Towards a Rights-Based Policy Environment for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities

Article 27 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) obligates States parties to recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others. The rights of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others is also referenced in Articles 5, 8, 9 and 12, demonstrating the cross-cutting nature of employment as a policy issue. Effective implementation of Article 27 will also ensure that States parties meet their commitments under Sustainable Development Goal 8.5 on achieving the full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. The recent adoption by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) of the General Comment on Work and Employment is a major step forward in clarifying the obligations of States parties regarding the right to work and employment. This chapter examines some of the key challenges arising for states parties in meeting their obligations under Article 27 and, in the context of the new General Comment, discusses the key factors required to create an enabling policy environment for the employment of people with disabilities, as well as key outstanding questions and gaps which will need to be addressed for successful implementation of the CRPD.