Main tasks

Under the authority of the Committee of Ministers, the CAHDPH will steer the intergovernmental work in the field of disability rights. In particular, the CAHDPH will:

• (i)  promote the visibility and raise awareness of disability rights (internally and externally);
• (ii)  oversee the implementation of the Council of Europe Disability Strategy 2017-2023: Human rights: a reality for all;
• (iii) provide expertise to member States on the development of legislation, policies, practice, training schemes and awareness material to support their efforts towards the achievement of the relevant UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the implementation of relevant international standards, notably the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD); facilitate the exchange of experience and good practice;
• (iv) ensure co-operation with (i) the UN and related agencies (namely the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Conference of the State Parties (COSP) to the CRPD, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UN DESA (Department of Economic and Social Affairs), OHCHR, the WHO, including through participation in relevant meetings (e.g. sessions of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN CRPD, the Human Rights Council, events and conferences organised by the relevant UN entities responsible for disability issues); (ii) the World Bank, (iii) the OSCE, (iv) the OECD, and (v) the European Union, with the aim of strengthening disability rights as an integral part of universal human rights;;
• (v) conduct needs assessments and provide advice on the development of standards, co-operation and monitoring activities within its field of competence;
• (vi) ensure that a disability perspective is introduced and maintained in the activities of all relevant committees and bodies of the Organisation;
• (vii) advise the Committee of Ministers and the Secretary General on appropriate action to be taken and likewise provide advice as requested on disability-related questions as may arise;
• (viii) engage in co-ordination and joint planning at international level with the European Union, the United Nations (UN), notably the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Conference of the Parties to the UNCRPD the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), other intergovernmental organisations and civil society organisations;
• (ix) take due account of integrating a gender perspective and to building cohesive societies in the performance of its tasks;
• (x) in accordance with decisions CM/Del/Dec(2013)1168/10.2 of the Committee of Ministers, carry out, at regular intervals, within the limits of the available resources and bearing in mind its priorities, an examination of some or all of the conventions for which it has been given responsibility,[9] in co-operation, where appropriate, with the relevant convention-based bodies, and report back to the Committee of Ministers.

Specific tasks

• (i) Facilitate the exchange of good practices to support member States in their initiatives to introduce policy changes at national level.
• (ii) Promote and support action and policies across the five priority areas and the cross-cutting themes identified by the Strategy to achieve equality, dignity and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in all the member States.
• (iii) Facilitate dialogue with and among the civil society and specialised organisations working with and for persons with disabilities; promote research and publications for the priority areas and cross cutting themes of the Strategy.
• (iv) Review the implementation of relevant Committee of Ministers’ recommendations.