambia, Bahrain, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, all signatories to the Convention.

According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the seven nations, as part of the 190 States parties to the Convention, will undergo scrutiny by the Committee of 18 independent international experts. The review process is designed to evaluate how these countries are advancing the rights of persons with disabilities and adhering to the Committee’s prior recommendations. In preparation for the reviews, the CRPD has gathered country reports and submissions from non-governmental organizations to inform the discussions.

The public dialogues with the State delegations, scheduled for specific dates in March, will take place in Geneva’s Palais des Nations and are open to the press. The dialogues are also accessible to a global audience via live broadcast on UN Web TV. Additional information, including the full schedule and the States’ reports, can be found on the session’s dedicated webpage. The session will also include open dialogues on follow-up inquiries with Spain and the United Kingdom.