Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

UN treaty

CRPD is an international human rights treaty adopted in 2006. The UK ratified (agreed to follow) CRPD in 2009. By ratifying CRPD, the UK agrees to protect and promote the human rights of disabled people, including:

  • eliminating disability discrimination
  • enabling disabled people to live independently in the community
  • ensuring an inclusive education system
  • ensuring disabled people are protected from all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse

How the treaty is monitored

The implementation of CRPD is monitored by the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Around every five years, the Committee reviews how well each state is putting into practice the rights in CRPD. Find out more about the previous review cycles. There are six stages to the treaty cycle – see CRPD treaty cycle below for further information about each stage.

Engagement and participation

Civil society organisations and other stakeholders can engage throughout the treaty monitoring cycle. The UN has provided information on how to participate. We aim to support civil society organisations to understand and engage with the monitoring process. For instance, we may host webinars or roundtable discussions, commission organisations to produce reports on behalf of wider civil society, or provide financial assistance to increase participation in UN oral evidence sessions. We will commission up to a maximum of one civil society project per cycle. We most recently provided funding to Inclusion London, Disability Wales and Inclusion Scotland as part of the current reporting cycle to produce civil society reports for England, Wales and Scotland.

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) treaty cycle

The CRPD review cycle is currently at stage 1: Stakeholders report on progress. Reporting to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities takes place under the simplified reporting procedure. The timings given below are estimates and may change, particularly as a result of delays and backlogs at the UN. Timings may also change due to UN plans to move to a predictable eight-year review cycle for all treaty bodies. Deadlines for submission of evidence may be confirmed by the UN at short notice, so stakeholders wishing to submit are advised to prepare in advance.

1. Stakeholders report on progress
  • Stakeholders should plan to submit their reports at least four months before the UN adopts its List of Issues
  • Based on the current timetable, we estimate that the UN will adopt its List of Issues by September 2026 at the earliest
  • Stakeholders who want to respond to the List of Issues should plan to submit their reports around three weeks before the UK is examined
  • The UK will be expected to submit its state report within one year of the List of Issues being published
  • Based on the current timetable, we estimate that the UN examination will take place in 2026 at the earliest

Optional protocols

CRPD has one Optional Protocol. This is an additional treaty that allows people to complain directly to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities if they believe their rights have been violated. It can only be used when all domestic channels have been exhausted. It has been ratified by the UK. The Optional Protocol also allows the Committee to undertake its own inquiries, where reliable information is received into allegations of grave or systematic violations of treaty rights. Read about the inquiry on independent living, living standards and employment for disabled people in the UK, published in 2016.

General comments

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has issued a number of General Comments on CRPD. These provide further detail on how it should be interpreted, covering issues such as accessibility, the right to independent living and equality and non-discrimination.

Last updated on 22/03/2024