Ms Rosemary Kayess elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

  • Joint media release

Icongratulate Ms Rosemary Kayess on her election to the United Nations (UN)Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

MsKayess is the first Australian woman to be elected to the Committee, whichmonitors the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons withDisabilities. Australia was actively involved in negotiating and drafting theConvention and was one of the original state signatories in 2007.

MsKayess' candidacy was supported by the Australian Government, as part of ourefforts to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. As amember of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Australia is firmlycommitted to promoting the human rights of persons with disabilities to achieveequal recognition before the law.

MsKayess is an accomplished human rights lawyer, researcher and academic. She iscurrently Chair of the Australian Centre for Disability Law and Director of theDisability Innovation Institute at the University of New South Wales. Ms Kayesswas an expert member of the Australian Government delegation to the UnitedNations negotiations for the Convention. She has advised on the implementationof the Convention in Australia, the Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Asa member of the Committee, Ms Kayess will serve a three-year term commencing on1 January 2019.

Media enquiries