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Empower U: Learn to Access Your Disability Rights Training on Canadian Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol (OP) training aims to increase awareness of how to address discrimination using more familiar Canadian human rights laws such as Human Rights Codes and the newer international Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This is training for persons with disabilities by persons with disabilities. The training is part of a project funded by Employment and Social Development Canada and implemented by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) in collaboration with Canadian Multicultural Disability Centre Inc. (CMDCI), Citizens With Disabilities – Ontario (CWDO), Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities (MLPD) and National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS). Read more.
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is the first human rights convention of the 21st century. The CRPD is an international law that provides guidance to countries on how to meet the human rights of persons with disabilities. The CRPD also has an Optional Protocol, which is another international law that provides a mechanism for individuals and groups, who have exhausted all domestic avenues of redress, to have claims of discrimination heard by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Canada participated in the development of the CRPD at the United Nations. The Federal government included people with disabilities on the Canadian delegation, which worked on drafting the Convention. Steve Estey, Chair of CCD's International Development Committee, and Mary Ennis, then a CCD Vice Chair, participated on different Canadian delegations.
During the Convention's development phase, CCD held community consultations where national disability groups provided input to Federal officials on the content of the CRPD.
Now that the Convention has come into force, CCD monitors the Federal Government's actions on the CRPD.
Recent Work
June 13, 2022
Canadian Civil Society Supports Dr. Laverne Jacobs for the UN Committee on the Rights of People with Disabilities
Dr. Laverne Jacobs is Canada’s first-ever nominated candidate to the UN CRPD Committee. This demonstrates unparalleled commitment and confidence in her nomination by the Government of Canada and highlights the recognition of Dr. Jacob’s intersectional approach and life-long vision to the realization and expansion of international disability rights for all. A law professor at the University of Windsor, Dr. Jacobs has and continues to work to see the evolution of law incorporate the full realization of disability rights. Her work as lead author of the first Canadian disability law textbook ushered in a new, vibrant generation of disability rights scholars. Dr. Jacobs' disability and anti-racism advocacy work advances an intersectional approach to legislation and policymaking, and her work directly led to the creation of the Accessible Canada Act - a landmark federal legislation promising barrier-free access by 2040. These are but a few of her accomplishments. Read more.
June 22, 2021
CCD Applauds Dr. Laverne Jacobs' Candidacy for UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a national human rights organization of people with disabilities working for an accessible and inclusive Canada, applauds the Government of Canada’s naming Dr. Laverne Jacobs as a candidate for the 2022 election of members for the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Read more.
December 16, 2020
Disability Rights Online
You should check out the Disability Rights Online website. This website connects visitors with self-paced online training on human rights, other resources and contact information for expert speakers on human rights. Read more.
More on UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
November 6, 2020
Human Rights Training for People with Disabilities by People with Disabilities: Nothing about us without us!
December 21, 2018
Open Letter: Recognizing Two Important Human Rights Milestones of 2018
May 23, 2017
Review of Canada's Accession to the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
December 23, 2016
Canada to Ratify CRPD's Optional Protocol
June 22, 2015
Advocate for Change: Disability/Deaf Issues and the Federal Election
February 28, 2014
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: First Report of Canada
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Archives
Canada signs the Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations. Members of the Canadian Delegation Steve Estey, Chair of CCD’s International Committee, and Dulcie McCallum observe Canada’s ambassador make this historic commitment.
HRSDC Minister Diane Finley, Defense Minister Peter MacKay, NDP Disability Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis, Liberal MP Mike Savage, Liberal MP the Hon. Carolyn Bennett and Bloc MP Yves Lessard joined leaders from the disability community at a CCD celebration of Canada's ratification of the CRPD.
May 27, 2006
Fourth National Consultation on the International Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (ICRPD)
A summary of the proceedings at CCD's fourth Canadian consultation on the draft CRPD. Read more.