Ms Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame has been elected as the new Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), making her the first African woman to lead the committee.
This was disclosed in a statement from Sightsavers. Ms Fefoame, who is also Sightsavers’ Global Advocacy Manager for Social Inclusion, was elected to the position during the CRPD’s 28th session held in Geneva, Switzerland on the International Women’s Day.
The statement noted that Fefoame has been a member of the committee since 2018. She was first nominated for the role by the government of Ghana, her home country. Ms Fefoame originally joined the CRPD following the Sightsavers Equal UN campaign, which has called for gender equality on UN committees since 2016.
The statement described Ms Fefoame as a lifelong disability rights advocate and champion of inclusive education, particularly for girls with disabilities.
Sightsavers’ deputy CEO, Dom Haslam, said, “This is an incredible recognition of Gertrude’s commitment and dedication to the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls”.
“Getty is a true force for the realization of the Convention and I have no doubt will lead the work of the committee with the same energy and passion that she shows every day in her work for Sightsavers.”
Dom Haslam
The statement disclosed that in her new role as chair of the CRPD, Ms Fefoame will lead the committee in its mission to promote, protect, and monitor the implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities around the world. This includes overseeing the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which has been ratified by over 180 countries.
Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations Celebrates Ms Fefoame
The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations in a separate statement said they celebrate Ms. Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame as Ghana joins the rest of the world to commemorate International Women’s Day as she continues to break the barriers.
The GFD noted that she served on the Board of GFD for a period of 8 years until December 2022. As a passionate advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities especially women and girls with disabilities, her elevation as chairperson testifies the works she has done over the years on the committee and the working groups she has been on. She continues to inspire all women including women and girls with disabilities in Ghana and Worldwide.
“The UNCRPD remains an important human rights treaty body that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. A continued Ghanaian presence on the Committee will further strengthen Ghana’s efforts on disability inclusion and rights for all people across the world.”
GFD
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is an international human rights convention which sets out the fundamental human rights of people with disability.
The purpose of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.
It is made up of two documents, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which contains the main human rights provisions expressed as a series of Articles and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The CRPD and its Optional Protocol opened for signature on 30 March 2007 and Australia became one of the original signatories. The CRPD entered into force for Australia on 16 August 2008, and the Optional Protocol in 2009.
