Abstract:
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol to the CRPD were signed by South Africa on 30 March 2007 and ratified on 30 November 2007. The CRPD is intended to 'promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities' in order to 'redress ... the profound social disadvantage of persons with disabilities and promote their participation in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural spheres with equal opportunities, in both developing and developed countries' and the Optional Protocol is aimed at facilitating the submission of individual complaints against State Parties relating to the CRPD.