Conclusion

Since its adoption, the CRPD has had an impact on the global, regional and national levels that cannot be overstated. The Convention has changed how disability is understood, has moved governments to take broad and bold action, and has put the voices of persons with disabilities at the center of policymaking. Moreover, the CRPD – including Article 33 – has introduced unprecedented institutional developments to better ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities.

This paper hopes to contribute to policy discussions on the CRPD and Article 33, with particular focus on the Arab region. It unpacked the article’s main provisions relating to focal points, coordination mechanisms, independent monitoring frameworks and participation of persons with disabilities. It provided a summary of the current trends in Article 33 implementation in the Arab region. It further situated these trends and provisions in the region by exploring some of the opportunities and challenges that Arab countries face in implementing Article 33. While the issues touched upon in that section, namely disability data, organizations of persons with disabilities, are highly pertinent, it bears noting that Arab States face many other complex trends, not least with relation to the several armed conflict and humanitarian crises that continue to affect the region. 

One important pathway for enhancing institutional frameworks for CRPD implementation and monitoring lies in inter- and intra-regional cooperation. By sharing their national experiences, governments can capitalize on progress made by others, and avoid potential mistakes and pitfalls met along the way. The same goes for persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, whose strengthened cooperation both within and across borders may help to enhance capacities and their engagement in policy processes. As the global community moves through the second decade of the Convention, these and other efforts will help to maintain current momentum and to continue the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities in the Arab region and around the world.