Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Accepted in Part
Require Government to explain UN CRPD non-attendance and outline steps to meet 2016 recommendations.
Recommendation
That the Government failed to engage with the CRPD process earlier this year is disrespectful to the UN Committee and disabled people. It sends the wrong message, both nationally and internationally, about the UK’s commitment to upholding the rights of persons with disabilities. The Government, in response to this report, should set out: a) its reasons for failing to attend the August 2023 meeting with the UN Committee; b) Why it has not yet adequately addressed the UN Committee’s 2016 recommendations, the steps it is taking to progress that work and by when those recommendations will be met; and c) The specific steps it is taking to ensure that the whole of Government understands and follows the principles of the CRPD in policymaking. (Paragraph 43)
Government Response Summary
The government explains its reasons for not attending the August 2023 UN Committee meeting, stating it will participate in March 2024. It commits to improving understanding of the UNCRPD across government through the Disability Unit's work as part of the Disability Action Plan, and will outline further progress on 2016 recommendations in March.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Government response to recommendation a) The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities informed the UK Government of the option to attend the non-compulsory public session which was held on 28 August 2023. We take our engagement with the Committee very seriously and this Government has followed all of the Committee’s rules and procedures related to the inquiry follow-up process. Due to competing pressures and commitments, by the time we received the date of the dialogue we would have been unable to adequately prepare. We therefore agreed with the Committee that we would participate in the non-compulsory dialogue in March 2024. This agreement was mutually reached and is within existing protocols. At this dialogue, Government representatives will provide further information on the UK’s progress in addition to the UK’s previous follow-up reports and we look forward to attending. Government response to recommendation b) The Government remains committed to the UNCRPD and to improving the lives of disabled people. To tackle the barriers faced by disabled people, we have implemented numerous policies and programmes including investing in employment support initiatives, improving the health and disability benefits system and social care support, and improving the accessibility of homes and transport. We recognise that more needs to be done so we have consulted on and published the Disability Action Plan, setting out the immediate action the Government will take in 2024 to improve disabled people’s lives, laying the foundations for longer term change, and complementing the long-term vision set out in the Strategy. The UK’s timely follow-up reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ 2016 inquiry demonstrate our ongoing commitment... We look forward to outlining the UK’s further progress to the Committee... at their session in March, as agreed with the Committee. Government response to recommendation c) As set out in the Disability Action Plan, the DU will work to improve understanding of the UNCRPD across government, aiming to increase knowledge of the Convention and what it means for public policy across government. This work complements the Strategy’s commitment to implement 5 elements in policy making and delivery.