Australia is failing many people with disability, says a new comprehensive report released today. “People with disability across Australia have told the United Nations, in a new report, about the widespread hardship, discrimination, violence and poverty they face every day,” said Ms Carolyn Frohmader, Executive Director of Women With Disabilities Australia, and member of Disabled People’s Organisations Australia.
“Australia is breaching our human rights commitments to people with disability, including in the areas of violence, restrictive practices and forced sterilisation, education and the over-representation of people with disability in the criminal justice system.”
The report, entitled Disability Rights Now 2019: Shadow Report to the United Nations Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has been prepared by a coalition made up of Disabled People’s Organisations, disability representative and advocacy organisations from around Australia. The report reviews Australia’s progress in implementing the CRPD, and has been endorsed by over 80 organisations from around the country. The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will be reviewing Australia’s progress in September in Geneva. This happens every four years and is the second review since Australia ratified the CRPD in 2008.
“We have consulted widely with people with disability across the country, and with many organisations, to compile this comprehensive report,” said Mr Damian Griffis, Chief Executive Officer of First People’s Disability Network, and member of Disabled People’s Organisations Australia.
