The UNCRPD will help disabled people in Northern Ireland because:

• It says that disabled people’s human rights are important.
• Government and public bodies must work in ways that take account of these human rights.
• It can be used to challenge or change the law in favour of people with disabilities.
• People with disabilities can make complaints to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities if they believe their rights have not been protected (as long as they have tried to have it resolved in the UK Courts).

The UNCRPD in Action

In November 2016 the UK Committee said that welfare reforms have led to a ‘grave and systematic violations’ of disabled people’s rights.  The Committee had launched an investigation in 2012 after hearing so many complaints from disabled people about how they were being treated. Committee members visited cities across the UK, including Belfast in October 2015.   The Committee have said that a range of policies implemented by Government including some of the criteria for PIP, social care criteria and closure of ILF all “hindered disabled people’s right to live independently and be included in the community”.  You can read more about the Inquiry on the UN Website.