Armenian elected to U.N. disability rights committee
What Armenia’s first U.N. disability rights expert will do
Mushegh Hovsepyan, a human rights advocate and policy expert, has been elected to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the 2027-2030 term, marking the first time an Armenian will serve on the body.
The committee monitors how countries implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Starting in 2027, members will review state reports, meet with civil society representatives, and issue recommendations to governments. The work requires understanding how different societies define disability and interpret convention articles.
Hovsepyan noted the committee addresses diverse challenges across countries, from discriminatory language to harmful traditional practices. Committee members cannot participate in discussions concerning their own countries due to conflict-of-interest concerns. Armenia ratified the convention's Optional Protocol in 2022, allowing individuals to bring cases before the committee after exhausting domestic remedies.
