CRPD/C/PHL/CO/1
III. Principal areas of concern and recommendations
A.
General principles and obligations (arts. 1–4)
6.
The Committee is concerned about:
(a)
The prevalence of the medical and charity approaches in the State party’s
legislation and policies concerning persons with disabilities, overemphasizing impairment,
medical treatment and social care, which are in stark contrast to the human rights model of
the Convention;
(b)
Insufficient human, technical and financial resources allocated for reforming
and harmonizing national-level disability laws and institutionalizing policy changes to
implement the Convention;
(c)
Legislation that perpetuates existing stereotypes against persons with
disabilities and inadvertently institutionalizes stigmatization and disability-based
discrimination;
(d)
The absence of a comprehensive policy across all sectors and levels for
implementing the State party’s obligations under the Convention, including removing all
barriers to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society.
7.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Establish a process to conduct a review of its legislation and bring it into
line with the human rights model of disability in the Convention. The State party
should recognize all persons with disabilities as right-holders, and reaffirm their
inherent dignity and autonomy;
(b)
Eliminate the multiple levels of assessments of disability and, in
consultation with representative organizations of persons with disabilities, develop an
assessment policy and procedure, in line with the human rights model of disability
enshrined in the Convention;
(c)
Ensure appropriate human, technical and financial resources to update
its legislative and policy framework;
(d)
Carry out a participatory process involving representative organizations
of persons with disabilities as well as organizations of the public and private sectors,
aimed at identifying environmental and attitudinal barriers hindering full and
effective participation of persons with disabilities in Philippine society, and adopting
measures to overcome such barriers at all levels;
(e)
Adopt a comprehensive national action plan for the implementation of
the obligations in the Convention. The State party should establish a time frame,
specific indicators and benchmarks concerning the progress of such a policy, and
allocate resources for its implementation in rural areas, municipalities and provinces.
8.
The Committee is concerned about the lack of information, coupled with effective
and meaningful consultations. The State party should consult and involve representative
organizations of persons with disabilities, particularly those living in remote and rural areas,
in decision-making processes and public affairs concerning implementation and monitoring
of the Convention.
9.
The Committee, in line with its general comment No. 7 (2018) on the
participation of persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, through
their representative organizations, in the implementation and monitoring of the
Convention, recommends that the State party:
(a)
Adopt measures to promote the establishment of organizations of women
with disabilities, organizations of children with disabilities and organizations of
persons with intellectual disabilities, and provide them with financial resources to
ensure their functioning;
2