What is the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)?

The International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is an international treaty adopted by the United Nations in 2006. It is the first comprehensive human rights treaty that specifically addresses the needs of persons with disabilities. The treaty was created to ensure that persons with disabilities in all parts of the world have the same rights and freedoms as everyone else and to protect them from discrimination. The CRPD defines disability as “any long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with certain barriers, may hinder the full and effective participation of the person in society”. This includes physical, mental, and intellectual disabilities, as well as those that are visible or invisible. The CRPD has been ratified by 164 states, including the United States of America in 2009. It sets out to protect and promote the right of people with disabilities like equal recognition in law, access to justice, reasonable accommodations, non-discrimination, access to education, living independently and being included in the community, access to work and employment, political participation, and equal rights to health. In Washington, the implementation of CRPD is done through the Department of Social and Health Services. The Department is responsible for enforcing the rights guaranteed by the treaty and advocates for people with disabilities. They also ensure that services provided by the state comply with the treaty.

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What is the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)?

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