Joint Committee on Disability Matters to discuss Article 23 of the UNCPRD - Respect for Home and Family Life

The following representatives are due to appear:

• Professor Eilionóir Flynn, Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy (CDLP), University of Galway
• Emma Burns, researcher, University of Galway
• Nem Kearns, DWI Co-Director, Disabled Women Ireland
• Amy Hassett, DWI Co-Director, Disabled Women Ireland
• Louise Milicevic, DWI Member and Parent Advocate, Disabled Women Ireland

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Michael Moynihan said: “We welcome this opportunity discuss Article 23 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Ireland’s key obligations under the Convention in respecting the right to home and family life of disabled people.”

“Article 23 explicitly references the right to equality for persons with disabilities in decisions about fertility, reproductive and family planning. It requires States to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and to have access to age-appropriate information, reproductive and family planning education are recognised, and the means necessary to enable them to exercise these rights are provided.”

“We look forward to discussing some of the barriers and facilitators in realising these rights in Ireland with representatives.”

Watch the meeting live here or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.