General News
COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (CRPD)
First session of CRPD
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) will hold its first session from 23 to 27 February 2007 at Palais des Nations in Geneva. During the session the Committee will inter alia elect officers and start discussions on its draft provisional rules of procedure, as well as on the organization of its future work and the establishment of cooperation mechanisms with relevant bodies with a view to further strengthen and enhance the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. All relevant documentation concerning the session is available on the secretariatโs website at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crpd/sessions.htm
Functions of CRPD
The Committee is mandated to consider reports of States parties submitted under article 35 of the Convention on the Rights of Peoples with Disabilities (the Convention). It is mandated to receive and examine individual communications against States parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention (articles 1 to 5 of the Optional Protocol) and conduct inquiries based on reliable information indicating grave or systematic violations by a State party to the Optional Protocol of rights set forth in the Convention (articles 6 and 7 of the Optional Protocol). The full text of both the Convention and its Optional Protocol is available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crpd/index.htm
CRPD members
The Committee consists of 12 members, who will serve in their personal capacity as independent experts. Upon reception of the sixtieth ratification of the Convention, the membership of the Committee shall increase by six members. For details about the members of the Committee please consult the secretariatโs website at http://www2.ohchr.english/bodies/crpd/membership.htm
NGO engagement with CRPD
Representatives of national and international NGOs can follow and contribute to the Committeeโs future work. In this regard, international NGOs and United Nations organizations, funds and programmes are encouraged to facilitate attendance at Committee sessions by representatives of national NGOs.
NGOs are invited to attend a meeting with the Committee, which shall be held at Palais des Nations, Room VII, on 26 February 2009 from 10:00 to 13:00.
How to attend the CRPD session
NGOs and others wishing to attend the session should contact OHCHR at crpd@ohchr.org.below and request accreditation. Intending participants who do not have accreditation to the United Nations will require a grounds pass. Such participants are required to appear in person at the Pass and Identification Unit, Security and Safety Section, Pregny gate, United Nations Office at Geneva, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix. Grounds passes will only be issued on the production of a valid national passport or government issued photo ID such as driverโs license or state non-driverโs ID bearing a photograph. The office hours are 8.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.
The Committee's Secretariat
The Human Rights Treaty Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is responsible for supporting the Committee. For detailed information on upcoming sessions of the Committee please see โInformation for NGOsโ on the relevant session page at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crpd/index.htm. Please note that OHCHR will not send letters of invitation to NGOs to attend CRPD sessions and that OHCHR is unable to assist with travel accommodation costs relating to participation.
Contact details of CRPD secretariat
Postal address: CRPD secretariat, UNOG-OHCHR, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Email: crpd@ohchr.org
Visiting address: Palais Wilson, 52 Rue des Paquis, 1201, Geneva, Switzerland
Website: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crpd/index.htm
Tel: Mr. Robert Ouko, Administrative Assistant -CRPD: 0041229179703
