UN: Update on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

144 signatories to the Convention
  88 signatories to the Optional Protocol
  80 ratifications of the Convention
  51 ratifications of the Optional Protocol

NB: The CRPD now has 80 ratifications and therefore, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will increase its membership from 12 to 18 in 2011 (CRPD Article 34). At this year's Conference of States Parties to the Convention to be held from 1-3 September, elections for 6 members of the Committee will take place, alongside with elections for the expanded Committee of 18 members. In total, 12 new members will be elected to the Committee. See also Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, below.

Recent news:

  • France ratified the Convention and the Optional Protocol on 18 Februar
  • Ukraine ratified the Convention and the Optional Protocol on 4 February
  • Nicaragua ratified the Optional Protocol on 2 February 2010
  • Zambia ratified the Convention on 1 February 2010
  • Mauritius ratified the Convention on 8 January 2010
  • Latvia signed the Optional Protocol on 22 January 2010

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 3rd Session. The third session of the Committee was held from 22-26 February. Ron McCallum (Australia), the incoming chair of the Committee presided over the session. The Committee discussed it rules of procedure and working methods.