Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

  states parties

  non-state parties signatories

  non-state parties non-signatories

The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a side-agreement to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It was adopted on 13 December 2006, and entered into force at the same time as its parent Convention on 3 May 2008.^[1] As of October 2011, it has 90 signatories and 63 parties.^[2]

The Optional Protocol establishes an individual complaints mechanism for the Convention similar to those of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Parties agree to recognise the competence of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to consider complaints from individuals or groups who claim their rights under the Convention have been violated.^[3] The Committee can request information from and make recommendations to a party.^[4]

In addition, parties may permit the Committee to investigate, report on and make recommendations on "grave or systematic violations" of the Convention.^[5] Parties may opt out of this obligation on signature or ratification.^[6]

The Optional Protocol required ten ratifications to come into force.^[7]

See also

• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
• First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• Disability

References

1. ^ "Landmark UN treaty on rights of persons with disabilities enters into force". Scoop. 2008-05-05. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0805/S00048.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-28. 
2. ^ "UN Treaty Collection: Parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities". United nations. http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15-a&chapter=4&lang=en. Retrieved 2011-10-14. 
3. ^ Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 1.
4. ^ Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Articles 3 & 5.
5. ^ Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 6.
6. ^ Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 8.
7. ^ Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 13.

External links

• Text of the Optional Protocol
• List of parties
• Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities