Ensuring Dignity And Realising Rights

Since its establishment eight decades ago, the United Nations has played a central role in raising awareness about and advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, who constitute approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population and overwhelmingly live in the Global South. In 2006, the combined efforts of the international community and the global disability rights movement culminated in the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), a landmark international treaty codifying the obligations of States to promote, protect and respect the rights of persons living with disabilities. To understand the degree to which the human rights system is fulfilling this role, and helping secure implementation and on the ground impact, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and the Universal Rights Group (URG) have, over the past two years, conducted a global analysis to assess and understand the impact of the international human rights system on the enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities. The results of that analysis are presented in this report.