Disability-inclusive development
Australia’s Candidate to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) 2023-2026: Rosemary Kayess. Credit: DFAT
Australia has nominated Ms Rosemary Kayess for re-election to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) for the term 2023-2026.
Australia is committed to advancing human rights globally, including the rights of persons with disabilities. Men, women and children have the right to fundamental freedoms and to live their lives with dignity.
The CRPD is critical in promoting, protecting, and ensuring the rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons with disabilities. Australia is committed to increasing the awareness of, and advancing, these rights, including through practical steps to enable people with disabilities to participate fully in society.
Rosemary Kayess is supported by the Australian Government and Australian organisations of persons with disabilities.
Media Release
Biography
Rosemary Kayess is an accomplished human rights lawyer, researcher and academic. She was the recipient of the Australian Human Rights Medal in 2019. Her work nationally and internationally has advanced Australia’s agenda for a socially-inclusive society.
Rosemary is the current Chair of the CRPD. She is a Senior Academic in the Faculty of Law at the University of NSW, where she has taught international human rights law and anti-discrimination law for the past 15 years. She has researched and advised on numerous projects on human rights, disability and the implementation of the CRPD in Australia, Asia Pacific and Europe.
Rosemary is also a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the National University of Ireland (Galway). As a member of the faculty for the annual International Disability Law Summer School, Rosemary regularly teaches international human rights law to students with disability, disability advocates, bureaucrats and other stakeholders from around the globe.
Rosemary has extensive experience with the CRPD. She was a designated specialist in the Australian Government delegation that contributed to the development of the Convention.
Disability Sector Experience
|
Years served |
Organisation/agency |
Position |
|
2021-2022 |
Committee of Treaty Body Chairpersons |
Chair |
|
2021- present |
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities |
Chair |
|
2019- 2020 |
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities |
Vice-Chair |
|
2020-present |
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability |
Expert Member, Strategic Engagement Committee |
|
1995–present |
Australian Centre for Disability Law |
Chairperson |
|
2015–present |
World Bank Expert Focus Group on Non-Discrimination and Disability |
|
|
2013–2017 |
National Mental Health Commission Core Reference Group - Seclusion and Restraint |
|
|
2010–2015 |
Disability Policy Research Working Group Steering Committee |
Council of Australian Governments |
|
2009–2015 |
Department Foreign Affairs and Trade Disability Reference Group |
|
|
2013–2014 |
Australian Law Reform Commission |
Advisory Group on Equality, Capacity and Disability |
|
2006–2008 |
National Disability and Carers Ministerial Advisory Committee |
|
|
2004–2008 |
Disability Studies and Research Institute |
Chairperson |
|
2004–2006 |
Department Family & Community Services |
NGO Representative (Ministerial appointment) |
|
2004 |
Australian Human Rights Commission, Disability Rights Unit |
Senior Policy Officer |
|
1996-2000 |
Disability Council of NSW |
Ministerial appointment |