A memo to ratify the optional protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities will be presented to the Cabinet today. The Irish Government signed the convention in 2007 and ratified it in 2018, but the optional protocol is yet to be ratified.
The protocol allows disabled individuals to hold the State accountable for their rights by lodging individual complaints with the UN. Despite being a Government commitment, delays have drawn criticism from the UN and advocacy groups.
Ratification was recommended by the Joint Committee on Disability Matters in January. An interdepartmental group was set up in March to oversee preparations, including the establishment of the Decision Support Service by 2023.
If approved by the Cabinet, a treaty will be drafted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and discussions are underway to potentially ratify the protocol before Christmas. This move would empower disabled people in Ireland to advocate for their rights on an international platform.