Abstract
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the CRPD) is the most important human rights treaty for persons with disabilities, as it requires all States Parties to remove obstacles within society so that persons with disabilities can participate fully as equal citizens. To date, the CRPD has influenced significant reforms worldwide, especially in the areas of legal capacity, personal decision‐making, and independent living arrangements. However, there remains considerable potential to apply the CRPD as a catalyst for law and social change, including within the broad area of the criminal justice system.