1. The UN Convention on
the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (CRPD)
What it means for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
Presentation to DeafHear Westside Group
SINDILE K. MHLANGA

2. Outline of Presentation
 Introduction and Purpose of Talk
 Human Rights
 What are Human Rights?
 Introduction to the CRPD
 Short History
 Importance for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
 What the CRPD Means for the Rights of Deaf and Hard of hearing
People
 Sources of Rights for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
 Irish Law and Links to CRPD
 Equal Status Act
 Disability Act
 Conclusion

3. Introduction
 About me:
 My name is Sindile Kevin Mhlanga
 I am a teacher of deaf students in Zimbabwe, my home country
 I am studying Disability Law and Policy at NUIG for 1 year
 I am doing an internship with DeafHear So that I can get some
experience to help me advocate and serve people with disabilities
and deaf people better when I go back to Zimbabwe
 Purpose of talk
 To talk about what CRPD means for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
people so they can use it and other laws - Irish and EU Law – to
expand realize rights and get better services.

4. What are Human Rights?
 Human Rights are freedoms that all people must have. It
means that we are born free and equal to other people.
We should not be treated differently from other people.
 Examples of basic human rights:
 Right to life
 Right to food
 Right to education
 Right to work
 Right to health
 Freedom of speech and expression
 Freedom of association

5. Human Rights
 Many international laws protect the rights of all people. But the CRPD
explains the rights of persons with disabilities better and gives more
protection.
 Deaf and hard of hearing People must have these and many other rights
 What rights can you think of specific to deaf people?

6. Introduction to the Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
 The CRPD is an convention or agreement (treaty)
between different countries. It is an international law.
 It is to help make sure that people with disabilities are
treated fairly and can participate equally and included
in everyday life.
 It tells Governments what they must do for people with
different disabilities to enjoy their rights. In the past,
the rights of people with disabilities were not clearly
explained.
 The CRPD was adopted on 13 December 2006.
 It became international law on 3 May 2008.
 The CRPD is very important for Deaf and Hard of
Hearing people too. Ireland has signed but not ratified
CRPD yet.

7. CRPD and Human Rights for Deaf People
Sign Language &
Interpreting
Education
Communication and
Language
Accessibility
CRPD

8. Sources of Rights for Deaf People in the CRPD
Communication, Language Education and Participation Rights
are very important for Deaf people. The CRPD provides
guarantees to ensure these rights are respected.
 Preamble
 Access to Information and Communication
 No discrimination based on language
 Article 1
 Protects the rights of all with sensory and other impairments.
 Article 3 – General principles
 Right to Accessibility, reasonable accommodation and deaf
identity
 Participation in everyday life through accessible
communication and language

9. Sources of Rights for Deaf People in the CRPD
(continued)
 Article 4 – General Obligations
 NO laws must discriminate against people with
disabilities or deaf people – E.G. Joanne Clarke
jury case
 Ireland needs law to recognize Irish Sign language
 Article 5 – Equality and non-discrimination
 Equality before and under the law without
discrimination
 Article 9 – Accessibility
 Accessibility gives independence and enjoyment of life
on an equal basis with others
 Sign Language and communication technologies

10. Sources of Rights for Deaf People in the
CRPD (continued)
 Article 21 – Freedom of Expression and Access
to Information
 Free to choose communication methods and
access to sign language and assistive
technology
 Article 24 – Inclusive Education
 Use of Sign language and assistive
technology for education
 Article 31
 Deaf Identity and Cultural life

11. Thank You!