Chair of CRPD committee warns budget and capacity constraints limit reviews and interpretation services

Myeong (Mayeong) Kim, Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, told delegates that the committee's capacity to review state reports and provide full services is constrained by budget shortfalls and UN liquidity challenges.

"Our committee is limited to only 2 sessions a year," Kim said, adding that more than three dozen countries still awaited their initial review. She warned that budget constraints threaten the committee's ability to operate at full capacity and that current shortfalls have reduced support services: "we are the only body with a deaf member, yet can no longer guarantee national sign language interpretations." Kim urged member states and UN entities to secure resources to ensure the committee can fulfill its monitoring and implementation role.

Kim noted that delays in reporting are sometimes due to systemic barriers in states, such as weak data systems or insufficient trained personnel, and called for investment in national systems to support evidence-based planning and committee engagement. She also highlighted global momentum from recent agreements and forums that could be leveraged to support the committee's work.

The chair framed the constraints as a challenge to treaty implementation and to the rights of persons with disabilities worldwide, urging donor and member state attention to the committee's resourcing needs so that reviews, interpretation and constructive engagement can continue without interruption.