Experts of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Congratulate the Marshall Islands on Persons with Disabilities Act, Raise Questions on Accessibility of Cancer Screenings and Inclusive Education
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities today concluded its review of the initial report of the Marshall Islands on efforts made to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Committee Experts congratulated the State party on the rights of persons with disabilities act, while raising questions on the accessibility of cancer screenings and on inclusive education, particularly on the outer islands.
Rosemary Kayess, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said the Committee was pleased to note that since becoming a State party to the Convention, the Government had developed several pieces of legislation, including the rights of persons with disabilities act (2015); the child rights protection act (2015); the gender equality act (2019); and the disaster risk management act (2023). Markus Schefer, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, also congratulated the State party for the excellent rights of persons with disabilities act of 2015 and the other impressive pieces of legislation.
Ms. Kayess said it seemed that the Government provided accessible transport to persons with disabilities to reach hospital for their screening processes. However, a significant amount of screening processes were inaccessible to persons with disabilities. How were these kinds of issues dealt with? How were the high rates of cancer due to nuclear testing dealt with for persons with disabilities in the Marshall Islands?
Inmaculada Placencia Porrero, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, noted that the public school system act contemplated special education. What was the availability and the ratio of support for teachers in public and private schools? Did this also exist in the outer islands? How were the achievements of children with disabilities in education being monitored?
Introducing the report, Jess Gasper Jr., Minister of Culture and Internal Affairs of the Marshall Islands and head of the delegation, said as a small island developing State, the Marshall Islands faced challenges, including geographic isolation, climate vulnerability, limited resources, and the lasting impacts of the nuclear legacy. In 2025, the Disability Coordination Office, working with the Marshall Islands Disabled Persons Organization, made important progress in promoting inclusion and accessibility. Inclusive voter education and accessible referendum processes reached more than 200 confined voters with disabilities, ensuring they could participate in the democratic process.
Responding to questions, the delegation said cervical and breast cancer screenings were provided by the Government. The Ministry of Health had mammogram facilities which were accessible for persons with disabilities, and an accessible self-screening service for cervical cancer was also recently launched. Free accessible transport to appointments was provided via the accessible bus, and several health centres within the State were able to provide the services needed.
The delegation said that currently, 700 children had been diagnosed with a disability, enabling them to receive an individual education plan, in both the outer islands and in urban areas. Around 121 teachers were available to serve the specific needs of these children, many with specialised training. The College of the Marshall Islands had recently launched a certificate in special education which currently had four people enrolled; this was significant for a country the size of the Marshall Islands and the State was proud of this achievement. There were now increasing numbers of students with disabilities taking the annual standardised test, due to awareness raising and engagement with families.
In closing remarks, Mr. Gasper Jr. said it had been an honour to engage in the constructive dialogue. For small island nations, the Convention was not simply a legal instrument but a moral compass which bore reminder that every member of the community must be valued, supported and empowered. The Government of the Marshall Islands remained committed to advancing inclusive policies and services to ensure the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in all areas of life.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Schefer expressed gratitude to the members of the delegation for their sincere and unfiltered dialogue aimed at improving existing efforts, as well as the organizations of persons with disabilities who travelled all the way to Geneva. It was hoped that the Committee’s concluding observations would provide useful guidance for the country.
The delegation of the Marshall Islands was comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs; the Ministry of Education, Sports and Training; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; the Ministry of Health and Human Services; the Ministry of Public Works, Infrastructure and Utilities; the Public School System; the Office of the Chief of Secretary; Youth to Youth in Health; Women United Together Marshall Islands; the Pacific Community; the National Nuclear Commission; and the Permanent Mission of the Marshall Islands to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s thirty-fourth session and other documents related to the session can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 3. p.m. on Tuesday, 17 March to conclude its consideration of the initial report of Liberia in the absence of a delegation (CRPD/C/LBR/1).
Report
The Committee has before it the initial report of the Marshall Islands (CRPD/C/MHL/1).
Presentation of Report
JESS GASPER JR., Minister of Culture and Internal Affairs of the Marshall Islands and head of the delegation, said the Republic of the Marshall Islands was made up of 29 low-lying coral atolls and five islands with a total land area of 181.3 square kilometres in the North Pacific and was home to approximately 40,000 people. The Marshall Islands reaffirmed its commitment to the Convention, and to promoting and protecting the rights of all persons with disabilities.
As a small island developing State, the Marshall Islands faced challenges, including geographic isolation, climate vulnerability, limited resources, and the lasting impacts of the nuclear legacy. Between 1946 and 1958, while under United Nations Trusteeship administered by the United States, 67 nuclear weapons tests were conducted on the State’s atolls, yielding the equivalent of 1.6 Hiroshima-sized detonations every day for 12 years, leaving a legacy of human rights challenges that persisted today and underscored the importance of embedding disability rights within the human rights framework.
In 2025, the Disability Coordination Office, working with the Marshall Islands Disabled Persons Organization, made important progress in promoting inclusion and accessibility. Inclusive voter education and accessible referendum processes reached more than 200 confined voters with disabilities, ensuring they could participate in the democratic process. A dedicated session for the deaf community with sign language interpretation further strengthened equitable access. The Disabled Persons Organization also launched an accessibility bus funded by the Asian Development Bank’s COVID-19 Assistance Fund, improving transportation to essential services and community events. Participation in the Pacific Disability Forum’s “Growing Stronger Together” initiative also strengthened the Organization’s governance and advocacy capacity.
The Government continued to support inclusive education through assistive devices, teacher training, and classroom accommodations. The special education programme of the public school system provided services to children with disabilities aged 3 to 21, while the Ministry of Health and Human Services worked with schools to identify children with special needs and connect them with appropriate services. As a nation on the frontline of climate change, the Marshall Islands recognised the importance of protecting persons with disabilities during disasters and integrating accessibility into disaster risk reduction policies.
A major milestone was the national building code act 2025, which established standards for structural safety and accessibility in new infrastructure. The Marshall Islands Social Security Administration had also begun implementing the social support scheme act 2023, a non-contributory programme providing income support for elderly citizens and persons with disabilities, providing at least $1,200 per year per beneficiary. In addition, the Marshall Islands launched a universal basic income programme providing $800 per person annually. Just last month, the Disability Coordination Office and the Disabled Persons Organization, in partnership with the College of the Marshall Islands, held a “wheel-a-thon” to raise awareness and visibility for persons with disabilities, drawing strong community participation.
Despite progress, barriers remained. A 2024 survey of 308 persons with disabilities highlighted significant challenges in employment and accessibility. Approximately 85 per cent of respondents were unemployed, reflecting persistent barriers such as employer bias, inaccessible workplaces, and limited reasonable accommodations. Health challenges also remained significant. The rise of non-communicable diseases, particularly diabetes, led to increased secondary disabilities such as amputations and vision loss. At the same time, the enduring nuclear legacy continued to affect many Marshallese, with disabilities linked to radiation exposure. This dual burden placed additional strain on the health system and underscored the need for sustained international support. The Marshall Islands aimed to ensure every person, regardless of ability, could live with independence and dignity, and looked forward to a constructive dialogue with the Committee.
Questions by Committee Experts
ROSEMARY KAYESS, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said the Committee appreciated the State party’s report and its comprehensive replies to the list of issues. The Marshall Islands was a small maritime nation, consisting of atolls, low coral islands and small islets. Yet this nation was faced with impacts of climate change, nuclear testing and wide geopolitical struggles and upheaval. These factors presented unique and complex challenges. The Committee was pleased to note that since becoming a State party to the Convention, the Government had developed several pieces of legislation, including the rights of persons with disabilities act (2015); the child rights protection act (2015); the gender equality act (2019); and the disaster risk management act (2023).
MARKUS SCHEFER, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, congratulated the State party for the excellent rights of persons with disabilities act of 2015 and the other impressive pieces of legislation. How did the State party plan to move forward with the consequential amendments bill which was formidable but had difficulties getting passed? Was it due to political will or financial and political resources? Did the Marshall Islands plan to create a new implementation plan and national policy for implementing legislation?
The Building Code of 2025 was great, but implementation was an enormous task. How were the line ministries organised to facilitate implementation work? Were there sufficient support mechanisms in place for persons with disabilities, including on the outer islands? Were there any programmes in place which provided training and education to organizations of persons with disabilities on the issues on which they provided expertise, such a climate change? This would be crucial for their participation to be meaningful and effective.
What measures had the Government taken to ensure that all women and children with disabilities could enjoy full exercise of their rights? There were staggering figures when it came to violence against women; what steps was the Government taking to combat this? The horrific nuclear legacy of the Government particularly affected women. How was it ensured that women with disabilities had access to cancer scanning and subsequently early diagnosis? What steps were being taken, particularly on the outer islands, to combat human trafficking? The Marshall Islands still allowed corporal punishment as a legitimate form of punishment against children. Were there any plans to change the situation? How were the views of children taken into account?
In all countries, implementing the Convention faced substantial obstacles with respect to awareness of the broader public. How were awareness raising programmes implemented in practice? How were organizations of persons with disabilities involved? How were the awareness activities monitored and evaluated? Did they reach people in the outer islands? And did they address those affected by the nuclear legacy?
The Committee had the impression that transportation in the Marshall Islands was not very accessible, including the ramp at the airport not working. Were there any plans to remedy this?
Was there any prospect of changing the State party’s situation around data to ensure the Government had the data it needed? What had been the impact of the scaling down of USAID on the country and on the rights of persons with disabilities?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said other human rights bills had been undertaken following the ratification of the Convention. Unfortunately, the consequential amendment did not pass. Work was being done by the Office of the Attorney General and other partners for another round. It would be done on a piecemeal basis now rather than all at once, as there were 95 laws which needed to be changed. Discussions would be held with the State’s Human Rights Committee to see how to best move forward.
There were plans this year to engage with the South Pacific Community to receive assistance in developing an implementation strategy plan to ensure the disability act was implemented accordingly.
Resource constraints were a major challenge for the Marshall Islands. The State was open to engaging with all partners to fulfil its obligations. The new building code was gradually being phased in, and the older buildings would then be phased out. Around 2.2 million dollars were invested each year for inclusive education, funding 10 special education staff members who worked across the country serving around 700 children, approximately six per cent of the total student population. Since the submission of the report, the number of students receiving these services had increased by around 20 per cent due to augmented house-to-house services, and increased capacity for diagnostic services.
A free accessible bus was available to persons with disabilities to enable them to attend rehabilitation services and participate in the community. The Organization for Persons with Disabilities also provided the fuel for this bus.
The Marshall Islands Organization for Persons with Disabilities attended a “training the trainers” workshop and was able to provide training to organizations of persons with disabilities. A gender and protection cluster had been incorporated into the national disaster management act.
During the celebration of the 2026 International Women’s Day, all women were included, regardless of their status and whether or not they were in school. The Gender Development Office aimed to ensure that everyone was included in all activities within the Government.
The National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce was established in 2018 and had been implementing the prohibition of human trafficking act. The Taskforce had received funding from the Cabinet in line with the plan which was essential for implementation.
The National Nuclear Commission had an ongoing dialogue with persons with disabilities. Transport was provided to women and girls with disabilities to enable them to reach hospitals for their cancer screenings. Gender-based violence was an ongoing issue. A social citizenship education programme had been launched which promoted human rights; it had a focus on gender-based violence. Prevention was being addressed through education, including via student reading books that focused on Marshallese legends which addressed issues of dignity, respect and moral values. The books were currently being recorded into audio books to make them more inclusive.
A healthcare programme addressed the nuclear-affected populations, including through social medical care related to radiation exposure and cancer screening for nuclear-related illness, among other components.
Corporal punishment was prohibited in the public school system, under the public school system act, and a child protection policy also prohibited it. The State had made increased efforts to reinforce this in recent years, including by terminating well-respected people within the community from their position. It was currently no longer a legal defence for a parent or teacher to punish a child.
Several organizations within the Marshall Islands, as well as various Government sectors, had been conducting ongoing awareness raising on the rights of persons with disabilities through weekly radio programmes and community outreach approaches. This was often done face-to-face to ensure no one was left behind. Work was carried out to ensure the inclusion of families and children in public schools, who played a crucial role in implementing laws and programmes within inclusive education.
The bus was currently the only form of accessible transportation; there was still a lot of work to create accessible air and maritime travel. There were limited resources within the Office of Disabled Persons, and financial and human resources were greatly needed.
Data had been shared in annual reports and presented to the parliament. It was through this practice that the social support scheme had been developed. As for USAID funding, there had been an impact of losing additional funding for the Marshall Islands. This had resulted in some of the trainings with persons with disabilities being affected. The Government had made efforts to fill the funding gaps, including by providing funds to hire extra teachers.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert recognised the Marshall Islands’ efforts to implement the Convention despite challenges. How did the State receive funding for developmental projects? In the grants received from development partners, was there any sort of conditionality linked to providing assistance for persons with disabilities? What plans were in place to ensure that all buildings open to the public were made accessible to persons with disabilities, and if there was a timeframe for this?
Another Expert asked how many people with disabilities were victims of human trafficking? Were awareness raising efforts on gender-based violence available for persons with disabilities, including for deaf people?
Another Committee Expert asked what measures were taken to ensure that persons with disabilities, including those with autism, had access to information?
MARKUS SCHEFER, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked if the Human Rights Commission, which was envisaged for the Marshall Islands, would be independent? If so, would it be submitted for accreditation? Would the Human Rights Commission be the body which monitored the implementation of the Convention?
A Committee Expert asked if the local authorities had established inclusive programmes? What were the regulations for implementing laws on disabilities?
Another Expert asked if the State party had any systematic programmes on awareness raising, including training for public officials? To what extent had accessibility features been integrated into public procurement? What mechanism was in place in the State party to ensure the international agenda was disability inclusive?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the compact with the United States had been renewed for 10 years. The National Building Code was targeted more towards the private sector.
The Marshall Islands had not yet prosecuted any perpetrators of human trafficking, but there were potential victims, who the State provided support to.
The public school system worked with children and adults who had hearing impairments and there were now two deaf education centres. The State had been striving to ensure that persons who needed it had access to sign language and could use this as an educational tool. There was one certified translator; the State recognised that more were needed to enable information to be shared more effectively. There was one braille machine in the school system which students were using. Healthcare workers were being supported to help them to better assist autistic individuals.
The Constitutional Amendment to the Ombudsman went through last year. It was restricted to the investigation and prosecution of corruption related offences, not human rights. The Human Rights Commission was the independent body responsible for monitoring human rights. Once the Human Rights Commission act was adopted and the Commissioners appointed, they would need to be verified.
Specific provisions on women and girls with disabilities were included in the gender equality act. The act recognised that these women faced multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and that the Government needed to take extra steps to reinforce their rights, including through equal access to healthcare, employment opportunities and justice. Face to face training and consultations were conducted for persons with disabilities.
There were opportunities for persons with disabilities to apply to become a human rights Commissioner.
Questions by Committee Experts
ROSEMARY KAYESS, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said it seemed that the Government provided accessible transport to persons with disabilities to reach hospital for their screening processes. However, a significant amount of screening processes were inaccessible to persons with disabilities. How were these kinds of issues dealt with? How were the high rates of cancer due to nuclear testing dealt with for persons with disabilities in the Marshall Islands?
Given the Pacific was experiencing increased and frequent cyclones, the work in the field of disaster risk reduction was incredibly important. Was there capacity building within organizations of persons with disabilities to enable them to have technical expertise for ongoing monitoring of disaster risk reduction programmes?
Was there a framework for implementing the legal standard of capacity for persons with disabilities? Would it include a framework for awareness raising? How would the implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities act, especially the sections on equality before the law and access to justice, be harmonised with the act on all atolls access to justice? How did this act interact with the rights of persons with disabilities act. Was work being done with any partners to ensure access to justice, including physical access such as access to buildings, and access to sign language and accessible formats?
The Committee was aware that persons with disabilities could be detained within the justice system, and that physical and chemical restraints could be used. What mechanisms were available to ensure that persons with disabilities had access to redress? Were there trainings within the justice system on persons with disabilities? What data was available to help administrators understand the situation? Was the Marshall Islands moving towards a less coercive response for people in a mental health crisis? Was there any monitoring or data around the use of restrictive practices? Did the State party have any intention of ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture? Was there any training with families or faith-based groups to address coercive practices and provide better support to persons with disabilities in the community?
Did the work that was being undertaken to ensure approaches to gender-based violence have a disability lens? Was there any meaningful data on gender-based violence? Was the Marshall Islands Women’s Committee being closely consulted in this kind of work? Was there any intention to harmonise the persons with disabilities act with the Criminal Code?
The Committee was aware that the sterilisation of young adults with disabilities was a global issue. Did the Marshall Islands collect data on such practices? Was consent under guardianship permitted in the Marshall Islands?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said cervical and breast cancer screenings were provided by the Government. The Ministry of Health had mammogram facilities which were accessible for persons with disabilities, and an accessible self-screening service for cervical cancer was also recently launched. Free accessible transport to appointments was provided via the accessible bus, and several health centres within the State were able to provide the services needed.
Significant training had been undertaken with organizations of persons with disabilities to build their capacity around disaster risk reduction.
A person with a disability had legal capacity to sign contracts and participate. While the National Building Code was adopted last year, the Government had already started implementing accessibility measures, including a ramp to the High Court, which had been in place for around six years. Consultations had been held regarding judges in the outer islands, giving everybody the opportunity to access representation. Reasonable accommodation needed to be improved, and the State party would strive to work on this. Should a person with a disability require to go to court, they would have this option.
The Constitution stated that no person or property could be confiscated without due process. The Office of the Attorney General had been working with the Mental Health Department, primarily for those with mental challenges. There was no automatic detainment; it was limited to 36 hours and this could only be extended in court. Detainment was only conducted to ensure persons with disabilities could receive the correct information and after the maximum time had passed they would be released. The correct judicial procedures were always followed.
A law enabled children with disabilities to be identified at home, and their educational needs determined. Consent of the parents was required; it was crucial to work with families to bring awareness of the different services provided. A copy of safeguarding policies was provided to these families to ensure they were aware of their rights. The complaints mechanism was with the Human Rights Committee, but this would be amended to be with the Human Rights Commission. Since 2015, when the Human Rights Committee act was passed, the Marshall Islands had not received any complaints.
Home visits were conducted to families from the time of pregnancy of the mother to better build capacities of families to support their children. Some families were afraid of sending their children with disabilities and kept them at home. The Government went house to house to find these children, aiming to build the families’ knowledge and capacity on their children’s rights and how to better support these children. Meetings were held with families to create personal education plans, to allow teachers, parents and students to determine how the student could best participate in the community. Ramps were built at churches to ensure persons with disabilities could actively participate in community faith.
The Criminal Code was one of the pieces of legislation to be amended under the consequential amendment.
Questions by Committee Experts
MARKUS SCHEFER, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, reading questions on behalf of ROSEMARY KAYESS, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said article 18 of the Convention required the registration of children at birth. The Committee understood that registering children on the outer islands posed challenges. What had been the result of the task force assigned to this issue? What was the situation regarding identification for internally displaced persons with disabilities?
The family and church were at the centre of community support for persons with disabilities. The Committee understood that devices were usually handed out by the church and if it was too late in the year, the person would need to front the cost themselves. Was the disability allowance meant to cover the costs of modification of devices as well as living costs? What did the disability allowance cover exactly? Was the State party considering supporting families with persons with disabilities who required housing modifications? Was the State working with persons with disabilities to develop social care programmes? How was it ensured that these programmes were sustainable?
A Committee Expert asked what services were in place for those who were deaf and blind? For example, sign language interpreting and hearing aids.
Another Expert asked how many persons with disabilities were segregated and living in institutions? Were women with disabilities involved in the State’s “United Women’s” programme?
Another Committee Expert asked what would really happen if there was a natural disaster that was coupled with a nuclear energy event in the Marshall Islands and the implication it would have for persons with disabilities? Why was there a delay in enacting amendments to legislation when it was important for protecting persons with disabilities in cases of natural disasters? How was it ensured that there was protection for persons with disabilities in natural disasters? Was there consideration for a registry to be established for persons with disabilities, so in the case of a natural disaster, it was possible to immediately locate all persons with disabilities?
An Expert asked how often the Government met with civil society? The guardianship act still allowed guardians to be appointed for a person’s property, based on mental illness. When would this act be repealed and aligned with the Convention? Were there plans to advance on other services in the community to support persons with disabilities?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said all persons subject to sterilisations must be appraised by a medical professional, receive counselling, and sign a consent form. At this time, there were no reports of forced sterilisation in the Marhsall Islands. The United States testing programme took place at the time when the Marhsall Islands was a part of the United Nations trust territory of the United States. The Government acknowledged the importance of strengthening the national capacity for documenting incidents of nuclear exposure. The national nuclear protocol was created in 2019 to ensure there was no further harm.
Legislation alone was not enough. The development and finalisation of implementation regulations was currently a priority. Despite limited technical capacity, the Marshall Islands had engaged with partners, including the Pacific community, in this regard.
In a small island nation, laws and policies were important, but cultures and attitudes were equally powerful. Through community engagement, the State was working to shift perceptions, recognising persons with disabilities as rights holders.
Currently a team was being deployed to neighbouring islands to register citizens, who could not do so in the capital. The Cabinet had a taskforce which registered citizens for the universal basic income. The taskforce going to neighbouring islands focused initially on children without registration, followed by the elderly, as priorities.
Currently, there was no allowance to cover persons with disabilities with social security. However, the State was in the process of setting up a scheme to implement social security. The social security act allowed those who had reached a certain age to receive money for house modifications. This also went to persons with disabilities, including those who had reached retirement age. The universal basic income was provided to everyone, including persons with disabilities. Under the senior citizens act, discounts were provided on transport and health care, and this also applied to persons with disabilities. Seniors with disabilities were eligible to apply for a senior housing programme. Persons with disabilities were listed within a data system registry, ensuring they received essential services. The Salvation Army church had an ongoing food programme, which worked with families with persons with disabilities.
The World Health Organization had supported mental health programmes in the Marshall Islands since 2015, focusing on the integration of mental health into primary healthcare, capacity building for health workers, psychosocial support, and basic mental health services.
There were several avenues where the court was required to be involved, including when persons with psychosocial disabilities were required to be detained and provided with medication. Alternatives for providing testimonies, such as Zoom, were provided for children. There had yet to be instances where persons required modifications to present a testimony, but in the case that this occurred, they would be accommodated. The guardianship act was included in the consequential bill and would be one of the piecemeal bills provided to parliament.
Although the national disaster act was revisited in 2023, it did not mention persons with disabilities. However, it did recognise the gender and protection cluster in which persons with disabilities, women, children and other vulnerable communities had their protection encapsulated. The National Disaster Management Office worked closely with the Government to ensure that the locations of persons with disabilities were known. Projects had been conducted to map out the location of persons with disabilities, and to identity evacuation routes that would enable them to be easily located and transferred to safety. The State was exploring how to disseminate this strategy to the neighbouring islands.
The public school system supported students during their high school years. As they turned 16, a transition programme was developed, enabling them to participate in vocation and development programmes while still in high school. This enabled a better transition to college. There were two deaf centres in the Marshall Islands. Here, teachers taught students American sign language and also Marshallese sign language. For blind students, teachers taught them how to use braille and helped them with their communication.
The Marshall Islands did not have a mental health institution; it had a facility which housed any patients who were experiencing mental health conditions. Oftentimes, mental illness was cared for within the family.
Questions by Committee Experts
INMACULADA PLACENCIA PORRERO, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said it was important to distinguish between care and support services. What were the unmet needs of the population? How were these being prioritised within State budgets and disability funds? What was being done to ensure assistance devices were adequate for the characteristics of the Marhsall Islands? Was the State considering ways to provide these devices with public funds? How were they being selected and obtained? What were the plans to make these devices available in the outer islands? Were discussions being held with development partners in New Zealand and Australia in this regard?
What steps was the State undertaking to ensure that the media, news and the internet were accessible to persons with disabilities? Were there any concrete plans towards the recognition of sign language?
What policy and legislative measures were being taken by the State to make the right to privacy a reality? What was the State doing to advance this for persons with disabilities? Were there any steps being taken to work towards removing the practice of concealing persons with disabilities, using the reason of protecting their privacy? How were families being educated on this?
Was there any information on whether the practice of the removal of children from their families’ involved parents with disabilities? Were there any concrete plans to remove that possibility from legislation?
The public school system act contemplated special education. What was the availability and the ratio of support for teachers in public and private schools? Did this also exist in the outer islands? How were the achievements of children with disabilities in education being monitored?
How were children with disabilities on the outer islands being assisted to receive health care services? How did the State party identify those in need of rehabilitation services in the outer islands?
Given the high number of unemployed persons with disabilities, what practical steps were being taken to protect persons with disabilities from discrimination in employment? Was awareness being raised among employers or were programmes being used in this regard?
Had the State party taken any steps to align the election and referendum act about not “electing those who were certifiably insane” with the Convention? Had there been any development on data collection? Was accessibility being considered in the rebuilding of the Parliament building?
Were there any programmes to ensure that books and cultural materials were accessible for persons with disabilities? Had steps been taken to implement the Marrakech Treaty? How was the State guaranteeing the accessibility of sports, and cultural and recreational spaces?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Marshall Islands had a partnership with the Hawaii and Pacific Deaf Blind project that focused on the seven senses series. Currently, there was only one student in the entire school system with deaf blindness. Some teachers had been trained on this series and would provide services to this child and to others. The State had engaged with the global partnership for education to provide help with technological assistive devices. These were being purchased with grants and were intended for urban areas as well as outer communities.
Wheelchairs were provided through faith-based organizations, as well as rehabilitation programmes. These services were provided free of charge. The Government provided newborn screening and could subsequently provide hearing aids and other audio devices.
Currently when deaf children entered the public school system, they had already created gestures to communicate with their families. There were currently no plans to make the Marshallese sign language official, but teachers had expressed their desire for this to happen one day.
A person had recently been hired by the Government to do public information through social media. This person worked in conjunction with the Disability Manger to disseminate information.
There was consideration to specify the right to privacy under the consequential amendments. In the meantime, the article provided equal protection on privacy, including for persons with disabilities. The Marshall Islands special education programme would hold awareness meetings with the Marshall Islands Special Parents Association and worked with Government ministries to create activities and events to bring awareness to families and the community. Written information and documents were also provided to families in English and Marshallese to help them understand their rights and the services they could receive in public school.
All healthcare workers were required to sign a patient confidentiality agreement as part of their professional obligations. When persons with disabilities applied for the discount card, there was a consent and privacy waiver involved. They were consenting the release of their information to other ministries.
When the piecemeal review was conducted, considerations regarding the removal of children from their families would be addressed within the act. Every act within the Marshall Islands revised code would have to be applied through the lens of the disability act.
An early childhood development programme was in place, between the public school system and multiple Government ministries. The programme provided support, including through conditional cash transfers. Currently, seven pregnant women with disabilities were enrolled in the programmes, as well as 29 children with disabilities. The United Women’s programme provided home visits to young children; currently four children under this programme had disabilities. The programme involved parenting classes as well as provided physical resources such as books. The State had not received any cases where a parent with a disability was removed from the family.
Currently, 700 children had been diagnosed with a disability, enabling them to receive an individual education plan, in both the outer islands and in urban areas. Around 121 teachers were available to serve the specific needs of these children, many with specialised training. The College of the Marshall Islands had recently launched a certificate in special education which currently had four people enrolled; this was significant for a country the size of the Marshall Islands and the State was proud of this achievement. There were now increased numbers of students with disabilities taking the annual standardised test, due to awareness raising and engagement with families. The data from this testing was being used to help students in their education. Students were also given formative assessments and participated in the vocational education programme.
The outer islands had mandated assistance for health centres. Telehealth was available between the health centre on the outer islands and the two hospitals on the mainland. Last year, female health aids had been certified, primarily providing services to women and children.
A bill was being developed which would contain provisions related to persons with disabilities pertaining to employment. It would be in line with International Labour Organization standards. Once finalised, it would be sent to Parliament.
The Government and the public school system were the largest employers in the country. Within the public school system, there were 14 employees with disabilities who required some kind of workplace accommodation. Recently, the system had prescribed to a cloud-based management system which had a self-report functionality for disability.
The election and referendum act would also be included within the consequential amendment. The rebuilding of the Parliament building would have to follow the National Building Code which included accessibility. No payment needed to be made to vote or to run for office. Everyone who could vote had the ability to run for office. There was no data on persons with disabilities running for office but there were two mayors in the country who could be considered as to have a disability.
Around 120 books had recently been developed in the Marshallese language, which was an exciting development. Social citizenship books on traditional stories had also been developed on the issue of human rights and would be published in a few months, and also as audio books.
For each type of building enshrined in the National Building Code, there were different requirements.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert asked if there was a clear plan to conduct assessment on existing legislation relating to the family and home and make those laws compliant with the Convention? Had the State party conducted any assessment among the families of children with disabilities to identify the challenges faced in their daily life and their needs? Was data available on students with disabilities in higher education? How many of them were hearing impaired and had been provided with sign language interpreters? Did the State party have any concrete plans to bring rehabilitation services fully in line with the Convention?
Another Expert asked if any consideration could be made to allow persons with disabilities to participate at higher political levels?
An Expert asked what strategies the State planned to take to better meet its responsibilities under the Convention?
One Expert asked if the State was planning to construct a sign language dictionary and certify enough sign language interpreters? Would the State ensure that there was coverage of all government services in sign language? The Expert was thrilled to hear about the State’s experience as an island nation. Were there plans to develop a culture of human rights for persons with disabilities in the Marshall Islands? What was the situation regarding artisanal fishers? Was there a register for those who had injuries? Would a protocol be drafted focusing on their protection? Had accessible income been considered as a source of tourism for the State, and as a source of income for persons with disabilities? Were there any plans in this regard?
An Expert asked if the Marshall Islands had participated in global sports, such as the Paralympics?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there were two national sports facilities, one new and one recently renovated, which had accessibility features. A special Olympics for para-athletes was hosted in the Marshall Islands, with some athletes going on to compete internationally. There were feelings of energy and excitement around these sports and leisure activities. The tourism industry in the Marshall Islands was quite limited; the idea of accessible tourism was a great idea and it was hoped this could be built up.
A dictionary for Marshallese sign language was a fantastic idea to formalise the language. The State was trying to build capacity in sign language interpreters, but location and remoteness remained a challenge.
Persons with disabilities were on the board of the Electoral Committee, ensuring their voices could be heard in terms of voting or running for office.
Home visits took place in outer islands and urban areas. Home bound visits and care was provided to those who could not visit clinics. More than 70 youth had confirmed their willingness to participate in youth activities. In house visits, livelihood training was provided to women with disabilities.
Closing Remarks
JESS GASPER JR., Minister of Culture and Internal Affairs of the Marshall Islands and head of the delegation, said it had been an honour to engage in the constructive dialogue. For small island nations, the Convention was not simply a legal instrument but a moral compass which bore reminder that every member of the community must be valued, supported and empowered. As a small island State, the Marshall Islands faced unique vulnerabilities that could disproportionately affect persons with disabilities. The Marshall Islands could only do so much alone and it sought the assistance and cooperation of the international community for better data, capacity building and financial assistance to sustain programmes. The Government remained committed to advancing inclusive policies and services to ensure the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in all areas of life. The State was grateful for the Committee’s advice and questions, and reaffirmed its commitment to the Convention and continued cooperation with the Committee.
MARKUS SCHEFER, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said the Committee had been able to enter into a civil dialogue with the Marshall Islands on the basis of appreciation and candour, which shed light on where the State party currently stood in its efforts to implement the Convention. Mr. Schefer expressed gratitude to the members of the delegation for their sincere and unfiltered dialogue aimed at improving existing efforts, as well as the organizations of persons with disabilities who travelled all the way to Geneva. It was hoped that the Committee’s concluding observations would provide useful guidance for the country.
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