Policy Tools (1): Existing Human Rights &
Disability Data Streams in Europe (Art. 31)
Carly Toepke, JD
Disability Policy Group, Swiss Paraplegic Research (SPF), Nottwil, Switzerland
Faculty of Law, University of Lucerne, Switzerland
What is the current status of persons with disabilities in
Europe according to the data available?
Is this data appropriate for the Member States to effectively
implement the UN CRPD?
If not, what is the European data baseline (minimum data
set) to be improved upon?
What are the legal requirements for the collection of data at
national and European level?
What further steps do Member States need to take in order
to meet the requirements in Article 31 of the UN CRPD?
Identify
Barriers
Statistics and Data
Collection
Article 31:States Parties
undertake to collect
appropriate information,
including statistical and
research data, to enable
them to formulate and
implement policies to give
effect to the present
Convention
Human
Rights in
Data
Collection
• Implementation
of UNCRPD
• Monitoring of
UNCRPD
Understand
Variation
• Prioritization
• Disability
Policy Making
Identify
Monitoring
Method
• EU Level
• State Level
• Respected
• Protected
National Implementation
and Monitoring
Article 33(2): States
Parties shall, in
accordance with their
legal and administrative
systems, maintain,
strengthen, designate or
establish within the
State Party, a
framework, including
one or more
independent
mechanisms, as
appropriate, to promote,
protect and monitor
implementation of the
present Convention.
Formulation of
Research Plan
Literature Review
Interviews
Surveys
Comparative CrossCountry Analysis
How to Access Appropriateness of Data
• feasibility of research
• what factors to take into account
• what tools to use
Collecting Data from Policy Makers and Persons with
Disabilities
• making contact
• interviews
• surveys
Collecting Data on Human Rights Issues
• current sources
• cases
Swiss Paraplegic Research
Nottwil, Switzerland
SPF’s mission is to improve
functioning, social integration,
equality of opportunity, health, selfdetermination and quality of life for
persons with paraplegia or tetraplegia
Disability Policy Unit’s objective is to
impact assessment of health and
social policies and formulate policy
recommendations
Mental Disability Advocacy Center
Budapest, Hungary
Hungary was the first EU country to
ratify the UN CRPD and Optional Protocal
in 2008
MDAC is advocating for implementation
of the UN CRPD and an independent
monitoring device