Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities facts for kids

Signatories to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Countries where the convention applies Countries that have signed, but it is not yet applied Countries where the convention does not apply

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an important international agreement. It helps protect the rights and freedom of people with disabilities. This agreement is based on human rights rules that were made after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The United Nations General Assembly officially agreed to the Convention on 13 December 2006. It started to be used on 3 May 2008. By December 2016, 172 countries had agreed to follow the Convention. This means they promised the United Nations they would obey its rules. The European Union also agreed to it as a group on 23 December 2010.

The Convention also includes meetings to check if countries are following the rules. People with disabilities can join these meetings too.

What the Convention Says
Optional Protocol
Related Topics
Images for kids
See also

What the Convention Says

Why This Convention Is Important

ISG TopVoter, a machine made for voters with disabilities

The beginning of the Convention, called the preface, explains a few key things:

It follows the rules of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Many people with disabilities face problems like domestic violence, bullying, neglect, and poverty.
Everyone has a job to do in protecting the rights of people with disabilities. Each person should help others and their community.

Article 1: What Is the Goal?

Article 1 explains the main goals of the Convention:

To help and protect the rights of people with disabilities.
To make sure people with disabilities have the same human rights and freedoms as everyone else.
To respect the dignity of people with disabilities.

This article also says that there are many kinds of disabilities. These include physical disabilities, mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities, and being unable to speak, hear (deafness), or see (blindness). The Convention aims to protect all these people.

Article 3: Main Ideas

Article 3 lists the main values and goals of the Convention:

Respect for dignity and autonomy, meaning people can make their own choices.
Not treating anyone unfairly (non-discrimination).
Making sure people with disabilities are fully included in society.
Respecting people with disabilities as human beings.
Making sure people with disabilities have the same chances as others.
Making things fair and easy to access.
Treating men and women equally.
Respecting children with disabilities.

Article 4: What Countries Must Do

Article 4 says that countries must make sure people with disabilities have full human rights. They do this by:

Changing their national laws to help people with disabilities.
Getting rid of laws that are unfair to people with disabilities.
Stopping practices that go against the Convention.

Article 5: Being Equal in Society

Countries must not allow any discrimination because of disability. They must also protect everyone from being treated unfairly.

Article 6: Women and Girls

Countries must understand that women and girls with disabilities can face double discrimination. This means they are treated unfairly because they are disabled and because they are female. Countries must protect them so they can have human rights equally.

Article 7: Children

Countries must act to make sure children with disabilities have the same rights as other children. When making decisions about children with disabilities, what is best for the child is most important. Children with disabilities should also be able to share their thoughts on decisions that affect them.

Article 8: Spreading Awareness

Countries must help people understand and respect persons with disabilities more. They must work to fix wrong ideas (stereotypes) and unfair opinions (prejudice) about people with disabilities.

Article 9: Making Things Accessible

Countries must make changes so people with disabilities can:

Use public places, like buses or public buildings.
Get information, for example, through the Internet.
Communicate, whether by speaking, using Braille, or sign language.

Article 10: Right to Live

Every person has the right to live. Countries must do all they can to make sure people with disabilities can enjoy life fully, just like everyone else.

Article 11: Emergencies and Risks

When there is a war, a natural disaster, or any other emergency, countries must protect and help people with disabilities. This follows international rules for humanitarian aid and human rights.

Article 12: Being Equal Before the Law

Countries should help people with disabilities use their legal rights. For example, they should be able to:

Own property.
Control their own money.
Get bank loans and credit.

Countries must also make sure no one takes advantage of people with disabilities.

Article 13: Getting Justice

People with disabilities have the right to use the justice and court systems just like anyone else. Countries must train people who work in the justice system, like police and prison guards, on how to work with individuals with disabilities.

Article 14: Freedom and Safety

People with disabilities have the right to liberty and safety. A person's freedom cannot be taken away just because they have a disability. Countries must make sure people with disabilities are free and safe.

Article 15: No Cruel Treatment

All people must be free from:

Torture.
Cruel or inhuman treatment or punishment.
Humiliating treatment or punishment.
Scientific tests done without their permission.

Article 17: Protecting Your Body and Mind

Every person with disabilities has the right to have their physical and mental well-being respected. This is the same way people without disabilities are respected.

Article 18: Freedom to Move and Choose Nationality

People with disabilities have the right to move freely. They can choose their nationality and where they want to live.

Article 19: Living Independently

People with disabilities have the right to choose where and with whom they want to live. They cannot be forced to live in a certain place because of their disability. They should get help and services to live on their own at home. They should also be able to join in community activities. People with disabilities should not be kept separate from society.

Article 20: Getting Around

Countries must make policies to help people with disabilities get personal moving aids and support at a low cost.

Article 21: Freedom to Speak and Get Information

Countries must make policies so people with disabilities can express their opinions. They should be able to find, get, and share information and ideas. This includes using Braille, sign languages, and the Internet.

Article 22: Respect for Private Life

Countries must protect the private information of people with disabilities. This includes details about their health.

Article 23: Respect for Home and Family

Countries must make policies to stop discrimination against people with disabilities. This includes unfair treatment about marriage, family, adoption, being parents, and relationships.

Article 24: Education

Countries must agree that people with disabilities have the right to inclusive education. This means learning together with everyone else, without discrimination and with equal chances. This also includes education for adults and learning throughout life. The goal of education is to help people with disabilities develop their dignity, self-esteem, and respect for human rights. It also helps them grow their personality, talents, and creative side. To help them take part fully in education, countries must make it easy to learn Braille and sign language. They should also hire teachers with disabilities.

Article 25: Health

Countries must agree that people with disabilities have the right to the best possible health care. This must be without discrimination and with their informed consent.

Article 26: Habilitation and Rehabilitation

Countries must provide habilitation and rehabilitation services. These services help people with disabilities become more independent. They help them improve their physical, mental, social, and job-related abilities. These services should start early and consider each person's needs and strengths. They can also include peer support.

Article 27: Right to Work

Countries must agree that people with disabilities have the right to work in fair, good, safe, and healthy conditions. They must make policies that stop all discrimination and bullying because of disability. They should also help people with disabilities start their own businesses. More jobs should be created for people with disabilities, including in government jobs. No one should be forced to work without pay.

Article 28: Good Living Conditions

Countries must agree that people with disabilities have the right to an adequate standard of living. This includes the right to housing without discrimination. They must provide social protection or welfare, especially for women and girls. They should also give financial help to people in poverty.

Article 29: Taking Part in Public Life

Countries must agree that people with disabilities have the right to take part in political and public life. This also includes the right to be elected to public office.

Article 30: Taking Part in Culture

Countries must agree that people with disabilities have the right to take part in cultural life. They should enjoy recreation, leisure, and sports without discrimination and with reasonable help. People with disabilities should also have the chance to develop their creative, intellectual, or artistic skills. This is not just for themselves, but for a better society. They should also be able to keep their own identity related to their culture and language, including sign language.

Article 33: How Countries Apply the Convention

Countries must set up a national human rights group to make sure this Convention is followed. This group will also check how well the Convention is being used. People with disabilities should be able to join this group.

Article 34: Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The United Nations will create a special Committee for this Convention. Countries will work with this Committee to make the Convention happen.

Article 49: Easy-to-Understand Format

This Convention must be published in a way that is easy for everyone to access.

Optional Protocol

The Convention also has an extra agreement called the Optional Protocol. This allows a single person who feels a country has wronged them to make a complaint. However, by December 2016, only 92 countries had agreed to follow this Optional Protocol.

Images for kids

HUD-sponsored wheelchair basketball game to promote disability awareness.
Cienfuegos, a group teaching art to people with disabilities in Cuba.