Equality and Human Rights Commission

The UK Government, in partnership with the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is responsible for ensuring that the Convention is implemented.

The Convention requires each government to set up what is called a ‘focal point and a co-ordinating mechanism’ to help ensure that this happens. The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) is currently the focal point and co-ordinating mechanism within the UK Government. It will co-ordinate action across different government departments in the UK and the devolved administrations to implement  the Convention.

Because Scotland and Wales decide many of their own laws and policies (this is called ‘devolved matters’ – for example on health, social care and education), the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government will be working on their own plans to implement the Convention in those areas.  The ODI will work closely with the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales.