Home > Make Your Voices Count! Calls for Input from Organizations of Persons with Disabilities

Make Your Voices Count! Calls for Input from Organizations of Persons with Disabilities

Photo of Indonesian OPDs and DRF's Indonesia program team gathered at a meeting room.

Women with disabilities in Indonesia advocating for an inclusive anti gender-based violence bill.

“When persons with disabilities participate in decision-making processes, it provides strong support towards ensuring that policies, strategies, programmes and operations to be more effective in addressing barriers to inclusion and more relevant in supporting their full and equal participation. Persons with disabilities have first-hand experience of the challenges they face and know better what can be done to enhance their rights and wellbeing. In addition, active participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations is a key part of shifting attitudes and dismantling stigma.”  

— Consultation Guidelines of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy 

Our views matter on all matters: Nothing without us! 

In line with Article 4(3) of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), persons with disabilities and their representative organisations should be closely consulted and actively involved in matters concerning them. This includes persons with disabilities in all their diversity- children, women, older persons, persons with diverse SOGIESC, Indigenous peoples, migrants and others, as well as persons representing different disability constituencies.

Our unique perspectives draw on our own expertise and experiences and can help shape and inform programmes, policies and practices – including beyond disability-specific matters- to strengthen inclusion for everyone. 

Let’s put our participation to practice by seizing these opportunities*:

*Information on this webpage will be updated regularly. Don’t miss out: place a bookmark for easy access to check on the latest calls for contributions.

Human Rights Council resolution 51/12 on local government and human rights requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to organize a one-day expert meeting on enhancing capacity-building for local governments to incorporate human rights into all their work, as a basis for developing guidance tools on human rights education for local governments, and to prepare and present a summary report for the fifty-sixth session of the Council.

Inputs are being sought to inform the summary report of the expert meeting and to identify areas of priority or concern for the consideration of further follow-up action and to inform the development of guidance tools on human rights education for local governments.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights welcomes any relevant information with regard to the preparation of the expert meeting and report, including:

  1. What capacity building initiatives have been taken to implement/incorporate human rights in local administration?
    a. Please provide information on institutional structures for coordination and harmonization of capacity building initiatives.
    b. Please provide information on the involvement of civil society, the private sector, academia, etc. in capacity building initiatives.
    c. Please provide information on any monitoring or evaluation mechanisms assessing the effectiveness of capacity building initiatives and their impact on the promotion and protection of human rights at the local level.
  2. What are the capacity building gaps and needs of local governments in relation to implementing/incorporating human rights at the local level?
  3. What measures are needed to further strengthen the capacity of local governments to implement/incorporate human rights at the local level?
  4. What are existing procedures and practices for engaging local governments in the work of the United Nations human rights mechanisms and in implementing, reporting and following up on relevant recommendations? How could the existing level of engagement be enhanced?
  5. What are the capacity building gaps and needs of local governments in relation to engaging with the United Nations human rights mechanisms and in implementing, reporting and following up on relevant recommendations?
  6. What are the main challenges in your country in the promotion and protection of human rights at the local level?
  7. Please provide examples, good practices, challenges, and recommendations with regard to the above-mentioned issues.

Inputs may be sent by e-mail in word or PDF formats to janica.puisto@un.org by 29 September 2023. Unless requested otherwise, the information provided may be made publicly available.

For more information, visit OHCHR’s dedicated webpage. 

Human Rights Council’s resolution 50/21 raises deep concerns over numerous human rights violations committed by State and non-State actors in the context of peaceful protests, recognised the important role of law enforcement in promoting and protecting human rights in the context of protests. To strengthen the capacity of and assist law enforcement bodies to enable and facilitate the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of protests, the resolution requested the Special Rapporteur to develop the said practical tools in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

This request for the development of practical tools to assist the law enforcement in facilitating peaceful protests corresponds to the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur in his report presented to the Human Rights Council at its 50th session in June 2022, on the Protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests during crisis situations (A/HRC/50/42), pursuant to resolution 44/20.

In his report, the Special Rapporteur raised the following human rights concerns in the context of protests, that were echoed by the subsequent Human Rights Council resolution 50/21: extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions; arbitrary arrests and detention; enforced disappearances; torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, in the context of protests; targeting of journalists and other media workers, monitors, lawyers, other observers, such as human rights defenders, and medical personnel while engaging in their legitimate activities during protests; excessive use of force by law enforcement and militarisation of policing of protests such as during crisis situations; as well as arbitrary and unlawful surveillance, both in physical spaces and online, of individuals engaged in peaceful protest. The resolution further highlights that women, children, youth, LGBTI persons, indigenous peoples, migrants, persons of African descent, persons belonging to minorities, persons with disabilities and other persons belonging to groups who are discriminated against and marginalized, are particularly vulnerable to unlawful police use of force while taking part in protests.

The need to provide practical tools to law enforcement in order to enable officers to better perform their important duties related to facilitating peaceful protests, in accordance with international human rights law and standards, has also been requested and supported by law enforcement practitioners from across all regions. This request was expressed during previous consultations conducted by the Special Rapporteur with law enforcement practitioners from around the world in the framework of the preparation of his report on protecting human rights in the context of peaceful protests in crisis situations, as per HRC resolution 44/20.

The Special Rapporteur will further consult closely with law enforcement practitioners in different regions when developing the said “specific technical and practical tools”, as requested by resolution 50/21. The Special Rapporteur, in collaboration with OHCHR and UNODC, is planning to hold five regional consultations with law enforcement practitioners and experts as well as with civil society activists, which will inform these practical tools.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

The questionnaires below solicit information with a view to gathering examples of protocols, guidelines, and other tools available to law enforcement relevant for facilitation of the right to peaceful assembly, as well as positive examples of strategies, measures, and practices undertaken by law enforcement around the world in promoting and protecting human rights in the context of peaceful protests (such as the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, of association, freedom of expression, the right to life, freedom from torture and ill-treatment, protection from sexual and other gender-based violence, arbitrary detention, and other serious violations committed against protesters and activists in the context of protests).

The provided inputs will be used to assist the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in preparing the practical tools for law enforcement as requested by the Human Rights Council resolution 50/21.

The questionnaire for Member States is available in English | Français | Español

The questionnaire for civil society and other actors is available in English | Français | Español

Please send responses to the questionnaire in word of PDF formats in English, French or Spanish by 30 September to hrc-sr-freeassembly@un.org with the email subject line as: “Submission to 55th HRC session – Tools for Law Enforcement”.

The repsonses received may be made publicly available on the OHCHR website unless indicated otherwise in the submission. Please clearly state in your response if you would like your submission to remain confidential.

For more information, visit the Special Rapporteur’s dedicated webpage. 

The Special Rapporteur has completed a series of six thematic reports on the substantive elements of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, including clean air, safe and sufficient water, healthy and sustainably produced food, non-toxic environments, healthy ecosystems and biodiversity and a safe, livable climate. He would like to seek inputs on the procedural or participatory elements of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, including access to information, public participation and access to justice with effective remedies. In light of the Framework Principles on Human Rights and the Environment, the report will also address related topics including the rights to environmental education, freedom of expression and association, and safe spaces for environmental human rights defenders. The Special Rapporteur is seeking inputs on the topic from States, rightsholders and stakeholders through responses to the questions below.

Your replies will inform the Special Rapporteur’s analysis and contribute to a report, which will be presented at the 55th session of the Human Rights Council.

Questions

The Special Rapporteur invites and welcomes your answers to the following questions:

  1. What are States’ obligations—and businesses’ responsibilities—related to the rights to access information, public participation and access to justice with effective remedies in environmental matters? What are the major barriers to the full enjoyment of these rights? How can these barriers be overcome?
  2. What are States’ obligations related to the right to environmental education, and the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association in environmental contexts? What are the major barriers to the full enjoyment of these rights? How can these barriers be overcome?
  3. What can States and businesses do to ensure the safety of environmental human rights defenders?
  4. Please specify ways that the rights to environmental education, access to information, public participation and access to justice with effective remedies, freedom of expression and freedom of association can be fulfilled for populations who may be particularly vulnerable to climate and environmental harms (e.g. women, children, persons living in poverty, Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities, older persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic, racial or other minorities and displaced persons).
  5. To what extent have the two regional treaties on environmental democracy—the Aarhus Convention and the Escazu agreement—been effective in advancing human rights related to access to information, public participation, access to justice with effective remedies, environmental education, freedom of expression and association, and safe spaces for environmental human rights defenders?
  6. Please provide examples of good practices related to access to information, public participation, access to justice with effective remedies, environmental education, freedom of expression and association, and safe spaces for environmental human rights defenders.

Download the questionnaire (WORD):
English | Français | Español

Please send your responses to the questionnaire in English, Spanish or French in Word format by email to hrc-sr-environment@un.org. Submissions must be concise and limited to a maximum of 5 pages (or 2,000 words). The deadline for submission is 2 October 2023 (deadline extended)

All submissions will be made publicly available and posted on the Special Rapporteur’s homepage at the OHCHR website.

For more information, visit the Special Rapporteur’s dedicated webpage. 

Resolution 76/130 requests the Secretary-General to present to the General Assembly a report on the social development challenges faced by persons with albinism, taking into consideration the specific needs of women and children, including those related to social inclusion, health, education and employment, and measures taken, with recommendations for further action to be taken by Member States and other relevant stakeholders to address identified challenges. The forthcoming report will focus on relevant health issues.

All interested individuals and organizations including persons with albinism, representatives of civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations, experts and academics are invited to provide information on the social development challenges faced by persons with albinism, by completing the questionnaire below.

Questionnaire on social development challenges faced by persons with albinism
  1. General
    1. How many persons with albinism live in your country according to the most recent national statistics? Please provide numbers or estimates and the source of information?
    2. How many of those people are women? How many are children, as defined in your country?
    3. Please describe the overall social and economic status of people with albinism in your country?
    4. Are there any public or private institutions in your country responsible for persons with albinism? If yes, please list the most important institutions.
  2. National legal and policy framework
    1. Are there any national legal or policy frameworks concerning the issues of persons with albinism? If yes, please provide details and source of the relevant laws and policies? Also, please describe if and how these laws and policies take a non-discriminatory approach towards persons with albinism?
    2. Is albinism counted as a disability in your country? If yes, please provide details about specific provisions and key laws or policies on this issue.
  3. Social development: Health
    1. How would you describe the health situation of persons with albinism?
      • Are dermatology and ophthalmology services readily available to them?
      • Is there information made available to them about health risks linked with albinism?
      • If so, how is this information disseminated and communicated?
  4. Other Selected Social Development Issues
    • Education
      1. What is the educational situation of persons with albinism? Please provide statistics or other information regarding school enrolment/attendance/completion of persons with albinism of schooling age? Are there any obstacles for children with albinism to access education, and if yes, what are the major obstacles?
      2. Given the low vision issues present in most persons with albinism, does the school system in your country recognize such special needs and provide the required support and reasonable accommodation, for e.g., large print material, low vision, and assistive devices?
    • Employment
      1. What is the employment situation of persons with albinism? Please provide statistics or other information concerning employment and unemployment rate of persons with albinism, if applicable?
      2. What obstacles exist for persons with albinism in seeking paid employment in the open labour market?
      3. Are there any applicable laws or policies concerning the employment of persons with albinism? If yes, please provide details and source of the major laws and policies.
      4. Are there special measures in place to promote and integrate persons with albinism in employment and in the labour market?
  5. Recommendations
    1. Please provide specific recommendations for further action to be taken by your Government and other stakeholders to address challenges to the full and equal participation of person with albinism in society and development?
  6. Further remarks
    1. Would you have any further comments on the social situation of people with albinism in your country?

Responses should be sent electronically, as a Word document no later than 16 October 2023 to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at: ohchr-registry@un.org.

Respondents are requested to limit their contributions to a maximum of 2,500 words. Additional supporting materials, such as reports, academic studies, and other background materials may be linked in the body of the submission or annexed to the submission.

For more information, visit OHCHRs dedicated webpage.

The Human Rights Council resolution 52/8 on promoting human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals through transparent, accountable and efficient public service delivery requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report on the role of public service delivery in the promotion and protection of human rights and in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and to present the report to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-sixth session.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights welcomes any relevant information with regard to the preparation of the report, including:

  1. What are the main challenges identified in your country/region in relation to public service delivery? Please address both institutional and practical barriers in your response.
  2. What are the examples of good practices and approaches taken to overcoming identified challenges to the provision of public services.
  3. To what extent does corruption play in excluding individuals and households from accessing public services? How does corruption affect the delivery of public services to population groups in your country?
  4. What percentage of eligible individuals and households do not claim and/or benefit from public services in your country (non-take up)? What are the barriers that hinder them from accessing public services to which they are entitled? How can non-take-up be reduced?
  5. Please refer to challenges and good practices of public services delivery to persons belonging to groups in situations of vulnerability and marginalization including persons living in poverty, women and girls; children and youth; ethnic, national and linguistic minorities; persons with disabilities; indigenous peoples; migrants; and older persons.
  6. Are public services digitalized in your country? Please provide details including challenges and good practices in digitalization of public services that ensures transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the delivery of public services.
  7. How is the participation of private actors in public service delivery regulated and monitored in your country/region? Please share challenges and good practices.
  8. Describe economic policies, legislation, promising practices, or strategies and national, regional or local processes aimed at:
    • increasing social spending, through national and local budgets, for the provision of public services;
    • addressing structural discrimination in the provision of public services;
    • maximizing available resources for the provision of public services; 
    • preventing corruption and associated illicit financial flows in the provision of public services;
    • reallocating public expenditure for the provision of public services

Please send inputs in Word or PDF formats by 1 November 2023 to maria.veramendivilla@un.org with the email subject line as: Input for report on promoting human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals through transparent, accountable and efficient public service delivery.

Unless requested otherwise, the information provided may be made publicly available.

For more information, visit OHCHR’s dedicated webpage.

The Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, in its decision 13/1 adopted at the thirteenth session, requested the co-facilitators to submit proposed intergovernmental negotiated recommendations to be considered at the fourteenth session of the Working Group and to be presented for consideration by the General Assembly, in accordance with resolution 77/190, regarding the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons and possible gaps, and options on how best to address them.

The purpose of this questionnaire is meant to facilitate the consideration of the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons and the identification of possible gaps in the protection of the human rights of older persons and how best to address them.
The questionnaire will be sent to all States Members of the United Nations, observers in the General Assembly, A-status National Human Rights Institutions, non-governmental organizations
with ECOSOC Status and previously accredited organizations to the Working Group, as well as United Nations Funds, Programmes, Specialized Agencies and other UN Entities.

Questions
Identification of gaps

  1. For each of the topics that have been considered by the Open-ended Working Group since its eighth session, please state possible gaps your Government/organization has identified in the normative framework and practical implementation for the protection of the human rights of older persons. (500 words each)
    a) Equality and non-discrimination
    b) Violence, neglect and abuse
    c) Long-term care and palliative care
    d) Autonomy and independence
    e) Protection et sécurité sociales (y compris protection sociale minimale)
    f) Education, training, lifelong learning and capacity-building
    g) Right to Work and Access to the Labour Market
    h) Access to justice
    i) Contribution of Older Persons to Sustainable Development
    j) Economic security
    k) Right to Health and Access to Health Services
    l) Social Inclusion
    m) Accessibility, infrastructure and habitat (transport, housing and access)
    n) Participation in the public life and in decision-making processes
    Options on how best to address the gaps
  2. Please state how your Government/organization has engaged with international and regional human rights mechanisms (for example: universal periodic review (UPR) treaty bodies, special procedures, regional mechanisms), specifically with regard to older persons. (500 words)
  3. Have those engagement resulted in positive impact in strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons? Please elaborate. (500 words)
  4. What other options can be considered to strengthen the protection of older persons? Please elaborate. (500 words)
  5. If applicable, what is your assessment on the protection of the human rights of older persons according to regional and international instruments? (500 words)

Submissions should be sent to Stefano Guerra stefano.guerra@mne.pt and Pedro Paranhos pedro.paranhos@itamaraty.gov.br with copy to ageing@un.org The deadline to send responses to the questionnaire is 24 November 2023. All inputs will be posted online.

For more information, visit the Working Group’s Intersessional Events webpage.

Vaccine equity and access to medicines is a fundamental component of the full realization of the right to health. Vaccines, medicines and other health products must not only be produced and made available – they must also be accessible to all persons. Yet, access to vaccines, medicines and other health products remains disturbingly uneven in many places.

Council resolution 50/13 requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to prepare an analytical study on key challenges in ensuring access to medicines, vaccines and other health products to be presented to the Human Rights Council at the fifty-sixth session in June 2024.

In order to collect inputs for this forthcoming report, OHCHR has published a short questionnaire available in English, Français and Español. OHCHR is seeking inputs on the following areas, in particular:
(a) What are the major obstacles at the national, regional and international
levels to ensure equitable access to medicines, vaccines and other health
products?
(b) Please elaborate on the specific barriers, if any, that women and girls, older persons, children, persons living in poverty, or other persons or groups in situations of vulnerability or marginalization face in accessing medicines, vaccines and other health products.
(c) Are there any legal or regulatory challenges that impact the accessibility
and affordability of medicines, vaccines and other health products?
(d) Please elaborate on the impact of research and development models for
pharmaceuticals and other health technologies, including emerging digital
technologies, on the access to medicines, vaccines and other health
products?
(e) From your perspective, what are the main challenges in terms of
international cooperation, partnerships and collaboration to ensure access
to medicines, vaccines and other health products?
(f) What impact, if any, does the existing intellectual property rights regime
have on access to medicines, vaccines and other health products. How can
global efforts better address intellectual property rights and technology
transfer issues to enhance access to medicines, vaccines and other health
products?
(g) What are the main challenges to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines and vaccines?
(h) What obstacles do you see to ensuring the affordability of medicines,
vaccines and other health products?
(i) What concrete recommendations would you make to enhance access to
medicines, vaccines and other health products?
(j) Please add any other information or data you would like to share that have not been covered above?

Submissions should be limited to five pages and be submitted in an accessible format (Microsoft Word) to narmeen.mohammed@un.org or khaled.hassine@un.org by 30 November 2023, indicating in the subject matter ‘Input to HRC resolution 50/13 – challenges’.

For more information, visit OHCHR’s dedicated webpage.