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Welcome to the Website of UN Special Rapporteur Gerard Quinn

People with disabilities are making their perspectives count in the most pressing debates of our time.

As Special Rapporteur, Gerard Quinn supports the struggle for lifting the barriers holding them back.

MORE ABOUT GERARD's WORK
Banner of Disability Dialogues Podcast Series, featuring Gerard Quinn. The image links to the podcast page

Making people's rights real require cultural shifts that go beyond signing treaties. Only co-production between people and governments can produce the ideas needed to unlock change.

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THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR’S WORK

As Special Rapporteur, Gerard works to promote the participation of persons with disabilities in the co-production of laws and policies at local, regional and international levels. This is the only way to make sure that their experiences are visible, and their rights known and respected.

To do this, he consults with organizations, government agencies, individual experts and international institutions to identify key issues affecting people with disabilities. Then he makes recommendations and offers technical support to ensure that their experiences, aspirations and needs are taken into account in all relevant laws and policies.

He also promotes the visibility of persons with disabilities and their rights in global challenges such as armed conflicts, the COVID 19 pandemic, climate change and other factors driving humanitarian emergencies, advocating for their participation.  His work is guided by the international human rights treaties, in particular the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, or CRPD.

THEMATIC REPORTS

Transformation of services for persons with disabilities.

Posted on: January 11, 2023
New technologies and participation allow us to rethink the support services of persons with disabilities beyond traditional models based on impairment and dependency. This report offers a framework to rethink support services with personhood, autonomy and human rights at their center.
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The protection of persons with disabilities during military operations in armed conflict.

Posted on: September 6, 2022
Second of a series of 3 reports to the UN General Assembly, this report is dedicated to enhancing the inclusion and protection of persons with disabilities during the conduct of hostilitie
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Artificial intelligence and the rights of persons with disabilities.

Posted on: June 5, 2022
Advances in AI could be of great benefit to persons with disabilities, who may require assistance in performing a wide range of tasks. AI may also lead to the development of new assistive technologies to help persons with disabilities.
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News and Media

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Gerard Quinn's presentation to the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council

Posted on: March 13, 2023
In his appearance before the UN Human rights body, Gerard presented his latest report on reimagining support services for persons with disabilities, and commented on his 2022 country visits to Jordan and the European Union.
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Monthly Newsletter of the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability- March 2023

Posted on: March 2, 2023
Highlights of Gerard's work and upcoming events. If you are not on the mailing list and would like to receive his montlhy newsletters via email, please contact us!
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Gerard Quinn speaking at UNESCWA conference in Beirut

Persons with disabilities are becoming their own researchers.

Posted on: February 16, 2023
Closing remarks by Gerard Quinn at the regional conference "Transition towards Independent Living within the Community For Persons with Disabilities", hosted on February 14-15, 2023, by UNESCWA, with the support of the Government of Malta and Ford Foundation. Over these two days I found my mind wandering back on the Valetta Declaration and process. We […]
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