The Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (The CRPD) is an agreement that protects the human rights of people with disabilities. The CRPD does not give people with disabilities new rights, but it says that people cannot be treated differently or unfairly because of their disability. Countries that sign and ratify the convention must make sure that people with disabilities get their human rights.

Australia signed the CRPD in 2007 and ratified it in 2008.

The convention includes the following Articles:

Article 4: The law should not discriminate against people with disabilities.

Article 5: Everyone is equal. The law should not discriminate against anyone.

Article 6: Women and girls with disability should not be discriminated against.

Article 7: Children with disability have the same rights as children without disabilities.

Article 8: Countries who sign the CRPD will work to teach people about disability. They will focus on all the things that people with disabilities can do, not what they cannot.

Article 9: Countries who sign the CRPD will make sure that people with disabilities can live independently.

Article 10: Every human has the right to live.

Article 11: People with disabilities will be protected from natural disasters (like earthquakes), war or other emergencies.

Article 12: Everyone has the right to be treated equally by the law.

Article 13: Everyone should get justice.

Article 14: People with disabilities should be free and safe.

Article 15: No one should be tortured or treated cruelly.

Article 16: People with disabilities should be protected from all types of violence and abuse.

Article 17: Everyone should be respected for their physical and mental abilities just the way they are.

Article 18: People with disabilities have the right to a nationality and to leave and come back to their country if they want to.

Article 19: People with disabilities have the right to decide where to live and who to live with.

Article 20: People with disabilities have the right to be independent and move about. Countries who sign the Convention should help people with mobility if they need it.

Article 21: Everyone should be able to express how they feel.

Article 22: People with disabilities should have privacy if they want to.

Article 23: People with disabilities have the right to marry and have a family.

Article 24: People with disabilities have the right to education.

Article 25: People with disabilities have the right to the best possible health and access to health services.

Article 26: There should be services for people with disabilities to live as independently as possible.

Article 27: Everyone has the right to a work and be treated equally at work.

Article 28: Everyone has the right to food, clothing, and housing.

Article 29: Everyone has the right to vote and take part in politics if they want to.

Article 30: Everyone has the right take part in arts, culture, and sport and to go to libraries, museums, theatres, and cinemas for fun.

Links to more information on the CRPD: