Today, Ms Kay Sadler, the Chairperson of First Peoples Disability Network Australia submitted an Intervention to Conference on the Conference of Governments on the Conventions of the Rights of Disabled People (CRD). The focus of the intervention is a request to establish a formal mechanism for Indigenous people with disabilities through CRD.
“A formal mechanism for Indigenous peoples with disabilities will shine a spotlight on the intersectional issues our communities face, who are often the most marginalised and experience some of the worst human rights abuses in Australia. Such a focus at the UN will hopefully provide Australian Governments with the impetus to do better for our First Nations communities.” Says Ms Sadler.
This Intervention follows the 2022 Conference of State Parties, First Peoples Disability Network, called upon the CRPD committee to establish a formal mechanism to promote the protect the rights of Indigenous peoples with disabilities’. This year, FDPN are again asking the Committee to establish this mechanism.
The Full Statement
‘Good afternoon, I am honoured to have this opportunity to address the Committee today.
My Name is Kay Sadler, I am the Chairperson of First Peoples Disability Network Australia. I am a proud Worimi woman of the Biripi nation. I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands that we are meeting on today, the Lanape people.
I also thank Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion for this opportunity to speak today.
By any measure Indigenous Australians with disability are amongst some of the most disadvantaged of all Australians, and indeed we know this is also the case for many Indigenous peoples across the world.
FPDN has been working in close partnership with the Australian Government to improve policy and programmatic improvements for our people. However, we have a lot of work ahead of us. The vast and serious issues faced by Indigenous peoples with disabilities will only be addressed if we develop a national strategy that deals with the intersection of racism and ablism and develops specific actions and measures across all areas of the life course.
At last year’s Conference of State Parties, First Peoples Disability Network, called upon the CRPD committee to establish a formal mechanism to promote the protect the rights of Indigenous peoples with disabilities’. This year, we are again asking the Committee to establish this mechanism.
This request is supported by previous commitments made by the General Assembly and ongoing work to enhance the participation of indigenous peoples with disabilities.
At the 2014 high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, Heads of state, Government, and representatives of Member States, reaffirmed commitment to the important and continuing role of the United Nations in promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples.
Of particular relevance to the Committee, commitment was also made to “promoting and protecting the rights of Indigenous persons with disabilities and to continuing to improve their social and economic conditions, including by developing targeted measures for national action plans, strategies or measures, in collaboration with indigenous persons with disabilities.
Following these commitment’s, in 2022 at the Expert workshop on possible ways to enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the work of the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, noted the need to ensure equal and fair participation for Indigenous persons with disabilities in particular.
In closing we respectfully encourage the CRPD Committee seriously consider our request, and to resource the mechanism sufficiently. We believe that such a measure will enhance the work of the Committee, encourage nation states to take more target action, and support efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.’ Statement Ends.
“FPDN will always continue to advocate for the rights of First Peoples with disability even if this Intervention is not successful, but we are hopeful the Intervention will make it through.” Adds Ms Sadler.
For all media enquires please contact Luke Briscoe, FPDN National Communications Manager on email [email protected] or phone 0407773259.
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