UN Disability Committee publishes findings on Hungary, Jamaica, Mexico, Switzerland and Venezuela
GENEVA (March 29, 2022) – The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has published its findings on Hungary, Jamaica, Mexico, Switzerland and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the five States Parties it examined during its last session.
The results contain positive aspects of implementation in each country Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the main concerns and recommendations of the Committee. Some of the main highlights are:
Hungary
The Committee was concerned that people with disabilities, because of their disabilities, do not have a mechanism to make decisions on their own. It recommended that Hungary amend its legislation to ensure that the decision-making mechanisms it supports respect the dignity, autonomy and will and preferences of persons with disabilities when exercising their legal capacity.
Regarding Hungary’s recent decision to renovate and transform the existing institutions, the Committee recommended that the State party redesign its policies and focus its efforts and budgets on community-based support services, such as B. personal assistance to divert. The committee emphasized the importance of supporting people with disabilities to live independently and on an equal footing with others in the community, regardless of the nature of the disability.
Jamaica
Jamaica was the first country to ratify the Convention in 2007, but there has been a significant delay in the country’s legislation. The Committee recommended that Jamaica expedite any necessary legislative action such as the operationalization of the Disability Rights Court and the Jamaica National Council for Persons with Disabilities and ensure the availability of sustainable and adequate human and financial resources to fulfill their mandates.
The committee was also concerned about the lack of a national human rights institution. It called on Jamaica to establish one and to designate an independent mechanism for persons with disabilities and representative organizations to effectively monitor the country’s implementation of the Convention.
Mexico
The Committee noted the lack of a state and federal strategy for the inclusion of people with disabilities in society. It recommended that Mexico introduce administrative and financial policies to support people with disabilities to live independently and in the community. It also called on the authorities to take accelerated action to end the institutionalization of people with disabilities.
The committee noted that women with disabilities, particularly those living in indigenous communities and living under guardianship or in institutions, have limited access to justice in cases of gender-based violence. It calls on Mexico to provide women with disabilities with legal assistance, advice and personal support when they need to lodge their legal complaints. It also urged the State party to eradicate gender and disability stereotypes in the justice system and to ensure that all prosecutions and trials are conducted in a gender and disability-sensitive manner.
Switzerland
The Committee expressed concern about the lack of recognition of the right of people with disabilities to equality before the law. It recommended that Switzerland amend its Civil Code and other laws to repeal all laws and related policies that deny or limit the recognition of persons with disabilities as a person before the law. It calls on authorities to put in place supported decision-making processes to ensure that the will, preferences and individual choices of people with disabilities are respected.
With regard to residential care for adults and children with disabilities, including people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities and autistic people, the Committee called on Switzerland to end all such residential care, including small dormitories. She called on Switzerland to support people with disabilities to live independently and in the community.
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Referring to the lack of protection of women and girls with disabilities from discrimination, gender-based violence and the harmful effects of the economic situation in Venezuela, the Committee called on the State party to take public measures with a gender perspective and focus to prevent sexual violence and human trafficking.
The committee remained concerned about the lack of a comprehensive plan to ensure accessibility of the physical facilities. She urged Venezuela to ensure that people with disabilities have access to transportation services, including urban and provincial public transit, and are able to enter and use other public facilities.
The above results, officially called the Concluding Observations, are now available online at the session webpage.
The CRPD will hold its next session from August 15 to September 9, 2022.
© Scoop Media