Press Releases
Result of the election of the members of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
On June 12 (June 11 local time), at the 17th Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the election of the members of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was held. Japan’s candidate, Mr. TAMON Hiroshi, a lawyer, was elected with 157 votes. He is the second member of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities from Japan, following former member ISHIKAWA Jun (term 2017-2020).
- Mr. TAMON, as a deaf person himself, has worked extensively on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities in Japan and abroad. As a lawyer, he has devoted more than 25 years to protecting and promoting the rights of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities.
- Mr. TAMON’s contribution to the activities of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, through drawing on his legal expertise, extensive international experience and practical accomplishments, is of great significance to Japan, which has been actively promoting human rights diplomacy.
- The 9 members elected at the election are from: Japan (157 votes), Dominican Republic (149 votes), Mongolia (145 votes), Uruguay (143 votes), Brazil (140 votes), Nigeria (138 votes), Morocco (137 votes), Jamaica (135 votes), EU (115 votes)
- Those not elected are from: Malawi (107 votes), Israel (103 votes), Georgia (69 votes) North Macedonia (28 votes) (Those with underline are incumbent members.) (Valid votes: 186)
The Committee is established in accordance with Article 34 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in order to consider reports submitted by State Parties under Article 35 of the Convention. The Committee is composed of 18 members (for a term of four years), who serve in their personal capacity. (The members elected this time will serve from January 2025 to December 2028.)
The purpose of the Convention is to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. It is the first international treaty on persons with disabilities that provides for measures etc. to realize the rights of persons with disabilities.
The Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006 and entered into force in 2008. Japan ratified it in January 2014, which came into effect in February of the same year.