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How is our work influencing life in Northern Ireland and delivering equality? Learn more about our policy, legal and research work.
 
 

Key developments

Independent Mechanism for N. Ireland
& UK Independent Mechanism
Disability

What you need to know

IMNI meetings

 
UNCRPD Key Developments

The United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The UK uses an independent process to ensure the Convention is properly implemented. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and NI Human Rights Commission form the 'Independent Mechanism for Northern Ireland' (IMNI) which promotes, protects and monitors implementation of UNCRPD here. Together with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (GB) and Scottish Human Rights Commission we form the United Kingdom's Independent Mechanism (UKIM).

The UK submits regular reports to the UN Committee on how the rights enshrined in the Convention are being implemented. The UN Committee examines each report and then forwards recommendations in the form of concluding observations. This follows IMNI's participation in the formal examination process having worked closely with stakeholders to highlight key issues crucial to the realisation of Convention rights.

You can read recent submissions and reports, including the Committee’s most recent concluding observations issued in August 2017, below.

UN Committee report on the follow-up to the UNCRPD 2016 UK Inquiry

 

UK Independent Mechanism update to the UNCRPD Inquiry (March 2024)

 

UNCRPD 2023 Inquiry

 

Research into Progress Towards the Implementation of the UNCRPD in Northern Ireland (2022)

 

IMNI submission to Inquiry into the uneven impact of Covid-19: Disability and Access to Services (July 2020)

 

IMNI establish Disability Forum and call on Government to take action (March 2020)

 

UN Committee's concluding observations following UK State Party examination (2017)

 

Earlier submissions & developments

 
 


Get Involved - what can you do to help?
As the Independent Mechanism for Northern Ireland, we are continuing in our efforts to ensure you are central to our work, and encouraging you to directly engage with the UN Committee to drive change. We are always interested in your views on the gaps between public policy and programmes in Northern Ireland and the requirements of the UNCRPD.
 
  • Email us:  publicpolicy@equalityni.org
  • Phone us: 028 90 500 570
  • Tweet us: @EqualityCommNI
  • Write to us: Independent Mechanism for NI, Equality Commission NI, Equality House, 7-9 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DP


 
ECNI
< What is UNCRPD?
< Addressing inequality
Get involved >
(The Optional Protocol)
 
The Equality Commission for NI and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission meet as a joint committee as part of the Independent Mechanism for Northern Ireland (IMNI).
 
If you would like to view records of earlier meetings, please contact us and we will be happy to accommodate this, email publicpolicy@equalityni.org
 

Disability Forum
The Equality Commission and the NI Human Rights Commission have established a disability stakeholder forum. It involves persons with disabilities and their representative organisations to further assist both organisations to deliver their joint role to promote, protect and monitor implementation of UNCRPD in Northern Ireland.  The Forum also informs wider engagement to support and challenge government to give effect to the UNCRPD in Northern Ireland. Minutes of meetings are available on the Disability Forum web page.


 
ECNI
< What is UNCRPD?
< Addressing inequality
Get involved >
(The Optional Protocol)
 
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