Part II The law: International human rights law and disability Section I Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Chapter 4: International monitoring: The tasks and functioning of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities KEY QUESTION • What is the composition and role of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? 4.1. COMPOSITION, APPOINTMENT AND OPERATION The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention by States parties (article 34).119 Its members are elected by States parties at the annual Conference of States Parties. The Committee discharges its role by: • Examining periodic reports by States parties on their implementation of the Convention • Issuing State-specific recommendations through concluding observations on State examinations • Clarifying aspects of the Convention and developing jurisprudence through the development of general comments, guidance and recommendations • Undertaking capacity building activities with States parties • Assessing individual communications under the Optional Protocol to the Convention • Conducting inquiries under the Optional Protocol to the Convention. The process of electing members to the Committee is set out in article 34 of the UN CRPD. Members serve four-years terms for a maximum of two terms. They undertake this role in their personal capacity, not as representatives of their State. Article 38 focuses on the relationship between the Committee and other bodies which include, in the main, UN bodies. It does not explicitly mention NHRIs. Nevertheless, the Committee has the inherent jurisdiction to grant audience to NHRIs. Indeed, this is explicitly reflected in Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure, adopted in 2014: Representatives of national human rights institutions may be invited by the Committee to make oral or written statements and provide information or documentation in areas relevant to the Committee’s activities under the Convention to meetings of the Committee.120 119 More information on the Committee is available at www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/CRPDIndex.aspx. 120 CRPD/C/1, adopted 5 June 2014. Chapter 4: International monitoring: The tasks and functioning of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities | 55