The CRPD is an international human rights treaty reaffirming that persons with disabilities enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.  

It was adopted in 2006 by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). 191 countries, including the European Union (EU), are States Parties to the CRPD. It is also the world’s fastest-ratified international human rights treaty13. 

This Convention clarifies that persons with disabilities have the right to participate in civil, political, economic, social and cultural life in the community, just like anyone else. It stipulates what public and private authorities must do to ensure and promote the full enjoyment of these rights by all persons with disabilities. 

The right to access to transport is addressed in Article 9 of the Convention14.  

Ratification of the CRPD 

In Europe, the CRPD was ratified rapidly. The EU is a State Party to the CRPD since 2011. By March 2018, all EU Member States and the EU have ratified the Convention. It is the first time that there has been universal ratification of an international human rights treaty in the EU. Other countries in Europe that have ratified the CRPD include Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iceland, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine. Liechtenstein was the last European country to ratify the CRPD in December 2023.  

Submission of initial report to the CRPD committee 

States Parties are obliged to submit an initial report to the CRPD Committee on the measures taken to implement the Convention two years after the CRPD comes into force in their country. San Marino is the last State Party in Europe that has not submitted its initial report to the CRPD Committee, thereby blocking the Committee’s review process on progress made towards the implementation of the CRPD. The state report was due 22 March 2010. EDF calls on San Marino to urgently submit its initial state report to the CRPD Committee. 

Ratification of the optional protocol to the CRPD  

The Optional Protocol to the CRPD allows individuals, groups of individuals, or third parties to submit a complaint to the CRPD Committee about human rights violations.  

Complaints may only be made against a State Party that has ratified the Optional Protocol. If the CRPD Committee finds that the State Party has failed in its obligations under the CRPD, it will issue a decision requiring that the violation be remedied and for the State Party to provide follow-up information.  

22 EU Member States have ratified the Optional Protocol. The EU and the following Member States have not ratified the Protocol: Bulgaria, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland and Romania.  

Outside of the EU, Albania, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have not ratified it.  

The CRPD Committee calls on each State Party to ratify the Optional Protocol.  

EDF calls on the EU, as well as Albania, Bulgaria, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania and Switzerland, to ratify the Optional Protocol.