The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
In 2006 the UN drafted a human rights treaty specifically intended to protect the rights of people with disabilities: the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). In the above video, Gerard Quinn and Rosemary Kayess discuss the UNCRPD.
The UNCPRD is a pivotal document to understanding contemporary framings of disability. You can read the entire thing on the UN Website:
- women,
- refugees,
- children,
- people of colour,
- migrant workers,
- victims of forced disappearance (e.g. secret abduction or imprisonment),
- indigenous people,
- victims of torture,
- victims of genocide.
Talking points
- What were the driving forces behind the UNCRPD?
- Why is the UNCRPD important?
- What has been the impact of the UNCRPD on the international community? On governments? On disabled people’s organisations (DPOs)? On people with disabilities?
Extend your knowledge — In Step 2.12: Developing the Convention, you can read more about how the UNCRPD was drafted.
In the next step, we explore how the UNCRPD is being applied in local, domestic contexts — and the challenges that remain in creating change at the national, local and personal levels.
Disability and a Good Life: Working with Disability
Disability and a Good Life: Working with Disability
Reach your personal and professional goals
Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.
Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.
