The Committee was concerned that people with disabilities can still be declared legally incapable and placed under interdiction in Chile, and that the State continues to regard legal incapacity and substituted decision-making as protective measures. It also noted the absence of a support system consistent with the Convention. The Committee recommended that Chile abolish legal incapacity and all forms of substituted decision-making on the grounds of disability, repeal the relevant provisions of the Civil Code and other legislation, and establish a system of support that respects the will and preferences of persons with disabilities.
On social protection, the Committee expressed concern about the 3 per cent fiscal adjustment and its projection over the next five years, reductions in disability-related expenditure and the suspension or reduction of programmes. It further raised concern on the budgetary prioritisation of residential models over programmes promoting autonomy, inclusion and independent living. It also noted with concern that the State had interpreted its powers to make budgetary adjustments without incorporating the strict conditions and safeguards applicable to retrogressive measures. The Committee recommended that Chile reverse disability-related spending cuts, restore funding for essential programmes and prioritise community-based services and supports. It stressed that austerity or resource scarcity does not in itself justify retrogressive measures and that Chile must demonstrate the use of the maximum available resources, consider less harmful alternatives and specifically assess the impact of fiscal measures on the rights of persons with disabilities, with their effective participation.
Lithuania
On deinstitutionalisation, the Committee noted with concern that progress remains slow, with some large institutions reorganised into smaller groups while continuing to operate within the same buildings, retaining institutional routines and restrictions on individual choice. It highlighted that around 5,500-6,000 persons with disabilities still live in such settings, while community-based alternatives remain insufficient. The Committee also noted the absence of a national action plan for independent living and gaps in personal assistance and other individualised community-based services. It recommended adopting a deinstitutionalisation strategy with a binding time frame for closing all residential institutions. The Committee also called for adequately resourced family-based alternatives, a national action plan for independent living, stable funding for personal assistance, and monitoring to ensure that community services promote genuine inclusion.
The Committee raised concern over full and partial legal capacity restrictions, which continue to affect thousands of people with disabilities in Lithuania. It also noted that the supported decision-making pilot remains available only in a limited number of regions, while proposed legal reforms are still under discussion. The Committee called on Lithuania to abolish full and partial legal capacity restriction schemes and systematically review existing guardianship and capacity restriction decisions with a view to restoring full legal capacity. It also recommended transforming the supported decision-making pilot into a permanent, adequately resourced nationwide service, and ensuring that any reformed guardianship model does not reproduce the current system of legal incapacity.
Qatar
Despite Qatar's adoption of a new disability law in 2025, the Committee noted with concern that the country continues to rely on a medical approach to disability in its legislation, policies and services, contrary to the human rights model. The Committee also noted the lack of systematic mainstreaming of disability rights across sectoral strategies and the absence of a comprehensive national disability strategy. It was further concerned about the lack of information on independent oversight mechanisms for centres, organisations and associations providing services and support to persons with disabilities, as well as the absence of a mechanism to ensure the effective participation of people with disabilities, through their representative organisations, in decisions affecting them. The Committee recommended that Qatar align its new disability law and broader legal and policy framework with the Convention and consistently adopt a rights-based approach to disability. It also called for the establishment of effective oversight and monitoring mechanisms for service providers and for the close consultation and active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organisations, in all relevant decision-making processes.
On emergency preparedness, the Committee raised concern over the absence of a comprehensive, disability-inclusive and human rights-based strategy for disaster risk reduction, humanitarian action and emergency preparedness and response. It noted that this hinders coordinated action, particularly amid the recent escalation of conflict in the region. It recommended that Qatar develop such a strategy in close consultation with people with disabilities and their representative organisations, and ensure reasonable accommodation, accessible information, evacuation centres and early warning systems based on a community needs assessment.
Slovakia
The Committee raised concern over Slovakia's protracted deinstitutionalisation process and the risk of reinstitutionalisation, including proposals to retain small group homes and overturn limits on the maximum capacity of residential care homes. It also noted significant regional disparities in personal assistance, insufficient development of other community-based support services, and the limited availability and affordability of accessible housing. The Committee recommended that Slovakia expedite deinstitutionalisation, prevent reinstitutionalisation and transinstitutionalisation, and significantly expand support for persons with disabilities to live in the community. It also called for a strategy on community-based personal assistance and a national plan for accessible housing.
On legal capacity, the Committee noted that substitute decision-making continues to be used and that the draft new Civil Code retains restrictions on legal capacity and the "best interest" principle. It also raised concern that people with disabilities can be denied control over their financial affairs. The Committee recommended ending substitute decision-making and removing provisions in the draft Civil Code that restrict legal capacity, while establishing supported decision-making systems that uphold the autonomy, will and preference of persons with disabilities. It also called for an end to compulsory financial management and for support enabling persons with disabilities to independently access banking and other financial services.
Sri Lanka
The Committee raised concern over reports of deaths and serious incidents involving persons with disabilities in residential facilities, including the Anguruwathota fire of June 2026. It also noted that Sri Lanka's Constitution does not contain provisions on the right to life. The Committee further highlighted the absence of a comprehensive framework to monitor deaths and threats to life in institutional and residential settings, as well as a lack of disability-disaggregated data on suicides and other preventable deaths. The Committee called on Sri Lanka to recognise the right to life in its Constitution, establish independent mechanisms to monitor, investigate and prevent such deaths and serious incidents, ensure accountability where violations occur, and collect and publish disability-disaggregated mortality data.
On the disability framework, the Committee noted with concern that existing laws and policies are not yet fully harmonised with the Convention and continue to contain derogatory concepts and terminology and reflect the medical model of disability. It also highlighted that the Disability Rights Bill has yet to be enacted after several years of drafting and consultation. The Committee recommended that Sri Lanka bring its disability-related legislation and policies into line with the Convention, replace elements of the medical model of disability with the human rights model of disability, and expedite the enactment of the Disability Rights Bill.
The above findings, officially known as Concluding Observations, are now available on the session page.
