Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force for Liechtenstein on January 17, 2024. It represents a fundamental change in perspective: disability is no longer primarily understood as an individual deficit, but rather as the result of barriers in society and the environment that must be jointly dismantled to enable equal participation. The enactment therefore marks the starting signal for a far-reaching reform of disability policy towards comprehensive legal protection and participation of people with disabilities in all areas of life. The existing legal bases such as the Disability Equality Act (2006), the Disability Insurance Act, the Education Act with inclusion ordinances and various state service agreements with organizations will also be adapted to the requirements of the Convention.

This means that major implementation work will be required in the coming years, which must be coordinated by the Equal Opportunities Department of the Office of Social Services and monitored by the VMR. The VMR received additional resources for the expansion of the office. However, no additional resources were allocated to the Equal Opportunities Department for the coordination of implementation. From 2025, an increase of 30 full-time equivalents is planned for this task. The VMR already pointed out in the consultation process that the obligations arising from the Convention cannot be fulfilled without sufficient additional resources. Progress in the coordination of implementation therefore largely failed to materialize in 2024. On the initiative of and with the cooperation of the Disabled Persons' Association and the VMR, the specialist area was able to start taking stock. At the same time, the VMR prepared the establishment of the necessary participatory monitoring mechanism for 2025. In June, Liechtenstein attended the 17th Conference of the Parties in New York for the first time as a State Party. The first reporting under the Convention is expected in 2026 - no additional resources have been earmarked for this either.

 

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