Working paper on best practice to maintain states obligations under the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities during public health crises
Date
2022Author
Flynn, Eilionóir
Doyle Guilloud, Suzanne
Parker, April
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Flynn, Eilionóir, Doyle Guilloud, Suzanne, & Parker, April. (2022). Working paper on best practice to maintain states obligations under the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities during public health crises. Galway: Centre for Disability Law And Policy, University of Galway. https://doi.org/10.13025/rasz-fp25
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Abstract
This working paper sets out the applicable standards for States to maintain their
obligations towards persons with disabilities under international law in situations of
emergency such as the Covid-19 pandemic. About 15% of the world population (c. 1
billion people) are living with impairments1 which would fall within the definition of a
‘person with a disability’ under the CRPD2. The paper takes the UN Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as its normative framework and focuses on
States Parties’ obligations towards those individuals with regard to their health and
wellbeing in public health crises, taking a broad definition of those terms. As Armitage
and Nellums note, even prior to the pandemic, persons with disabilities were less likely
to access health services, while being more likely to experience ‘greater health needs,
worse outcomes, and discriminatory laws and stigma’3, contrary to States parties’
obligations under the CRPD.