ع
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities issued its concluding observations on Chile, Lithuania, Qatar, Slovakia and Sri Lanka after reviewing the five states parties during its latest session, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported on September 7 2026. The findings outline the committee’s main concerns and recommendations on implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities together with positive aspects noted in each country’s progress. World Health Organization data shows that approximately 1.3 billion people or 16 percent of the global population live with some form of disability making the convention’s application a central issue in international human rights. The committee which consists of 18 independent experts meets regularly in Geneva to assess state reports under the treaty ratified by 193 parties according to OHCHR records.
The committee expressed concern that people with disabilities in Chile can still be declared legally incapable and placed under interdiction with the state regarding legal incapacity and substituted decision-making as protective measures according to the OHCHR press release. It noted the absence of a support system consistent with the convention in the country’s legal framework. The committee recommended that Chile abolish legal incapacity and all forms of substituted decision-making on the grounds of disability repeal relevant provisions of the Civil Code and other legislation and establish a system of support that respects the will and preferences of persons with disabilities. These observations build on the committee’s ongoing work to align national laws with the convention’s human rights model of disability.
On Lithuania the committee noted with concern that progress on deinstitutionalisation remains slow with some large institutions reorganised into smaller groups that continue to operate within the same buildings retaining institutional routines and restrictions on individual choice the OHCHR stated. The findings highlight how such arrangements limit personal autonomy despite nominal reforms. The committee urged accelerated efforts to transition to community-based support services that enable independent living in line with convention standards. Lithuania’s review forms part of broader regional examinations of Eastern European states’ compliance with disability inclusion requirements.
Despite Qatar’s adoption of a new disability law in 2025 the committee noted with concern that the country continues to rely on a medical approach to disability in its legislation policies and services contrary to the human rights model the OHCHR reported. This approach frames disability primarily as a health issue rather than a matter of rights and social barriers. The findings call for a shift toward inclusive policies that remove systemic obstacles and ensure full participation. Qatar’s observations arrive as the committee tracks implementation across Gulf states that have increasingly engaged with the convention in recent years.
The committee’s reviews of Slovakia and Sri Lanka similarly addressed gaps in legal harmonisation service accessibility and data collection on disability the OHCHR indicated though specific details emphasised positive steps in certain policy areas. Both countries received recommendations aimed at strengthening alignment with the convention’s requirements for reasonable accommodation and inclusive education. These assessments contribute to the committee’s periodic monitoring that encourages states to report progress every four years after initial submissions. Supporting data from prior sessions shows persistent challenges in translating ratification into measurable domestic reforms across diverse national contexts.
Global efforts under the convention have advanced since its adoption with the committee issuing general comments and statements on emerging issues such as climate impacts on persons with disabilities according to OHCHR documentation. The September 2026 session also commemorated the treaty’s twentieth anniversary underscoring sustained focus on accountability. The findings serve as a benchmark for civil society organisations that advocate for disability rights at national and international levels. Further details on each country’s observations remain available through the committee’s official publications.
