CRPD/C/GC/7
United Nations
Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities
Distr.: General
9 November 2018
Original: English
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
General comment No. 7 (2018) on the participation of
persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities,
through their representative organizations, in the
implementation and monitoring of the Convention*
I. Introduction
1.
Persons with disabilities were fully involved and played a decisive role in the
negotiation, development and drafting of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities. The close consultation and active involvement of persons with disabilities,
through organizations of persons with disabilities and their partners, had a positive impact
on the quality of the Convention and its relevance for such persons. It also showed the force,
influence and potential of persons with disabilities, which resulted in a groundbreaking
human rights treaty and established the human rights model of disability. The effective and
meaningful participation of persons with disabilities, through their representative
organizations, is thus at the heart of the Convention.
2.
The active and informed participation of everyone in decisions that affect their lives
and rights is consistent with the human rights-based approach in public decision-making
processes,1 and ensures good governance and social accountability. 2
3.
The principle of participation in public life is well established in article 21 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reaffirmed in article 25 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Participation, as a principle and a human right, is
also recognized in other human rights instruments, such as under article 5 (c) of the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, article
7 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,
and articles 12 and 23 (1) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes participation as both a general obligation
and a cross-cutting issue. In fact, it enshrines the obligation of States parties to closely
consult and actively involve persons with disabilities (art. 4 (3)) and the participation of
persons with disabilities in the monitoring process (art. 33 (3)) as part of a wider concept of
participation in public life. 3
4.
Often, persons with disabilities are not consulted in the decision-making about
matters relating to or affecting their lives, with decisions continuing to be made on their
behalf. Consultation with persons with disabilities has been acknowledged as important in
* Adopted by the Committee at its twentieth session (27 August–21 September 2018).
1
2
3
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Principles and Guidelines for a
Human Rights Approach to Poverty Reduction Strategies, para. 64.
A/HRC/31/62, para. 13.
Ibid., para. 14.
GE.18-18970(E)