Facilitating UNCRPD Compliance through Person-centred Care Planning and Improved Regulation

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is a binding human rights instrument and culmination of decades of work between the United Nations and persons with disabilities. It aims to change attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities. Ratified in 2009 and created by disabled people for disabled people, it arguably carries an ipso facto level of legitimacy.

Nevertheless, there appears to be a lacuna between the rights enshrined in the CRPD and its implementation. UN Committee reports reveal continued UK non-compliance with human rights principles. In particular, there are concerns regarding autonomous and self-directed supported decision-making (Article 12), independent living and being included in the community (Article 19) and informed consent on a par with health care (Articles 25 and 17). The CRPD demands seismic changes in practice. Consequently, practical guidance is pivotal. As recently identified by the UN Special Rapporteur, 'we need to offer policy makers solutions'.