The present Guidelines provide practical guidance to States parties and other duty bearers, including national human rights institutions, independent monitoring mechanisms, regional organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, women’s organizations/groups, service providers, businesses and United Nations entities, on implementing the Convention to address intersectional discrimination against women with disabilities of all ages. They reflect the Convention’s approach to equality and non-discrimination, recognizing that intersectional discrimination arises from the interaction of disability with other grounds and that barriers to the equal enjoyment of human rights are produced and sustained by systems of discrimination, oppression and unequal power relations. They further recognize that the lived experiences of persons with disabilities should inform the interpretation and implementation of the Convention.
The Committee issues these Guidelines amid growing challenges to gender equality, disability rights and the multilateral human rights system. It is concerned by regressive laws, policies and narratives, as well as increasing restrictions on organizations working to advance these rights, including through surveillance, threats, restrictions on their activities and limitations on funding. Women and girls with disabilities are disproportionately affected because longstanding structural discrimination continues to limit their participation and leadership. The Committee therefore urges States parties to strengthen multilateral engagement to protect and advance their rights by resisting and reversing measures that undermine gender equality, disability inclusion and the Convention.
These Guidelines were developed through a participatory process, including written submissions from women with disabilities from diverse regions, identities and backgrounds and their representative organizations in response to the Committee’s call for submissions of November 2025 and June 2026. They are informed by their lived experiences and expertise and the structure of these Guidelines is organized around them.
