1. Parliamentary Seminar Summary report: The Joint Committee on
Human Rights Report into the implementation of disabled people's
right to independent living
Welcome
Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson welcomed the speakers and audience
to the seminar, on behalf of Baroness Jane Campbell of Surbiton.
Pam Duncan; Intern with Baroness Jane Campbell of Surbiton; spoke on
the importance of today in embedding this report as not only a reflection
on the state of rights to independent living but also as a call to action to
make change happen.
A message from Baroness Campbell, who was disappointed not to be
there due to ill health, thanked the chair and committee, the clerks,
special advisers and those who submitted evidence. She reminded us
of the importance of the report at this time and of using it. In particular,
the need to embed dignity, autonomy and participation as key values
that will prevent the institutionalisation of disabled people through
bureaucratic failure, red-tape and a lack of support.
The chair of the JCHR, Dr Hywel Francis MP restated the committee’s
commitment to the both the human rights of disabled people and of the
report in realising these. He added that the seminar was the beginning
of a campaign to ensure the recommendations of the report were
implemented and said that he hoped the Government’s response to the
report would be debated in both the House of Commons and House of
Lords.
Presentation
Neil Crowther, Jenny Morris and Caroline Gooding presented the
findings of the committee and its recommendations. They reminded us
that this is the first Parliament anywhere in the world to use the
UNCRPD as a lens to view Government Policy and that the world was
watching the UK keenly to see what happens next.
Parliamentary Seminar Summary report: The Joint Committee on Human Rights Report into the
implementation of disabled people's right to independent living, March 2012

2. Questions & discussion
The question of the status of the UNCRPD as ‘soft law’ or ‘hard law’ was
raised. The confusion was thought to stem from the status of the
UNCRPD in UK domestic law however, the seminar was reminded that
Treaty’s to which the UK are signed up are legally binding and so
represent ‘hard law’. It was felt that that a key priority for action on the
report must be to embed the rights in the UNCRPD as the ‘hard law’
they represent.
Access to justice for disabled people was highlighted in the report as an
area of concern. Equally, access to democratic processes, including
Parliamentary seminars, was also highlighted, especially in relation to
communication support.
A great deal of the discussion focused upon the role of the report as an
accountability mechanism. The Government is expected to respond to
the report in May. In the meantime, the report should be considered a
tool for dialogue between disabled people, their organisations and
agencies with responsibility for implementing the rights set out in the
Convention.
The question of whether the report could encourage a re-think of Dilnotts
starting point around the funding of social care through general taxation
was raised. It was felt that this particular issue was outwith the specific
scope of the report, but that its findings could be useful in the future
decisions on the funding of social care.
The issue of how human rights should be protected and promoted via
the commissioning of public services was identified as an area requiring
action including clear guidance
Disabled people and their organisations are instrumental to ensuring that
that the Convention is implemented in full. It was noted that disabled
people and their organisations would require financial and other support
to do so in future.
Pam Duncan
pam@ilis.co.uk
Intern with Baroness Campbell of Surbiton
March 2012
Parliamentary Seminar Summary report: The Joint Committee on Human Rights Report into the
implementation of disabled people's right to independent living, March 2012