SINGAPORE-SOGI-TBs-CRPD

Concluding Observations on Report 1 (2022) (Link)

Equality and non-discrimination (art. 5)

9. The Committee is concerned about:

(a) The absence of a comprehensive definition of discrimination against persons with disabilities, encompassing multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination;

(b) The lack of recognition of denial of reasonable accommodation as a form of discrimination on the basis of disability.

10. The Committee recalls its general comment No. 6 (2018) and targets 10.2 and 10.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals, and recommends that the State party:

(a) Adopt a comprehensive definition of discrimination on grounds of disability, including multiple and intersectional disability encompassing age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, language, sexual orientation, nationality and migration status, or any other status, and ensure that persons with disabilities are comprehensively protected from discrimination;

(b) Adopt legal provisions and create practice to recognize denial of reasonable accommodation as a form of discrimination in all areas of life, and include an express definition of reasonable accommodation consistent with article 2 of the Convention.

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Statistics and data collection (art. 31)

57. While noting some efforts undertaken by the State party in the collection of data, such as the inclusion in the 2020 national census of the Washington Group short set of questions on disability, the Committee notes with concern:

(a) Serious gaps in the collection of disaggregated data and statistics on persons with disabilities in all areas covered by the Convention, in particular work, employment, education and deprivation of liberty;

(b) The lack of systematic and comprehensive research about the living conditions of persons with disabilities and the barriers that they face in exercising their rights.

58. The Committee recommends that the State party reinforce its use of the Washington Group short set of questions on disability and the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development policy marker on the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities in all its data- collection programmes, taking into consideration the local context, and providing training for the interpretation of data, and:

(a) Strengthen its system for collecting data on persons with disabilities, disaggregated by age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, income, migration status, level of education, employment situation and place of residence, in all areas of life, ensuring confidentiality and respect for the privacy of persons with disabilities;

(b) Allocate funds to undertake periodic research on the rights of persons with disabilities with the aim of identifying barriers to their realization;

(c) Support independent research, both quantitative and qualitative, to inform disability-related policies and measures aimed at ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities, and ensure the active involvement of and close consultation with persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, throughout the planning, design and implementation of the data-collection processes.

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