New York, June 13 (QNA) - HE Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah said that the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) marked a global turning point, shifting from a welfare-based approach to a rights-based approach.

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) play a crucial role in promoting the CRPD's effective implementation and ensuring that persons with disabilities enjoy their rights on an equal basis with others, Her Excellency said.

This came in her speech at the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (COSP19) at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

HE Al Attiyah said that NHRIs contribute to aligning national legislation with the Convention's provisions, participating in the development of national policies and plans, monitoring implementation and identifying challenges, and promoting a culture of rights and empowerment.

For its part, NHRC encouraged the issuance of a law on the rights of persons with disabilities in Qatar, participated in discussions on the draft law, and submitted observations and recommendations to ensure its full compliance with CRPD before it was enacted in 2025, Her Excellency added.

Now, twenty years after the Convention, she said, the current primary challenge is not merely recognizing rights, but ensuring that persons with disabilities actually get to enjoy them in their daily lives equally.

HE the Chairperson of NHRC added that over the past years, the world has witnessed significant achievements, including strengthening legal frameworks, expanding opportunities for education and employment, improving access to services and facilities, and raising public awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities.

The CRPD's effective implementation cannot be achieved without the active participation of persons with disabilities and the organizations that represent them in setting policies, legislation, and programs that affect their lives, embodying the principle of representation, Al Attiyah pointed out.

Legislation is only the beginning of the journey, she said, underscoring that NHRC has established a specialized unit for the rights of persons with disabilities and launched a Protection and Empowerment Program to strengthen the effective protection of rights and address challenges in partnership with relevant stakeholders.

Her Excellency also highlighted the additional suffering experienced by persons with disabilities in territories and areas affected by conflicts and humanitarian crises, adding that the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing essential services, care, and protection become even more severe at a time when their need for support and assistance is increasing.

HE the Chairperson of NHRC called for the Convention's 20th anniversary to serve as an opportunity for an honest assessment of the progress achieved, a renewal of the political will needed to address existing gaps, and encouragement for a faster pace of implementation. (QNA)