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CRPD/C/GBR/CO/1
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
United Kingdom (CRPD 03-10-2017)
The Committee considered the initial report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (CRPD/C/GBR/1) at its 348th and 349th meetings (see CRPD/C/SR.348 and 349), held on 23 and 24 August 2017. It adopted the present concluding observations at its 356th meeting, held on 29 August 2017.
Concluding observations
A. General principles and obligations (arts. 1-4)
8. The Committee is concerned at the lack of State party-led initiatives aimed at
assessing and sufficiently addressing the inclusion of and living conditions for persons with
disabilities, particularly in Northern Ireland and the territories under its jurisdiction and/or
control.
9. The Committee recommends that the State party collect information and adopt a strategic and measurable plan of action for improving the living conditions of all persons with disabilities, including in close cooperation with the authorities in Northern Ireland and the territories under its jurisdiction and/or control.
10. The Committee is concerned about:
(a) The challenges facing organizations of persons with disabilities, including organizations representing women, children and intersex persons with disabilities, in accessing support and being consulted and actively involved in the implementation of the Convention;
(b) The lack of sufficient mechanisms to ensure the effective participation of all organizations of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes concerning policies and legislation in all areas of the Convention, such as the strategy entitled “Fulfilling Potential: making it happen”.
- The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Allocate financial resources to support organizations representing persons with disabilities, including women and children with disabilities, and develop mechanisms to ensure the inclusive, strategic and active involvement of organizations of persons with disabilities, including women, children and intersex persons, in the planning and implementation of all legislation and measures that affect the lives of persons with disabilities;
(b) Establish mechanisms to secure the full participation of organizations of persons with disabilities in the design and implementation of strategic policies aimed at implementing the Convention across the State party, through objective, measurable, financed and monitored strategic action plans.
B. Specific rights (arts. 5-30)
Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse (art. 16)
- The Committee is concerned about abuse, ill-treatment, sexual violence and exploitation of women, children, intersex persons and elderly persons with disabilities, and the insufficient measures to prevent all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse against persons with disabilities. It is also concerned at reports of cases of disability hate crime, in the absence of consistent data collection and differences in legal provisions for sentencing different types of hate crime, particularly in England and Wales.
- The Committee recommends that the State party, in close collaboration with organizations of persons with disabilities, and in line with target 16.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals:
(a) Establish measures to ensure equal access to justice and to safeguard persons with disabilities, particularly women, children, intersex persons and elderly persons with disabilities from abuse, ill-treatment, sexual violence and exploitation;
(b) Define comprehensively the offence of disability hate crime, and ensure appropriate prosecutions and convictions;
(c) Ensure that all facilities and programmes designed to serve persons with disabilities are effectively monitored by independent authorities, in accordance with article 16 (3) of the Convention.
Protecting the integrity of the person (art. 17)
- The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities, including women, intersex persons, girls and boys, reportedly continue to be subjected to involuntary medical treatment, including forced sterilization and conversion surgeries.
- The Committee recommends that the State party repeal all types of legislation, regulations and practices allowing any form of forced intervention or surgery, and ensure that the right to free, prior and informed consent to treatment is upheld and that supported decision-making mechanisms and strengthened safeguards are provided, paying particular attention to women, intersex persons, girls and boys.