This week, GET REAL looks at the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – and how it impacts on the disability sector and our work today.

Together, the United Nations Convention, plus Australian and State legislation and policies, create a robust regulatory framework to protect the human rights of people with disabilities. In addition, organisations that advocate for and provide services to people with disabilities are instrumental in helping to ensure that they can - and do - exercise their rights.  

Despite this, there are still many challenges to ensuring the fulfilment of everyday rights for people with disabilities, particularly those with cognitive and mental impairments, and vulnerable groups such as women, remote communities and indigenous peoples, especially in these challenging times with COVID19. On this episode, guests include:

• Leah Van Poppel, CEO,  Women with Disabilities Victoria; and
• Isabel Calvert, ermha365’s Social Policy and Advocacy Advisory and former Social Policy Adviser in the United Nations Disability Program,

For more information on:

• ermha365, complex mental health and disability services - https://www.ermha.org/
• Women With Disabilities Victoria, the peak body in Victoria for advocacy on disability issues regarding women - https://www.wdv.org.au/
• The Royal Commission on Disability (see Issue Papers for public response)  https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/policy-and-research/issues-papers