UNCRPD Working with Government

The GDA has agreed to work with Employment and Social Security to compile a matrix (a big table) of  how well we comply with the articles under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). This is the next step required to enable Guernsey to demonstrate what we have achieved so far so that a request can then be made for extension of the Convention to Guernsey. 

We will be using AI technology to complete the matrix and gather published information to demonstrate compliance and to evaluate where more work needs to be undertaken. The Convention has the concept of progressive realisation which means just because we might not fully comply with all the articles at the moment does not mean we cannot seek extension. 

Once we have filled the matrix this will be shared with States Departments and third sector organisations to help check the quality of the information provided and to add anything that might not yet be in the public domain. This may include planned work and internal policies and procedures. 

We are not receiving any payment for this work from the States but we have had agreement from Lloyds Bank Foundation of the Channel Islands that the unspent portion of our  grant from last year can be used to pay for staff during 2026 which will allow us to move this work forward. We are extremely grateful to Lloyds Foundation for this agreement.

The extension of the UNCRPD was part of the Disability and Inclusion Strategy previously agreed by the States.