Two major developments by the UN Committee on the rights of persons with disabilities
On September 9th the UN Committee on the rights of persons with disabilities adopted the Guidelines on Deinstitutionalisation including in emergencies. These guidelines complement the Committee’s general comment No. 5 of Article 19 on Independent Living and Inclusion in the Community. These are intended to guide and support States parties, in their efforts to realise the right of persons with disabilities to live independently and be included in the community, and to be the basis for planning deinstitutionalisation processes and prevention of institutionalisation.
The same day, the UN Committee also adopted the General comment No. 8 (2022) on the right of persons with disabilities to work and employment. Persons with disabilities face barriers gaining access to and exercising their right to work and employment in the open labour market, on an equal basis with others. This General Comment supports States parties in clarifying their obligations regarding the right to work and employment as enshrined in article 27 of the Convention.