The Council of Europe, currently with 47 member states (and 6 observer states), is a pioneering international organisation in legal cooperation, playing an important role in modernising and harmonising national laws, respecting democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Its activities in this area focus on finding common solutions to make justice more effective and to solve the new legal and ethical problems facing modern societies, which are expressed through two main legal instruments: Conventions and Recommendations.

The Conventions, which are both instruments of cooperation and simplification, bind the States which ratify them. Some of them have also been opened to non-member states of the Council of Europe with a view to extending international legal cooperation.

The Recommendations cover matters that do not need to be regulated through Conventions and are adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe when it comes to defining broad guidelines for the policy and future legislation of member countries.

Ad hoc Committee of Experts on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Committee Ad Hoc The Committee of Experts on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CAHDPH) was set up to lead intergovernmental work in the field of the rights of persons with disabilities.

The Committee Ad Hoc meets annually in Strasbourg, France, provides advice, guidance and support to other Council of Europe bodies and member states on disability issues. The Committee Ad Hoc elaborated the Council of Europe Disability Strategy 2017-2023 and supported its implementation.

The National Institute for Rehabilitation represents Portugal on this committee.

At the moment, the activity of this Committee has been suspended since April 2018, by decision of the Council of Europe, due to budgetary issues.

Council of Europe Disability Strategy 2017/2023

Council of Europe Disability Strategy 2017/2023.