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Review meeting on CRPD report
Members of the CY National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) were invited by the Social and Family Affairs Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, to attend a review meeting on the 2nd State Report of Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to hear voices from all sides; the review meeting lasted for three days, being held on 7th, 8th, and 10th September 2020. In addition, with a view to safeguarding the rights of people with disabilities to file complaints, the CY Complaints Receipt Center has started the construction of a barrier-free environment and arrangements for providing friendly access for these people.
This is the first time CY Members have attended a meeting on reviewing CRPD state report, which includes submissions from all relevant agencies. Others attending the meeting included the Committee for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the Executive Yuan, representatives from agencies with jurisdiction, and persons with disabilities and representatives from community groups or organizations, all of whom actively voiced their opinions.
As the CRPD state report included recommendations in writing from the CY, an NGO representative expressed her hope that the NHRC would provide its own independent report in the future. A CY Member attending the meeting responded that “starting from the 3rd state report on the two covenants, the NHRC will provide independent opinions for state reports in accordance with the Organic Law of the NHRC.”
In addition, to safeguard the rights of people with disabilities, the CY Complaints Receipt Center is currently making modifications to the reception room, stairs, and doors to create a barrier-free environment. As for related support services, the CY is also planning to purchase assistive devices like video magnifiers and LED lighted magnifiers, as well as creating a text-to-speech hotline, offering writing or typing services, and providing frontline personnel with professional educational training. Finally, to ensure complainants enjoy the same access during city/county inspections as those filing complaints at the CY, we have asked local government agencies to arrange for sign-language interpreters to stand by so that complainants with hearing impairments can communicate easily with the on-duty CY Member and accompanying CY personnel.
In attending the review meeting on the 2nd CRPD state report, the CY listened to voices from all sides, gaining an appreciation for the urgent needs and expectations of disability groups and bringing back feedback for further research and analysis. The CY is also striving to safeguard the right to file complaints by providing user-friendly support and services for people with disabilities.
Source: Control Yuan (CY), Taiwan
