853rd Meeting, 35th Session, Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

Buenos Diaz.
Distinguished members of the delegation of Chile, members of the committee, representative of the Organization of Persons with Disabilities, and colleagues and participants.
I now call the 853rd meeting of the committee on the rights of persons with disabilities.
The committee will continue its consideration of the predict report of the Tile under agenda item five, Coation of report submitted by state party under Article 35 of the convention.
This morning, we will continue the second part of the consultative dialogue that begin yesterday afternoon.
We will first complete the remaining questions and answers under clause two.
A 30 minute lound on close to two will follow this.
After the break, we will proceed to close the three.
I kindly ask all speakers to list the time allocated to them.
I will manage the time with the support of Secretariat.
We will now continue the discussion under closure two, which will begin yesterday afternoon.
I first give the floor to miss Amalia Gamo.
Miss Amalia Gam, you have the floor.
Amalia G.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Welcome back to the delegation from the Republic of Chile.
I'd like to thank you for the answers provided thus far.
I'd also like to welcome civil society organizations.
I have the following question.
It's about systematic investigations and retrospective investigations in order to determine the number of women which were subjected to sterilization without their consent.
I'd also like to know about the punishments handed down and reparations and guarantees of non repetition.
The other thing that I'm worried about is that we've received information that according to which the V del Mar Guangita School hands out contraceptives to students without their consent.
Excellency, Yes.
Long term contraceptives.
Sorry, I'll answer you in Spanish.
Senatus will start the answers.
Very good morning.
This is Synatus with regard to sterilizations.
In the National D Disability Service, we refer back to the legal framework which was quoted yesterday, that is Act 20 1331 concerning policies and figures.
I'd just like to interrupt you, if I may, Amalia Go.
Amalia Go, when you speak, would you send signal to me? Thank you so much.
What is your request? You have the floor.
What I was saying was that we're well aware of what you said yesterday about the legal framework which prohibits sterilization without consent.
But my specific question concerns the investigations that you have made into the past in order to determine how many women were sterilized without their consent.
Before the ban and I'd like to know if you punished those who were responsible, did you provide reparations and compensation to the victims and guarantees of non repetition? What ones are in place currently? Yes, I apologize to disturb your reply, but maybe I think miss Amalia Camo delegation understand exactly what she want to listen.
Yeah, go ahead.
Thank you so much, Excellency.
Head of delegation, I'd just like to add that it's very important for us to give you the legal background so that we can then develop our answer.
Public Prosecution Service is going to start the answer and will be backed up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prosecution Service, good morning.
Can you hear me? What we can tell you is that when it comes to the sterilization of women adolescents with disabilities, we don't have any figures on this because non consensual sterilization is not a standalone offense in Chile.
We have other offenses such as castration, lesions, torture, unlawful coercion, but we don't have a breakdown on sterilizations in our computer systems, so that's why we can't record the figures.
What I would like to tell the committee is that Act 20 1675, which has been referred to, includes reference to gynelogical and obstetric violence.
It's important you know and that is considered to be a form of institutional violence against women in a health setting.
When it comes to the figures passed on to us by the Ministry of Health on sterilizations, I We have used that in order to provide training to judges and prosecutors through the judicial academy, but this is a preventive measure.
We don't have our own figures and cases that we're dealing with, but we are getting ready for this investigative challenge, and so the prosecutors who will conduct the investigations will get support from the specialized human rights and gender units in order to show that due diligence is respected.
Thank you.
Amalia Gam, thank you very much.
It would be highly recommendable that you investigate exactly how many women were sterilized without their consent because you must consider restorative justice for them because there are a lot of women who are involved.
Yes.
I'd like to know if you've got information about what I was asking you about about the Juanita Aguirre school in Vina del Mar.
We were told that they were distributing long term contraceptives to girls in the school.
Because there is still responses from the delegation about your first question.
I would like to give the floor to the delegation to reply they prepared for your first question.
Excellency, you have the floor again.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'm from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we've taken note of the case raised by the committee member on the Juanita Ger So, but we'd like to make two very brief comments.
Chile has independent mechanisms for dealing with such cases, that's the independent judiciary.
We also recognize the competence of United Nations Human Rights bodies and the Inter American Human Rights Commission and Court.
With that in mind, I would respectfully like to point out that this Process will not deal with individual cases because there are the petition systems that I've mentioned, but we will look at the public policies and the integrity of the system now so that we don't deal with individual cases.
Obviously, we do believe that we will be able to fully comply with the convention through our public policies and institutions.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
And Excellency, miss Amalia Camo gave the second questions.
Miss Amalia Camo, would you repeat your second questions? Gus.
Malia Gamo, thank you very much.
I'd just like to clarify that in this committee, we do deal with individual cases because they give valuable examples of what we want to talk about.
It's a very valuable way of proceeding.
With regard to Article 18, I'd like to say that we're very concerned about migrants with disabilities because they face a number of barriers.
There's a lot of red tape.
Before they're given the documents they need, obviously there are language barriers and there's low coverage of their needs.
I'd like to know what is the state party doing to support migrants, including women and children with disabilities so that they will receive health and education support and support for employment if possible during their stay in Chile.
Thank you very much.
Head of delegation, the Ministry of Justice will provide the answer.
Ministry of Justice, thank you very much, Minister.
Taking a general look at the registration system in Chile, we have the civil registration system, we have 485 desks, 16 Directorate Generals, and a large number of offices and they take action in hospitals.
This is through the relevant law.
We believe that we can bring down barriers in the system.
This means that all people can have access to the benefits foreseen in the law.
Coronadz also has the explicit support of the foreign service, the alien service, which is responsible for dealing with persons of different nationalities.
Miss Amalia Gamo, you have the floor.
Amalia Gamo, thank you.
Thank you very much for the answer, Madam Chair.
This brings me to the end of the part that I'm dealing with.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Now, I give the floor Mr.
Mazino.
Mr.
Masinu will raise his question concerning Article 19 and 20 of the convention.
Mr.
Corin, you have the floor.
Hano Villa.
Very good morning.
This is Marino Corpor Lorenzo.
I would like to once again greet the delegation from Chile.
With regard to the subject of independent living, which I would like to say is a really crucial one within the convention, I'd like to know if you have already drawn up a program based on the committee's guidelines for the transition to independent living, which means the transition from institutionalization to an independent life.
That's the first question I have.
I'd like to know how much you are or will be investing in this program.
Those are the first questions I have for you.
Head of delegation, the National Disability Service will answer the question and further responses will be provided by the Ministry of Labor.
National Disability Service.
Very good morning to you.
With regard to the first question, the National Disability Service provides broad ranging programs in order to promote the right to independent living.
Please give me a moment because I'm trying to find the figures on my computer screen says the speaker.
The range of programs includes above all, support for students with disabilities studying in higher education.
This is because we believe that if we support these students and ensure their effective inclusion at all stages of education, then this is going to be absolutely vital for ensuring their right to independent living.
With regard to a breakdown on figures, in 2016, there were 634 students supported with a budget of 1.3000000000 trillion Pesos approximately.
At the same time, the National Disability Service also provides funding for assistive devices which are considered essential for persons with disabilities to live independently, to improve their functionality, and enhance their personal autonomy.
In 2025, 7,530 or so people benefited with a budget of over 4 billion Chilean Pesos.
And this is going to increase to around 6 billion Pesos.
We also have the national Fund for inclusive projects, known by the acronym for Nappy.
This is an initiative from the National Disability Service, which enables us to fulfill the principle of participation social dialogue.
Through this initiative, we provide funding for promoting independent living as well.
These budget lines from 2024 onwards have been considered priorities for persons with disabilities and their organizations.
In 2025, we funded 117 projects with a budget of 1.69 billion trillion Pesos approximately.
In 2026, we have a similar budget, and this program is awaiting adjudication currently of the tendering process.
The National Disability Service currently has a program called Transition to Independent Living.
This was raised in 2020 in prior questions and It benefits people who are amongst the 70% most vulnerable people, according to the household survey, they find it difficult to transit to independent living so they need services and care.
I would like to inform you that in our legal framework, support is understood as intermediation actions, support and care, which is financed through the program requires that the service providers are registered in the National Disability Register.
That register contains not only names of persons with disabilities, but also the names of service and support providers.
We funded certain support services such as assistance or care for over 2,600 people with a budget of over 2 billion chilion Pesos.
Thank you very much.
The Ministry of Labor will add further answers.
Ministry of Labor I'm Thomas Raul Bind, I'm the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare of Chile.
I'd like to add to what the National Disability Service is saying by referring to a condition for independent living with support.
People can be formally recognized as being eligible, so we formally certify the labor skills of these people We have also given priority to carers and primary careers.
They do not need to go through traditional training.
This is based on prior experience and there is institutional support for work which was hidden traditionally and was undertaken informally, above all by women.
In 2025 of the 5,800 certificates of Chile values, There were over 1,000 carers and in 2026, we believe the number will be 1,835 carers certified.
Over 3,900 carers have been certified, and this is a policy which is nationwide.
Mr.
Martino, this segment is until 1030, so I would like to kindly ask you give your all of your question all together.
Thank you so much.
Lorenzo.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I'd like to follow up on my previous question now.
Could you provide me with more information Does this plan have a philosophy of labor inclusion or inclusion in the job market? If that is the philosophy behind the plan, can you give us some results, some figures? May I please continue? With regard to the pilot project A Cocaagua for independent living, which is mentioned in paragraph 126 of your national report, could you give us indicators some results? Of that program.
I would also like to know if it can be rolled out to other regions.
With regard now to persons with disabilities including children who have been deinstitutionalized through the transition to independent living process, which you refer to in paragraph 123 of your report.
This is in accordance with our 2022 guidelines.
I'd like to know how many people have been granted a personal assistance through this process.
I'd like to know what measures have been undertaken to draft a protocol on informed consent which can bring an end to the deprivation of liberty of children, adolescents, adults, and older persons with disabilities in state institutions.
Okay.
I'd like to know what is the state's view about the implementation of universal access to housing for independent living.
With regard to family houses now, I'd like to know how are you going to close the social gap of access to family housing through support from the Ministry of Housing.
Could you tell me how many centers are outside the management of the government? How many of these centers, how many people are in these centers and how are you going to regulate them? I'd also like to know when is the state party going to adopt a holistic strategy on deinstitutionalization and for independent living? When are you going to have a strategy with a time frame targets and figures and How are you going to prevent further institutionalization? I'd like to know how many people have moved out of institutions and into the community and what kind of assistance is in place for support for independent living in the community? Can people choose where they live and with whom they live? All these questions are about Article 19 on independent living.
I'd like to move on to Article 20.
Personal mobility.
What specific measures, time frames and budgets are going to be adopted by the state in order to ensure that there is personal mobility? This can be done through affordable and accessible public transport, which is reliable, which covers intermnicipal and rural routes.
I'd like to know what specific measures are you taking in order to ensure that there is accessible audio information And do you train your transport workers? What results have you achieved in this area? Also, on Article 20, I'd like to underscore the following.
We're well aware of the distances across Chile because this is something which is a risk for persons with disabilities and their mobility.
How do you respond to that? I'd like to move on to Article 21.
Now at the outset, I should have said that the speaker is interrupted.
You might not.
Yes.
Yes.
I'd once again like to thank the delegation for the information being provided by the delegation so that we can get a better idea of the efforts being undertaken to implement the convention.
With regard to Article 21, We appreciate the efforts.
The speaker has been interrupted.
We will have a follow up question after reply for Mr.
Mata 19 and 20, and then we will have a follow up questions during 30 minutes, and then we will go to the cluster three.
Would you give the question at that cluster three? Sorry, I thought you were passing me the floor for 21.
That's what I got the floor, I have no problem doing.
I fully understand.
Sorry for the confusion.
Thank you so much.
I would like to give the floor to the delegations to reply Mr.
Mason questions 19 and 20.
But unfortunately, you have 5 minutes 5 minutes.
Senates will provide a brief answer.
Thank you very much.
First of all, as regards a strategy for a transition to independent living, this does have a labor or employment component.
We recognize the life path of persons with disabilities must include equal rights throughout their life.
This means that as a state, we have to provide care early on in someone's life, ensure equality in education and certainly later on, equality for access to the labor market.
These are general principles recognized in our legal setup.
So the programs I mentioned earlier have as a goal, ensuring the full inclusion into the labor market for persons with disabilities.
This is something we will continue to develop.
When it comes to housing, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in Chile has additional budgetary allocations to Provide for persons with disabilities and to ensure accessibility.
We have a Supreme decree number 52, which has specific headings on this part of the population and it includes accessibility conditions and meets the needs of this part of the population.
We have a Supreme decree 49, which includes additional benefits for persons with disabilities.
This is for accommodation projects for housing.
And we also look at cases of reduced mobility.
There's a comprehensive housing benefit service, a rural, and a town planning program, and we can of course, provide further information in writing given we don't have much time now.
Now, a few brief words on transport.
I wanted to say that in Chile, we have systematically worked across different sectors to make sure there is universal accessibility in public transport.
This is, of course, in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport and communication and we've worked with other public authorities as well.
We have updated Supreme Decree 142, which lays down accessibility conditions in public transport, and we're working on this in an interseual technical roundtable at the moment.
There are proposed amendments to really drill down on concepts such as low floor access ramps, et cetera and we have to consider physical, sensory and cognitive accessibility more broadly as well.
Thank you.
Mr.
Mancino, do you satisfied about the delegation's reply to you? Well, I'm not quite satisfied, but I know that we are working under real time pressure here.
So I would be very grateful if you could provide written answers to the issues that you have not yet addressed orally.
Thank you.
Mr.
Magino Excellency, you have the answer.
We will provide details on the budget, the beneficiaries, and the other details that you requested.
We'll provide all of this in writing.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
I would like to kindly suggestion again to any question that cannot be fully addressed or right now may be answered through additional written information to Mr.
Martino.
Thank you so much.
This concludes the main round of test scpers question under cluster two.
We will now proceed the 30 minutes follow up round on cluster two.
I would like to give the floor to members who are not part of the task scpers and wish to raise a follow up question concerning cluster two.
Mr.
Marco Shepard, you have the floor.
Thank you, Chair.
Welcome to the delegation rather late in the day, but still, it is not so much a question that I have, but a comment on yesterday's discussion on Article 12, equal recognition under the law.
The Ministry of Justice explained to us that the law, the Chilean Civil Code of 18 55 is based on the Code Napoleon, like most civil law countries law of personhood is.
And that under that system and under that logic, the substitute decision making by guardians is a means to protect persons with disabilities.
Now, this is where the CRPD Convention comes in and is in fundamental contrast to this logic that is based on the Napoleon.
The CRPD Convention does not, and it is consistent throughout, does not protect persons with disabilities by infringing on their rights, by reducing their rights.
What it does is it protects persons with disabilities by supporting them in the exercise of their rights.
And this is also true with respect of the right to equal recognition before the law.
What it requires is therefore supported decision making, a support system that helps a person with disabilities to take the decisions that she or he wants and to exercise the rights themselves.
And I got the impression yesterday, and this impression is not confined to a delegation of Chile.
I see it in my own country.
I see it in many civil law countries.
And being a lawyer myself, I realize where it's coming from.
Um, it is a fundamental misunderstanding of the convention to think that substitute decision making is a means under the Convention to protect persons with disabilities.
We states parties need to change the system to a supported decision making system and provide the support necessary for persons with disabilities to take their decisions.
If they cannot express their will and preference, The support system needs to decide not in the best interest of the person, but based on the best available interpretation of that person's will and preference.
That in a nutshell, is the logic of the convention.
I thought based on yesterday's discussion, it might not be superfluous to make this comment.
Thank you for listening.
Thank you so much.
Excellency, Olivia? Well, I know it wasn't really a question, but we can express an opinion and the Ministry of Justice will do that.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair and head of delegation.
I agree with some of the issues raised by Mr.
Shaffer.
Despite this, I wanted to say that there was no scaling back of rights here.
In Chile, we have no such cases of civil death pursuant to Article 95 of the Civil Code.
A person with disability is not deprived of their rights.
They maintain their assets, and enjoy those rights and can make a declaration of will.
This is something that happens in many of these cases, and this is in line with the information I gave you yesterday, but I can categorically say that there is no withdrawal of rights.
Thank you.
Mr.
Hirostaon, you have the floor.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
My first question is in regards to Article 14.
Are there any established professional sign language training systems or capacity building programs specifically designed for professionals working within the judicial sector? Current information suggests that training opportunities in this field remain insufficient, contributing to persistent barriers to accessibility for deaf individuals.
S the National Disability Service will address this question.
Thank you.
First of all, let me say that with respect of official recognition of sign language of Chile, from January 2021, we had promulgated law 20 1303 promoting the use of Chilean sign language, recognizing that is the national original language and part of the intangible Heritage of deaf persons and part of their collective and individual identity.
The state recognizes it as the official language of deaf persons.
The state is therefore obliged to promote and respect the use and the exercise of the cultural heritage of deaf persons and must ensure their access to public and private services, to education, the labor market, and all aspects of sign language within their daily lives.
Educational facilities also have to include training in Chilean sign language as a first or a second language.
Through the certification system and the vocational training programs, in Chile, we have now got persons that are involved in training and teaching Chilean sign language.
We believe that in preference, this should be carried out by qualified persons.
If we consider the educational profiles rather the profiles of educational staff in Chile, we want to make sure that there is at least one deaf teacher in all educational facilities.
Since 2014 to date, we have increased the number of Chilean sign language interpreters in educational establishments.
We've gone from roughly 100 interpreters in 2014 to 230 or even more interpreters in 2025.
As we said yesterday, to date, we are awaiting promulgation of a regulation governing sign language interpreter training and ensuring the mechanisms for teaching this sign language are in place.
We know that this is a challenge and we know it's a priority and progress must be made in the short term.
I would like to kindly ask to the delegations when you respond to the questions from our colleagues, members of the committee, please, based on the detailed data.
And now we have several members of the committee.
Miss Geldner, you have the floor.
I have a question under Article 19.
I have learned from your Fs that you have implemented number of services to persons with disabilities to ensure their independent living.
Regarding that, I have particular questions, a question on personal assistant service.
So just provide some data regarding this area.
For example, how many persons with disabilities have received personal assistant training for 2025? And if possible, please provide amount of the resources or budget allocated to the services for 2025.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Miss Louja Pos, you have the floor.
Ir alla, Jamir with the Chile.
A very good morning to one and all.
I wish to extend a greeting to the delegation from Chile.
I have a question on Article 21.
I'm thinking about cases of earthquakes and natural disasters that strike this country.
I'm wondering what measures are in place to make sure that persons with disabilities can receive early warning of these natural disasters and earthquakes.
What happens in public establishments and schools in these cases? Do you have any data Telling us about what has been done to ensure that persons with disabilities are saved in such cases or rescued.
Are there interpreters provided in these cases? It really is a case about ensuring that there is accessible information provided to interpreters to persons with disabilities.
Thank you so much.
Now, would you like to give the floor to Kamu? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Now, very briefly, I wanted to ask some follow up questions because I didn't really receive a reply.
Article 12 and really backing up what my colleague Mr.
Shaffer said.
We would like this prohibition or rather this revoking of legal capacity to be removed from the civil code and to make sure that there can be supported decision making.
Reply in writing, please.
Then I wanted to raise the question about involuntary involuntary hospital admissions because this runs counter to Article 14.
Could you also give us information about a what has been done in relation to the 2019 social uprising.
I have a specific question too.
If we think about support services, we know that the individual mode has been withdrawn and it's just the collective mode that is left.
We wonder why this has been done and On the 3% fiscal amendments and what is planned for following years, can you tell us what special measures have been taken to make sure that these changes don't disproportionately affect persons with disabilities? They could affect the independent life of persons with disabilities.
Moving on to Article 21, the community of persons with disabilities complains that there's not enough heed paid to their needs.
We've heard, for example, of a deaf women who have had to attend medical appointments on their own and weren't able to have an assistant.
What is being done to help women, especially deaf women, making sure that they have access to the services, to justice, to health care? Thank you.
Lastly, we have the one more question from Mr.
Marco Shepard.
Thank you, Chair.
Again, thank you for the possibility to give a brief reply to the answer by the Ministry of Justice.
The concern we have with the Civil Code of Chile and its law on personhood is not that there is something like civil death, meaning that people are not bearers of rights.
Article 12 of our Convention does not solely deal with having rights, but also with exercising those rights.
Our concern is with the rules in the law on personhood on exercising the rights.
Nobody claims that Chile has civil debt.
But what we see is that persons with disabilities who are deemed incapable of forming their own will and expressing their own preferences are then provided with a guardian who speaks in their stead.
And that is the problem that the Civil Code of Chile has with the convention.
It is by far not the only civil code that has that problem because it was the system that the French introduced in 1,804 and everybody else copied.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
From now until 115, you have the time to reply these follow up questions.
Excellency, you have the floor.
Thank you so much.
The National Disability Service will provide the initial answers and others will then add to this.
Thank you very much.
First of all, on support services, this was a follow up question addressed to us.
It's important to point out that in August 2026, the register of Support Service Providers for disability has 3,781 persons on the register.
Of these 3,305 are natural persons and 7.5%, in other words, 475 are legal entities.
Within these individuals, there can of course be persons with disabilities that themselves provide support services.
When it comes to natural persons or individuals, they are providing care and assistance, 2,383 persons, 72.1% of Service providers are natural persons.
For mediator services, we have 15% of persons on the register providing these services.
That's what we can tell you about support service providers.
We've also been asked about programs to help people transition to independent living and the individual mode which has been withdrawn, whether this was due to budgetary cuts.
Now, to answer this question, we have to say that the program for transition is being recast, but it's not due to budgetary changes.
It's because the effective coverage of the program is very low as civil society told us yesterday.
So we have to improve this service to ensure that it actually provides proper support in order to ensure that persons with disabilities can enjoy this right.
As a service, we've now received a positive recommendation from our ministry.
To make sure that we can build on the experience that we've gathered so far in developing the program throughout the country and can now finance a new community based service support provision.
This is something that will be rolled out next year in 2027.
In relation to emergency situations, In our country, we have specific regulations to ensure accessible information and communication is provided as part of our emergency and disaster risk management program.
In these situations, when we have television broadcasts, pursuant to law, it must be provided with subtitles and sign language interpretation.
We know that We know that the regulation is currently being revised, the regulation covering television broadcasts.
Now, the National Disability Service, together with the Ministry for Social Development and the family, have been working together across sectors to promote inclusive information.
We have heard about this from the head of delegation yesterday.
We have the Sin program on emergency and disaster risk management and there is an early warning system as part of this.
In our country, we are being affected by such situations as is happening in the North at the moment, and the alert and evacuation alerts are transmitted by text message and we ensure that there is accessible information provided to all persons so they can be evacuated and preserve their life.
Finally, to address the question of deaf women and how they can have access to justice and health care services on an equal footing, we have a legal framework ensuring that there must be accessible information and we have made progress in implementation In sign language training and education, when it comes to justice and the health care system, we don't have specific profile of interpreters that can be used in these sectors.
We recognize this is a challenge and we try and set up assistance networks to make sure that there can be comprehensive assistance provided in the health care.
We are looking at this more closely And as a state, we are aware of the gaps and are working hard to try and make up the shortfall in service provision.
If you excuse us because finally we have one more question from our committee member, Mr.
Imklaa you have the floor.
The winners.
Yes.
Very good day to you once again.
My question is a follow up question to the information that you've provided.
It's very good news that information to individuals in emergency situations, information provided to the public is provided in accessible formats or that you're making efforts to ensure this is so.
So Obviously, communication too, not just information has to be accessible.
Say a person contacts an emergency hotline, whatever number that is, These are persons that have to contact emergency services.
We need to ensure that the responses and replies that they get are accessible.
A deaf person, for example, cannot reply in real time using SMS messaging.
Perhaps there should be a consideration of video messages and so on and so forth.
My question is, what is being done to make sure that one way communication really is accessible so that it really can be accessed by persons in emergency situations.
The president of the Senate is going to reply, and then we'll hear further information.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair and thank you for the question.
Let me give you some context.
In the Atofogsta region in the north of the country, as well as in further regions, there is an emergency situation due to heavy rain and flooding and we pursuant to the relevant law on emergency response, well this replaced the emergency law with various enabling legislations.
I'm particularly interested in mentioning Article 25 and risk management plans must identify and consider in all of its aspects, not just access to information.
But throughout the implementation, they must consider carers, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons within the care system of the state to ensure their protection, their inclusion, and their timely access to specific support.
In our view, this is a significant change that's come into the emergency and disaster management program.
We do have these frequent situations, earthquakes, flooding, et cetera This is governed by law and there is provision for persons with disabilities.
The Snaris will add to the answers.
Means Senatus, yesterday we mentioned the National Plan for Universal Accessibility, which is one of the initiatives of the current government.
One of the main thrusts of work in the plan is accessibility of information and communication.
One of the measures foreseen in this area is inclusive risk management.
With regards to your question about Recognizing and identifying certain progress in accessibility, we can refer, first of all, to the National Plan on universal accessibility.
All competent entities in the area of risk management are called upon to participate.
I would also like to say that in our service, we have developed a course for public officials on inclusive risk management, which has included distributing a guide on This subject, it was distributed in August of this year and contains a series of recommendations to public entities in order to ensure that their response in these situations for persons with disabilities includes making accessibility measures a priority.
I can give you the example of how we manage the COVID 19 pandemic.
At that time, the National Women and Gender Equality Service Facilitated reporting of gender based violence against women with disabilities.
They could do so by a telephone hotline and at the same time, they created a specific WhatsApp channel for women with disabilities with sign language interpreting.
I think it's Important to ensure accessibility in these contexts and in both directions as the expert pointed out.
You have a flower for follow up question.
Thank you very much for the information which we have received from the report and during the course of this meeting.
I would like to know if you call 131 using real time captioning and sign language interpreting, do you receive the answer in the same format? If not, are there plans to ensure this? This is a concrete example I'd like to hear more about.
This is in addition to what happens with the police and the fire service.
It's a challenge.
I don't think it's easy.
It's not something which exists around the world, but I wonder if you're aware of the need and if you have specific plans, if this is not already available.
How do you plan to make sure it is available? This segment will be closed 115.
Within the time the fly, until 115.
Thank you so much.
Head of delegation, Ministry of Health will reply.
Ministry of Health.
Thank you, Minister.
Good morning, everybody.
With regard to the specific question which has just been asked by the committee member, I'd like to refer to two aspects.
Firstly, on health.
During the pandemic, the Ministry of Health set up a platform called Health Response, which has video call responses for deaf people who use Chilean sign language.
There was an interpreter available and over 39,000 people use this service.
I would like to say that there is two way communication through this service.
It wasn't restricted to the pandemic period, but has turned into a permanent channel of health response from the Ministry of Health.
I would also like to point out that the criminal police has sign language interpreting and they've modernized their police station in order to ensure accessibility for persons using sign language, and there are also video calls service for people contacting the Carabins service are the military police.
Yes, thank you so much.
Respected delegation provide the answers and information.
Now, we will have a break time until 11 15.
Thank you so much.
I And colleagues and delegation, please be seated.
We will start at 11:15 Excellency and delegations and colleagues, please be seated.
We have to start right now.
This meeting is sum.
We will now proceed to cluster three.
The cluster three concerns Article 21 to 30 and 301-30-2303 of the convention.
First, I will give the floor to Mr.
Martino Cofern and he will continue the remaining article within your assigned range and relate question concerning Article 21 through 26.
And Mr.
Gro Popo will give the question 27-33.
Mr.
Cofn, you have the floor.
Mr.
Marino Corp, I'm going to immediately give the floor to immaculad Piro.
Thank you very much, Marino.
This is immacula Plascencia Perre.
So As I said a few moments ago, we appreciate the efforts that you've made for ensuring access to sign language, particularly through Act 213 oh three.
In the report, you informed us that you had trained 235 interpreters by 2021.
What's happened since then and do you think that you've achieved satisfactory results to meet the demands from deaf persons to have sign language interpretation and what plans have you got to roll out further sign language interpretation services in Chile.
That's my first question that I have on Article 21.
Second point with regard to implementing the implementation from 2016 and your regulation accessibility of websites and government platforms.
Can you inform us what you're doing to monitor compliance by websites and platforms with the regulations? I'd like to know what percentage of public websites meet compulsory accessibility standards.
When it comes to rural areas and people living in poverty, I'd like to know what are you doing to close the gap in the availability of assistive devices and telecommunications devices so these people can have access to these websites and platforms.
They can be accessible, but obviously people need the devices in order to be able to communicate with those websites and platforms.
That's the second question I have.
The third question I have with regard to the accessibility of audio visual information, can you tell us about what you're doing to ensure that there is consistent application of the standards concerning the availability of captioning and sign language interpretation on broadcasts.
I'd also like to know what measures have you taken to ensure that public service providers provide information about the services and the services themselves in accessible formats.
This would include knowing if you are going to make it compulsory for private websites to meet accessibility standards.
I'd also like to know what measures are taken.
Once the measures become compulsory to ensure that there is implementation, what are you going to do about awareness raising, monitoring, and ensuring skills? What are you going to do if there is non compliance? These then are my questions on Article 21 and I'd appreciate if you could answer them specifically.
Thank you very much.
Head of delegation, the National Disability Service will answer.
National Disability Service.
Thank you very much.
With regard to the first question concerning T of sign language interpreters, we have increased the number of sign language interpreters working in educational establishments.
By 2025, we had reached 243 interpreters in that setting.
At the same time, the Ministry of Education has held a series of working meetings with universities from different regions in order to consider setting up a degree course in sign language interpreting.
There's an initial proposal with the syllabus for a course lasting eight semesters.
This dates from 2024.
This proposal is now being analyzed by a technical working group to see if this kind of training can be formally offered in our country.
At the moment, we only have a labor skills certification, which is what I referred to a few moments ago.
With regard to public services websites and monitoring them, The regulation referred to by the committee member is still in force.
Generally speaking, monitoring and compliance inspections of public entities is undertaken by the Controller General's office.
If there is a complaint made by a person with disability or any other citizen about non compliance with regulations in force, they can lodge that complaint with the Controller General's Office.
The National debility Service does not have the competence for undertaking compliance inspections and handing down penalties if there is non compliance with regulations on accessibility in the public domain.
Currently, we do not know how many public entities websites meet the accessibility standards which are contained in the regulation, but this is information which we can obtain send you in writing.
With regard to the accessibility of audio visual information, the state has deployed efforts to ensure that there are subtitles and sign language interpreters on TV programs throughout the country.
In this regard, I would like to tell you about the regulations in force.
We've already referred to Article 25 of Act 2422, which stipulates that certain television programs must have sign language interpreting and captioning or subtitles.
I.
The regulations for enforcing this implementation is still before parliament and this is why certain cases have been brought to the justice system.
That's why we appreciate this question about accessibility.
I was also telling you yesterday that we have a legal framework which enshrines certain legal action which can be taken when there is disability based discrimination or other suspicious cases of discrimination.
Foreseen in Act 20 609.
This means that you can bring special proceedings also under the special inclusion law The cases are going to be brought before the courts of justice and in local police courts when there is a lack of accessibility, for example, in the area of communications.
There have been a number of cases brought by the deaf community, notably when there is a lack of subtitles and sign language interpreting on TV programs.
Generally, when these proceedings are brought, they lead to convictions.
When it comes to efforts to promote sign language interpreting in the private domain, I'd like to tell you that the current regulations in force on accessibility are also compulsory for private entities.
As a result, They must meet the legal requirements.
The National Disability Service has permanent strategies for public private cooperation in order to promote accessibility and social inclusion in different walks of life, including in the area of information and communications, and so we often provide materials and recommendations in order to ensure that information is delivered accessibly by both public and private entities.
When I'm talking about accessibility, I'm Not just referring to subtitling and sing interpreting, I'm also talking about easy read, braille, and other augmentative and alternative formats of communication.
This has been the case since in 2023, we enacted a law on persons with autistic spectrum disorders, which foresees the delivery of information in pictogram formats.
Malia Gao, Macula, I would like to ask two follow up questions.
In 2021, there were 235 trained sign language interpreters.
You've just told me that the number only increased to 243 by 2025.
Is that generally speaking, you're just talking about interpreters working in educational establishments, or are there many more sign language interpreters? Because I'd like to understand how the numbers have progressed better.
You have also referred to compliance, but you don't have the percentages as yet.
We'd be pleased to receive that.
What percentage of public and private entities comply with the legal obligations on accessibility contained in the law that you mentioned? We eagerly await adoption of the regulation before Parliament on audio visual contents.
We hope that that will lead to consistent Implementation of the rules not only on subtitling and sign language interpreting, but to ensure that there is universal accessibility of information provided throughout the territory.
Listen the reply from the delegation.
After that, you can give the question.
Please respect the delegation.
Go ahead.
But would you reply more consciously and then shortly.
National Disability Service, I would like to thank the committee member for follow up questions so I can provide you with clarifications.
I gave you the figure of 243 sign language interpreters in 2025 working in the educational setting.
That's the figure that we've been provided by the Ministry of Education.
When it comes to the total number of sign language interpreters working in other settings, health, justice, and so on and so forth, we haven't got a full register of all the sign language interpreters.
Thank you very much.
Mr., you have the floor.
Marino Corp and Lorenzo.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'd like to ask questions on Articles 22 and 23.
I'd also like to ask a follow up question, a very brief one.
If you haven't got enough time to answer now, please submit the answer in writing and that question is on Article 21.
I'd like to know what is the time frame for adopting the outstanding regulations on sign language interpreting and access to audio visual information and what measures are being taken to ensure there are enough professional sign language interpreters throughout the country.
I would also like to know what measures and compliance mechanisms do you have in order to ensure that websites, platforms, digital services, and audio visual information of public interest is compliant with the rules.
I'd also like to know when you're going to update the sign language dictionary, and I would also like to know if there is an ethical code of conduct for sign language interpreters.
And that's what I had to ask in relation to follow up questions under Article 21.
Now, on Article 22, and privacy.
I would like to ask what specific measures the state has put in place to investigate, prevent, and sanction cyber attacks or cyber harassment rather, and what has been the outcome of these measures? What measures exist to prevent bias and discrimination on the grounds of disability in AI systems.
And to ensure that there is proper participation of persons with disabilities in the governance of such systems.
Is there a code of ethics for sign language interpreters and for health care professionals when they manage medical information relating to a deaf person? That's my question on Article 22.
Moving on to Article 23 with apologies for all interpreters because I'm speaking so quickly.
My question is what measures will the state put in place and when will it do so in order to do away with the barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from marrying and starting a family and exercising their parental rights? What specific measures is the state planning to prevent separating children from their families or institutionalizing children on grounds of their disability or on the grounds of their parents disability.
What support do you provide for families and to mothers with disabilities? Thank you.
We'll start with the last question.
The Ministry of Justice will reply.
Thank you very much.
Now, on this topic, particularly if referring to parental rights, we can see that a person's disability status does not prevent the enjoyment of their rights and their right to live with their children.
This comes under Article 225 of the Civil Code.
And this is relevant information in answer to your question.
As to consent for marriage, this is governed by law 19 947 Article 5.
Here we have situations which are considered impediments to marrying relating to two areas.
First of all, when the actual aims of the marriage cannot be achieved or when a person is not able to express their will.
So consent to marriage is very specifically governed.
Article 18 says that the civil official has to ensure that there is appropriate consent to the aims of marriage, and the laws dating back to 2013 have very specific requirements in this area.
The prosecution service will add further information.
Thank you.
Just to add to what's been said, I wanted to say that in 2024, we saw the publication of new guidelines and implementation criteria in cases of sexual exploitation and digital violence against children.
The guidelines on sexual violence have a specific focus on persons with disabilities, particularly looking at intersectional areas as regards children too.
Mr.
Martino, you have the player again.
Thank you very much, my colleague.
I will be asking a number of questions here based on the invitation of the task force members.
I'll be asking them in two sections because it's quite a bit of questions.
Has a national plan for Education inclusion already been implemented? What measures are being implemented to redirect resources from special schools to inclusive education? Has the state provided funding for law number 20,903 slash 2015 concerning continued pedagogical training of teachers? Does the state guarantee continuous and free training for teachers, school principals, support staff to expand their knowledge of disability? How does the state intend to promote the genuine inclusion of students with disabilities in schools, including in remote and rural areas? Considering the high number of students per class and teachers inability to adequately attend to children with disabilities, does the state plan to deploy special education teachers to support regular classrooms and provide teachers with the essential tools for teaching, we have information that out of a total of 1048 establishments with schools integration program, only 56 have deaf teachers or deaf co educators.
Did the pilot project referred to in response 145 aimed at implementing online Chilean sign language courses in establishment with students with hearing disabilities produce results.
Has it already been formalized? How many deaf students have been included in mainstream education? I will break it there and then I'll come back with the last set of questions.
Thank you.
Thank you so much, Excellency the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will address this issue.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair and my thanks to the expert for asking this question.
So the Ministry of Education of Chile has provided information, and we can provide in writing more specific figures once the meeting is over.
On the promotion of a culture of diversity in education, the Ministry of Education has been involving students with disabilities and those with special needs and they implement school integration programs known as the PIEs We try and put in place conditions fostering access, participation, learning, and ensuring that children with disabilities stay in school.
The guiding principles are equality and, We can see in Chile that special needs students involved in these inclusion programs have been growing over time over the past ten years.
We had 314,000 students at the beginnings of this program.
In 2025, this figure rose to 475,000 plus students.
That is a significant increase both in absolute and in relative terms.
The figures also show that this increase in fact occurred at a time when overall enrollment of students decreased.
So there's increased representation of students with disabilities within enrolled students.
We can see that there is a greater presence in interim special needs, but there are also students with ongoing special needs.
We now have 28.4% of students with special needs.
Now, on training, the Ministry of Education has told us that through its vocational training program, it has constantly rolled out training programs to provide pedagogical education on disability and social Inclusion amongst others.
All of these actions try and boost the skills of educational teams and of teachers to foster the learning and training of all students in different educational context.
2023-26, 13 training programs were carried out to capacity building for inclusive education, diversity in education, amongst others.
There are different programs as part of this.
Overall, 9,459 teachers and teaching staff have been trained.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education can tell you that currently we have more than 6,000 schools that have school education programs in urban but also rural areas.
To conclude, on the deaf community, which has been mentioned, activities conducted try and promote accessibility, participation, and recognition of Chilean sign language as communication means for this community, promoting an inclusive approach throughout the educational establishment.
We have a national competition of left literature as of 2024, more than 200 works produced by students with disabilities throughout the country and throughout the educational system have been submitted as part of this, and all of it is available on the Ministry of Education website.
Finally, students with disabilities in relation to them.
Since 2008, there has been an evaluation of students with sensory disabilities.
These evaluations Try and assess the adaptations which are required and we try and make sure that all groups are treated in the same way.
On sensory disabilities, there have been responses and we have been providing braille material and the alternative forms of communication.
We have also been implementing actions for students with severe disabilities.
We provide support for students that are not able to read easily, for example.
In March 2023, we included teaching assistants in schools, helping children to sustain the compulsory testing that occurs at this age and also on managing emotions.
If there for pupils on the autistic spectrum, we have been implementing augmentative and alternative communication systems when appropriate.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Mr.
Matin, I would like to kindly I I inform you that because still we have eight articles, including miss Gathropopomes questions, it must be finished within the 30 minute.
So would you give your questions quickly and then maybe you can give your follow question after this segment.
I mean, after Gathropopoman's questions.
Mr.
Morris, would you give quickly your question about the Article 24? Finish these questions then, Madam Chair.
According to response 146, 30% of students with disabilities remain in special education.
When does the state plan to include them in the mainstream education? We have information that the 18 state universities consulted, 16 responded, and only 28% have an institutional policy for supporting students with disabilities.
In other words, 72% of the state universities surveyed lack institutional policies.
How do you intend to correct this problem? How does the state collect statistical information on the number of students with disabilities and deaf students who enter public and private higher education institutions, their retention, and their graduation with a view to improving support? What measures have the state adopted to promote the academic and professional training of deaf teachers to teach sign language and deaf culture with a view to addressing the needs of the 95% of program of school integration establishments that are not ensuring this right? That is the set of questions, Madam Chair.
Thank you so much, Mr.
Magino, you have the plur for your question about the 26.
Proceed.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
On Article 25, please provide maternal and infant mortality figures for Chile.
Considering the response of Chile to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Could you please provide disaggregated data on the number of persons with disabilities affected, how many were infected with COVID, how many died, how many people have had lingering effects from the virus, and how many had pre existing conditions which affected their care, particularly diabetes, depression, What else? Including figures on deaf persons and persons with psychosocial disabilities.
I have a further question under this article.
I'm wondering whether you have indicators on the participation of multidisciplinary teams in medical diagnosis for persons with disabilities.
Thank you in advance for your answers.
Oh, I do have a further question.
What specific measures with budgets and timelines will the state put in place to avoid the physical, digital, and other barriers to access to health, including the availability of professional Chilean sign language interpreters? What actions and timetables have you put in place to change the situation relating to supported decision making and access to free, prior and informed consent? I'm also interested in the issue of sexual and reproductive health for women.
With disabilities.
On 25 and 26, what measures with budgets and timelines has the state put in place to ensure ongoing constant access to rehabilitation, technical assistance, and support technology throughout the life cycle of persons with disabilities, particularly in rural and remote areas? What specific measures will the state put in place to do away with the administrative and financial barriers? To having access to such technical assistance and to ensure there is public provision of rehabilitation, particularly for children, as this would reduce dependency on private donors.
Thank you.
So initial answers will be provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the issues on education, and then the Ministry of Health will provide further answers.
Thank you very much to very quickly answer the expert on higher education.
Chile recognizes that continuity in education for persons with disabilities means that we have better coordination between the different educational levels, particularly the transition from special education to technical or vocational training and higher education.
We have put in place through the better transition to make sure that persons that need accommodation can access it.
This is appropriate to individual needs.
We provide additional time or breaks or macro type, Chinese sign language interpreters, support for question and answer sessions and the other measures besides.
All of this is through a technical process which considers the background of each person and a specialized interdisciplinary team steps in to assist.
We look at barriers and ensure there is try and get equal access to higher education.
Then under 2422, we state that there must be mechanisms to ensure access for persons with disability.
There must be adapted educational texts and materials.
It also says the Ministry of Education must provide training programs ensuring access to education and training for the employment market for persons with disabilities.
Thank you.
Gracia.
Thank you for giving me the floor, Madam Minister.
Let me first of all, address budgetary issues and then moving on to COVID and sexual reproductive health and many thanks for these questions.
The Ministry of Education is committed to allocating resources, making sure that we can have rehabilitation and rehabilitation services in the communities.
This is relating to the list of issues, 21.
We want to provide rehabilitation services to adults that require it, and we have occupational therapists as well as others providing the necessary input, and we have community and family health centers where these services are provided throughout the country.
2022-2026, the budget of the program increased by 7 billion Pesos.
It now is 20 billion Pesos, about a 50% increase.
In 2025, we saw health problem number 87 requiring rehabilitation.
This meant that we were able to include a special professional team.
This meant we had better comprehensive care provided to beneficiaries and we didn't just extend the coverage of the program.
So We have also included persons with disabilities who had lasting effects from various SARS CoV two.
We did have a national database of COVID cases and a disability register.
We're happy to be able to inform the committee that we had 20,000 cases and in 2021, we had 91,000 in 2022 and 10,000 in 2023.
These are figures for persons with disabilities with COVID that also had a disability register.
This year we've conducted an exercise saying six died in 2020, 2022 and 2024 was one person died.
The Ministry of Health only has available new cases since 2017 following registration, and we don't have access to the historic basis of figures from the database which are administered by the civil administration, so we're trying to make progress in this area.
According to 2022 figures, 118 persons with disabilities had access to health care centers.
And on vaccination against COVID in December 2020, we made persons with disabilities on the National Disability Register were the priority for vaccination, as well as those that had severe psychosocial or intellectual disabilities living in residential centers or others who had serious mental health problems.
On sexual and reproductive health, I can say that our national policy in this area in 2018 expressly recognized persons with disabilities as one of those groups that do find that there are barriers in accessing their rights.
Law 2331 looks at the issue of autonomy for persons with particular disabilities.
And circular nine of 2022 lays down that surgical sterilization requires free and informed consent and that lack of capacity does not justify replacing someone's own consent to this.
So we've seen a change to previous decree 570, and there now has to be clear comprehensive information with support and reasonable accommodation provided in these cases in sign language or easy read formats in order to facilitate consent.
The Section Reproductive Health Survey 2022, 2023, for the first time, included a module on disability allowing us to estimate the prevalence of disability in the population over the age of 18 and compare the access of persons with disabilities to different health care services, particularly including sexual and reproductive health services.
The ministry recognizes that having a legal framework is a requirement, but it's not enough to ensure the effective exercise of sexual and reproductive health rights of persons with disabilities.
We obviously have guidance in ensuring we have an inclusive social and development policy.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Thank you so much.
Just, we have remind the seven articles questions from miss Gater Popome.
Now I would like to give the floor to miss Gry Popome and she will give the questions from Article 27 through this 33.
I would like to extend the 15 minutes more for her questions.
Miss Gatt Popome, you will have the floor until 12 30.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I join in welcoming delegations and thank you for the work so far.
In order to try to save some time, I will appeal that I put questions for Article 27 and 28 together.
27, work and employment.
A couple of questions there, please.
We have observed significant gaps as we went through the information.
The first point is what measures has the state party taken to reduce unemployment and decrease participation of persons with disabilities in the open labor market, particularly for women with disabilities and persons with disabilities living in rural areas.
Please, how have you addressed persistent weight gaps? Also, what steps has been taken to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of Act number 2105 on labor inclusion as amended by Act number 2169 oh.
This also include measures adapted to address noncompliance with the employment quota.
What are the sanctions in place, please? How does the state party ensure that exemptions and alternative compliance mechanisms under the Act 20 1105 include donations do not replace direct and sustainable recruitment of persons with disabilities? I also want to know the steps adopted to high rate of termination of employment contracts, what has been put in place to stop this place, and what is in place to improve retention, the quality of sustainability of employment.
And would you please help us to measures to eliminate discrimination and barriers and insufficient awareness of reasonable accommodation and its obligations by employers? Article 28, Please, what time frame does the state anticipate in raising for raising domestic solidarity pension to at least the poverty line, and what improvements are being made to the pension system to increase the amount of government contributions to people with disabilities? We would also like to know the steps that a third party is taking to expand disability related social protection, including financial assistance, support services, and assistance with disability related expenses, particularly for persons with disabilities and their families living in poverty.
How is the state party ensuring adequate coverage and resourcing of support and care services for persons with disabilities under the National System of support and care established by A number 21.05, including support for unpaid givers? And we would like to know the steps taken to reduce multidimensional poverty and deprivation among children, adults, adolescents with disability, including territorial disparities affecting those living in rural areas.
Thank you for that to for now.
Thank you so much.
Your Ecellency, you have the floor.
Head of Delegation.
The Ministry of Labor will answer.
Ministry of Labor.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I'll try and answer the questions.
There are a whole range of subjects, but I'll try and focus with regard to Article 27 and the measures to comply with the law on labor inclusion, unemployment, promoting inclusion, review mechanisms and others.
I'd just like to remind you that the law 20 1015 on labor inclusion has been strengthened by two subsequent laws.
Firstly, 20 1275, which establishes the obligation to have a labor inclusion manager and this has led to certification profiles through the program Chile values you and The law 20 1690 of August of 2024, which was referred to, includes an increase in the threshold or the quota of employees with disabilities 1-2% and furthermore, establishes fines for noncompliance.
Okay.
There are shortfalls which we have recognized and we're doing our best to remedy them.
There is 44.7% compliance in the public sector in 2025, which was a 3.9 percentage points increase compared to 2023.
In the private sector, compliance is 25.7%.
Overall, compliance is 26.9% with a 4.5 percentage point increase.
In June 2026, there were some 56,000 labor contracts linked to this law.
63% of them are non fixed term contracts and 30.8% are fixed term contracts, the remainder are certain activity contracts.
We have opted for a more demanding criteria for valuing or evaluating, I should say, compliance, because otherwise, we could claim there was 58.1% compliance in the private sector.
In addition to the regulations which I mentioned just a few moments ago, I would also like to refer to the measures that we have taken on compliance inspections.
In 2025, the labor Directorate conducted almost 4,000 inspections, and there were some a 36 fines imposed of some 626 million Pesos.
Another aspect which we have been dealing with is capacity building.
The program chilly values you, which grants the certificates for inclusion managers, which is regulated by law 20 1675 has delivered over 9,000 such certificates, and there's around 30% of them to persons with disabilities.
Obviously, this is an area which we would like to see improvements in.
Now, with regard to Minister, sorry to interrupt you says head of delegation, but we've only got 1 minute left for the rest of our answers.
Other measures concern training.
We have the National Training Service, which has a universal program also has a complimentary program, which is training for employment with disabilities.
5,219 people took part in it.
In October this year, we'll have a unified benefit for employers who hire workers with disabilities and we also have a pool of labor intermediation, which fosters labor inclusion and furthermore, Also ensures that information is accessible in line with international standards.
There are further support mechanisms for persons with disabilities.
We have the basic disability pension and the basic disability contribution as well as the subsidy for children with disabilities that is say the under 18.
I kindly ask the delegation to keep its Lisbon concise because we have limited time.
So now I would like to give the floor to miss Popome Yes, thanks for the answers provided, but our starting points include the fact that we didn't hear about how persons have been retained.
We didn't also hear about the wage issue, and we didn't hear about reasonable accommodation and other services also.
We didn't hear much about what is available in support for those in rural areas.
This outstanding, I'll continue as a result of time.
29 participation on Political and public life.
What legal and other measures has the state party taken to remove all restrictions other their right to vote and participate in particular and public life on the basis of disabilities? We are taking note of the fact of the legal incapacity or declarations of insanity, very prominent and important to us.
How do you how do you ensure the equal participation of women with disabilities and the regulations and protocols? And what examples of leadership positions that you have with the support you have so far offered? What abetic measures has been adopted to increase participation representation? Apart from the positions, we also want to know about parties and elected committees and positions.
Then accessibility of all stages.
What measures are in place to ensure that including polling stations, voting procedures, electoral positions, vote campaign materials are available, including Chileans sign language and tactile information.
Our police want to continue with participation in cultural life, recreation, and sport.
What steps have you taken to establish and enforce accessibility requirements for publicly funded cultural and artistic activities, materials, and productions, including films and audio visual content? Next point is that how is the state party strengthen the implementation of Act number 20 2978 and other measures include sports and ensuring that sports programs, facilities, and infrastructure are accessible to persons with different and I describe the difference because usually when we do the physical, we leave the rest with the categories of disabilities.
I pause here for answer.
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you so much.
Excellency, you have the floor.
Head of delegation, we'll start our answers with the last question, Senator Catil and then the National Disability Service will take over.
Senator Catil, thank you, Chair.
I would like to begin by thanking the committee for addressing the issue of port for persons with disabilities.
The Ministry of Sport was only recently established in 2013, we've only been around for 13 years, but we've achieved a great deal in adapted sport for persons with disabilities in that time.
I would like to distinguish between competitive sport or sport for leisure.
Now, when it comes to competitive support, Chile has had the huge honor over the past ten years of hosting four very important events.
The The Para Panaman Games, the Para South American Games.
In 2027, we're going to be hosting the World Special Olympics, which will bring together thousands of children with intellectual disabilities who will be competing in Chile.
Y of preparation for that.
We built massive outs infrastructure for the Pan American games in 2023.
It was universally accessible that infrastructure, so it meant that Chilean para athletes have reached a very high level with won Paralympic medals and this is in the space of just over ten years.
We have 16 regions in our country, 20 million inhabitants, and so children, adults, and older adults with disabilities have had free access to the sports venues we have thanks to accessibility.
The Ministry of Sport and its partners have set up different programs, including the movements program, which means that all educational establishments and the 345 municipalities along the length and breadth of the country have provided training and have addressed the best ways of ating children with disabilities into adapted sport.
I think it's also important to underscore that we also have the para national games which focus on school sport.
Only ten years ago, adaptive sport just didn't exist in our regions.
We also have a new law coming into force in 2027, which will compel almost all educational establishments in the country to have at least 1 hour of physical activity every day of the week.
This is thanks to a joint effort between the Ministries of Education, sport and social development.
This will enable us to draft the protocols and further promote adaptive sport.
That's what I had to say.
For the time being, I'd like to ask the National Disability Service to refer to cultural aspects.
I'd just like to say for my part that Persons with physical disabilities are aware of the need to ensure that all the mechanisms are available so that there is universal access to culture.
Thank you.
Head of delegation, the Ministry of Justice will provide further answers.
Ministry of Justice.
Thank you.
I'll be as concise as I possibly can.
Firstly, An observation was made to Chile in 2016, and in the answer to that, we replied that there was forthcoming constitutional reform which would remove insanity as a basis for preventing Electoral participation.
This was then archived.
I would just like to say that we need a special majority for constitutional reforms of this nature which sometimes difficult to obtain.
When it comes to effective participation, not only do we have the Ministry of Culture who has a physical disability, we also have another government minister with physical disability and as the head of delegation has already pointed out, there are at least two senators and one member of parliament who have disabilities.
Now, when it comes to elections, we've made tangible progress since 2017 when we introduced assisted voting, and this is available for persons with disability certificates in 2024, over 400,000 people voted in this way and we had 360,000 participate in the elections in that way last year.
I would also like to point out that in 2024, the Electoral Service crew signed a protocol with the civil registry, which enabled us to find out where the electoral addresses were of all the voters who needed assisted voting so that they could go to the nearest polling station to their homes.
This means that we have braille voting cards and that there is training for polling station officers and we have gradually improved the u number of accessible polling stations, ensuring that they're on the ground floor.
In 2025, we also introduced fines for those people who did not vote, but there is exemption from that fine for persons who are registered disabled.
We can say then we have made considerable progress in this area.
Thank you so much.
Any information that cannot be provided right now, which is submitted to the committee in writing.
Miss G P, you have the floor again.
I have two questions, pick one population and one is regular sensor.
The first one is how have you strengthened disability data systems including by systematically incorporating the Washington Group tools? Have you been using the child functioning model to population surveys and sensors? Then for regular steps have you taken to ensure regular collection? Or, publication and use of data is aggregated by age, sex, disability, indigenous migrant status, socioeconomic status, and geographical location.
How has this information been used for policy formulation, program, and budgeting, and how do organizations with disabilities involved into this? International Cooperation, another article, please.
What mechanisms have the state party established to ensure the close consultation and active involvement of organizations of persons with disabilities, to those of women and girls with disabilities, Indigenous persons with disabilities and minority groups living in rare places in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of international cooperation strategies and programs.
This one vivid example of what is happening and what programs exist.
This could also be extended to the SDG and 2030 agenda programs.
What has a third party taken into consideration in ensuring that there is a disability perspective into all designs of corporations? I monitoring what processes are there, including accountability for assessing the impact of international programs, projects, and policies.
Since 2019, under the Bureau American Program on the rights of persons with disabilities, can you confirm the extent to which OP Organization of persons with disabilities been involved? Then, may I take the last one, national implementation.
We had the same issue at the 2016 recommendation, and we seem not to find the response after today.
So we still would want to know What steps has the state party taken to formally designate or establish an independent monitoring mechanism so that we can get full compliance with Article 33.
What legislative amendments, resources and independence is in place.
Finally, how is the state party systematically ensuring Close consultation and active involvement of organizations of persons with disabilities to ensure effective implementation, monitoring of the convention.
Thank you.
Thank you so much, Excellency, you have the floor.
I would like to kindly ask you again if you cannot provide right now, you can submit in writing to the committee.
Head of delegation, Senatus, the National Disability Service will start the answers and we'll also hear from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The National Disability Service, thank you very much.
With regard to data on people with disabilities, we can tell you that the way in which we measure disability has changed so that we have moved onto a biopsychosocial model based on the international classification of functioning from the World Health Organization.
Disability is the result of the interaction between health conditions and the surrounding environment.
This means that we have moved away from the exclusively medical model.
We have three additional sources of information for obtaining data about persons with disabilities.
Firstly, we have the National Disability Independence Survey from 2022, providing detailed information about the levels of disability, functional dependency, environmental factors and structural gaps.
This is based on the model disability Survey from the World Health Organization.
So it was on that basis that the National Disability Service drew up the Third National Disability Survey.
With regard to the 2024 Census, there is a universal baseline which is internationally comparable by implementing the short set of questions from the Washington group, the National Disability Register, in turn, on which persons with disabilities are included immediately after they have gone through the classification certification system includes the names of persons registered, the programs they're involved in, and the benefits they receive.
The census explains why and how we're intervening and the administrative registers enable us to have case by case management.
It's on this basis that we can say that the prevalence of disability in Chile stands at 11.1% according to the 2024 census.
This is severe cases and 17% according to the National Disability Independent Survey from 2022, which considers all the different intensities or degrees of disability with a 9.8% prevalence of dependency.
This shows that we have a structural and growing phenomena linked above all to aging, regional inequalities and gender.
Thank you very much.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs will add.
Thank you.
Very briefly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs enjoys international cooperation for implementation of human rights recommendations in general.
We do this together with the Ministry of Human Rights, through the Under Secretariat for Human Rights.
We also cooperate globally on disability through the Chilean Agency for International Cooperation for Development.
Since 2023 to date, the agency has informed us about two global cooperation projects in line with the 2030 agenda and the sustainable development goals.
One ran from 2023 and 25 and a second project began in 2025 and is still being rolled out.
We were working with Paraguay and Japan on this.
The Ministry of Justice can add to this, please.
Thank you very much.
Very briefly, once again.
The independent mechanism under Article 33, paragraph two responded to a 2016 recommendation from this committee and to date, there has been no implementation yet.
The advisory committee for the strengthening of the National Human Rights Institution recommended a draft bill changing its structure and Chile decided to include in this bill to amend the NHRI to include this mechanism.
It will be providing support over and beyond the mechanism itself.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Now, I would like to immediately turn to the follow up round of C three until 12 PT.
Now we have the question from all members of the committee.
Miss Amalia Gamo, you have the floor.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Now, it is to be regretted that we didn't have time for follow up questions on cluster two, so I'll ask them briefly anyway and perhaps we can get answers in writing.
I know that the health response line needs improvement because users require Internet access on mobile devices and they don't always have this.
And also there are office hours from 8:00 to 5:00 P.M.
Can you tell us what you're doing to try and do away with these barriers? My second question relates to a reform of law under the 18 sector, and this is the question of requesting an integration program within school.
Schools where there is support provided from the state don't receive such requests for integration into mainstream schooling.
Moving on to Article 25, there are more than 400 person in different psychiatric hospitals according to figures you've provided.
Is there a special program to try and assist these persons to deinstitutionalize? Finally, what measures are you taking to ensure that the hospital protocol on midwives are not used in a maternity wards to assist the removal of children from women if they're included on the disability register.
Do you have any figures on ensuring that children of women with disabilities are returned to their mothers in cases where they are separated from them.
Now, Article 16 of your Constitution says that the right to vote is suspended in cases of removal of legal capacity in cases of dementia.
I would like to know whether there are any plans to repeal this article.
Colleagues when you give the question more shortly because we don't have enough time.
Miss Natalia Gua, you have the floor.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I have some specific questions on Articles 27 and 28.
Now, on 27 first, you've been telling us very clearly about how you implement the law to ensure the inclusion into the labor market for persons with disabilities in both the private and public sector.
In the public sector, regulations for Law 2422 in Article 12 specifically says that in the public sector, there can be an exception to this 1% quota of employment on various grounds.
One of these grounds is that the tasks that need to be completed cannot be completed by persons with disabilities.
This is prejudice and an assumption about what persons with disabilities can and cannot do at the workplace.
My question is whether you're planning to amend this regulation to ensure it's pursuant to the convention.
Then the National Disability Service, we'd like to know what justification is presented by these state bodies in these cases where they don't comply with the 1% quota and how many such cases there have been.
Moving on to Article 28.
Now following on from recommendations in 2025 of the Committee on economic, social and cultural rights, the State Party of Chile is is told that there must be implementation of budgetary measures and ensuring the appropriate redistribution and progressive realization of rights.
This being so, our committee is concerned that the new budget law, which will be submitted to Congress at the end of September, includes recommendations to the National Disability Service.
To stop technical assistance programs and to cease support for higher education students and also relating to other accessibility measures in the public sector.
I would like to ask in relation to ministries that also have to submit their budgets for the period 2027 2021, how are they going to be including a disability perspective? And how will all of this develop? What will the state do to make sure that technical assistance and support for students in higher education and all of the programs that are affected by these budgetary cuts, how are these going to be subsidized and amended? Given that there are these cuts to budgets.
Thank you.
Mr.
Hirosaa, you have the floor.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Just a short question.
If you wouldn't mind, please clarify whether Article 252 requires television broadcasters to provide both sign language interpretation and subtitling.
We have received information indicating that the current regulation allows broadcasters to choose between the two, either subtitling or sign language.
However, deaf people who use sign language may not have equal access when only subtitles are provided as the national Sign Language and the spoken language are distinct languages.
Thank you very much.
Thank you so much.
Mr.
Christopher Nana, you have the floor.
Chair, Distinguished delegation.
I want to ask one or two questions in Article 29.
Please, I would like the delegation to please give us the specific number of persons with disabilities occupying political and the public life in Chile.
That's number one.
Number two, I would like to know if there's any quota reserved for persons with disabilities in Chile to ensure that the participation of polling politics thirdly, if there's any legislation, informing the political parties to reserve a seat of certain positions for persons with disabilities in Chile.
These are the three questions I would like clarification.
Remember, number one, the specific number of persons occupying political and public life in Chile.
Thank you very much.
Thank you so much.
Mr.
Martino Lorenzo, you have the floor.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Now, information has reached us that there has been a cutback in certain services.
So I would like to ask the following question.
Are you planning any awareness raising campaign looking particularly at financial administration and red tape? What generally happens is that measures taken in moments of crisis end up disproportionately affecting persons with disabilities.
There really could be an awareness raising campaign also targeting those people who are in charge of the finance sector.
We have also heard about Chile and international cooperation, and this must be strengthened to make sure that there are no rights violations.
When it comes to compliance with the convention.
We also have to ensure there is mainstreaming that compliance in one sector leads to compliance with the convention in others too.
The floor.
President.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I in turn would like to greet and thank the diverse delegation from Chile and we take good note of this diversity.
I wanted to come back to to Article 27 and access to employment particularly.
Now, I think I've understood that state subsidies for an assistant for persons for disability at the workplace really require quite heavy investment, which means that there is still segregation and protected areas for persons with disabilities.
So what measures have been taken to ensure that persons with disabilities are not encouraged to remain in the segregated areas and that investment is moved to the employment market more generally? What is the state doing to ensure that persons with disabilities have greater access to the open labor market? And what is being planned? To ensure there is a transition towards employment in open or mainstream markets, including direct state subsidies for employers in traditional sectors so that they can amend and provide accommodations within their physical work environments.
We have the p to response those questions until 15.
You have 6 minutes for the Well, we will swiftly move on with the Ministry of Health.
Thank you, Madam Minister.
I'll try and be brief.
On the Health Response Service, we do have to improve services and the use of technology and access to health care services.
On deinstitutionalization.
We have moved forward in this area and especially for persons with psychosocial disabilities.
We are developing at the Ministry of Health an official register, and on this basis, we will be working on a deinstitutionalization plan with a timetable looking forward to June 2027 and There was another question on women that have allegedly been separated from their children.
I wish to point out that the disability of the mother by itself is not sufficient grounds for separating them from their children.
In fact, Chilean legislation lays down that the mother or father have the right to immediately be kept together with their child from birth.
And we have to make sure that where necessary, protection mechanisms are triggered.
Very briefly Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Thank you.
I will briefly refer to the question from Natalia Gala on the 2027 budget forecasts now.
We wish to point out in the first instance that the budget drafting progress for 2027 is a long winded process where there is no certainty of anything yet.
There is an initial study carried out by the Treasury considering the different state programs that are planned.
There is then a draft law which is submitted in September.
There's then a legislative democratic debate on this planned budget law concluded on the 31st of December.
So the budget proposals that the executive branch can put forward must be subjected to legislative debate and democratic oversight.
Chile is aware of the non regression and indeed the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights.
But in the Inter American and universal system, there are provisions allowing for budgetary adjustments to be made when austerity measures are called for.
This means the state can comply with its obligations under the convention, obviously guided by the recommendations made by this committee or any other treaty body.
Thank you.
And the National Disability Service to conclude.
Thank you.
In relation to what's been said about the integration in education program, I wanted to tell you that in February 2023, law 20 1544 was promulgated, the miscellaneous education law as it is known.
This makes it compulsory for educational programs include school inclusion programs.
It also says, there must be an equal footing between students with special needs and those that do not.
Thank you.
And we will be providing answers in writing on those issues that we haven't had time to address.
Thank you so much.
This concludes the substantive part of our constructive dialogue with Chile.
Now, we will proceed to the closing remark.
I first give the floor to the Institute National Delets Uos represented by miss Silvana Lawson for closing remark.
Miss Silvana Lasan, you have the floor.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Distinguished Chair of the committee and members of civil society and state authorities.
Laws are essential, but they require regulations, so we have to have financing, and institutional capacity, coordination, and political will in order to properly implement them.
In this case, we have to consider the beneficiaries as full citizens and the state has to guarantee their rights.
What we've seen over the past two days shows that there is a quite clear diagnosis of the situation.
There are shortfalls and areas of weakness that must be filled.
It's important for the committee to reiterate that they must adapt and respond to the question of legal capacity for persons with disabilities in those areas where there's no compliance with the convention.
Also, we must remember that the compliance with the convention requires for persons with disabilities and the organizations representing them must be active in the putting in place and implementation of all of this.
The opinions must be considered at all levels of public policy.
And to conclude, given what's been said about the barriers that remain when it comes to certification of disability and the need to strengthen programs for independent living of existing gaps in education and inclusion into the labor market which have a disproportionate effect on women, we must ensure there are no further budget cuts.
Listening to the state and having a dialogue with other stakeholders is always important.
As far as we are concerned as an NHRI, we must continue to fulfill our mandate for the promotion protection of persons with disabilities.
We want to ensure that they can live their lives on an equal footing with no discrimination compared to the rest of the population.
Remembering that international human rights obligations such as those ones that are enshrined in the convention are a minimum standard, not a maximum.
Ceiling.
We believe that civil society must be fully involved in compliance with the convention as well.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Now I give the floor to the Deena De La Nines, representative by Mr.
Anar Ks and miss Daniella Quintana, for closing them.
You have the floor.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair, Distinguished committee members.
The children's ombudsperson, we welcome the opportunity to participate in this meeting.
We recognize progress made by the state and we commend the willingness to address those areas where the problems remain.
Chile has made significant progress, as we said at the beginning of this dialogue, but we believe we still face a challenge when it comes to this progress and the remaining implementation to be done to ensure the enjoyment of rights by children with disabilities.
We believe that the state must address all of this with medium and long term programming.
You can't just respond to situations at the time.
This requires institutional capacity building and the availability of sufficient resources looking at progression and not regression.
This is particularly important if we look at the intersectional approach.
There are budgetary restrictions must be short lived, and these cuts don't affect all parts of the population in an equal manner, and this is particularly true when there is intersectional considerations such as poverty or discrimination.
This is why we would respectfully ask the committee to focus on the rights of children with disabilities, particularly those that are in the care of the state.
This dialogue has revealed a gap that must be compensated.
We very much hope that concluding observations will address these challenges with specific recommendations and will yield to accessible results.
We simply cannot scale back results.
We have to continue strengthening public policy and build on the achievements made thus far.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
I now give the floor to head of the delegation of Chile.
Miss Maria has opened D May, Minister of Social Development and Family for her closing remark.
Excellency, you have the floor.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Today, we come to the closing parts of this state party's review before this committee.
We have seen a numerous delegation that's come here to Geneva, seeing representatives from the three branches of the state.
This speaks volumes about the importance that our country grants to this committee and the convention.
We've responded with seriousness working within different institutions and with civil society aiming to address all of the observations that have been made in 2020 and making progress beyond this.
As a Chilean government, we conclude this whole process with the certainty that Chile is a state demonstrating that it's made progress in different sectors and that we're making real efforts to comply with the requirements under the convention.
But we also recognize the areas of weakness and we're aware that we must make progress in different areas.
Chile is a country with a rule of law and as such, we work on a basis of institutional realities established by the Constitution of the Republic and we have in the Constitution the right that persons are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
The person is more important than the state and the state must serve the person.
This is why the Constitution lays down as an essential right for all human persons equality before the law.
It also adds that men and women are equal before the law, and neither the law nor any authority can establish any arbitrary difference between persons.
All of this is mainstreamed throughout our state, then the legal setup of the state, and so each law and regulation which is promulgated must satisfy the requirements.
This is why we have really taken to heart the goals of the convention to promote, protect, and ensure the full enjoyment and on an equal footing the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons with disabilities and we must promote the respect of their inherent dignity.
As a result of this, as we've heard since the convention entered into force in our country, we've made progress in putting in place new laws, in creating and implementing special institutional bodies, and by applying public policies which mainstream the notion of disability within all state authorities, especially in health, education, employment, emergency and disasters, housing, public safety and access to justice and to sport.
We know we can say with clarity that we know that we have pending challenges, but we've also made substantive progress that we can't ignore because there are democratic processes underlying this that show there is real commitment by the society and the state to the rights of persons with disabilities.
Chile recognizes the rights of persons with disabilities and protects them through a number of legal provisions which have been mentioned in the past two days.
On behalf of the National delegation, I wish to thank the president, the chair of this committee, the experts, the NHRI, the children's ombudsperson, and civil society that are participating.
A particular vote of thanks to our delegation working remotely who've been following proceedings from Chile and started working at 3:00 A.M.
This morning in Chilean time.
I conclude by restating the government of Chile's commitment to continue to work hard for the full and effective enjoyment of the rights of all persons with disabilities in Chile.
I give the floor, miss G Popome on behalf of the task force for closing statement.
Miss Popome, you have the floor.
Thank you, Chair.
On behalf of the committee, members of the tax force, and on my own behalf, I would like to thank Excellency Minister, head of the delegation, and the entire team, also NHIRI and Terence Ombudsman for the candid and open dialogue with the committee.
We commend the state for the determination to work towards the achievement of implementation of the CRPD.
However, there is a need to fast track the implementation of the convention, particularly in ensuring the alignment of the national legislation with the convention to reflect the human rights model of disability.
Many critical areas of concern has been identified.
We urge the state to pay attention.
The need for a state to put a system in place to closely consult and actively involve persons with disabilities through their representative organization to ensure meaningful participation, including those representing women and children in implementation of the processes cannot be overemphasized.
Also, the absence of an independent mechanism cannot be understated.
As a matter of urgency, we appeal to state to address this.
We are sure that the goodwill expressed by the head of delegation just a moment ago, the state will proactively ensure implementation of the recommendations and the concluding observations.
Before I end, I recognize the participation of representatives of Organs of persons with disabilities from Chile, both online and in person.
We are grateful for your contributions.
I once again thank you all.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
First award, a special thanks to the translators to stand for my closing remark.
On behalf of the committee, I sincerely thank Honorable Minister Maria Has Uum and the distinguished delegation of Chile for their constructive engagement with the committee during these two meetings.
I also thanks to miss Silvana Lawson.
Andy, Mr.
Araani Casey and Daniella Quintana for their valuable contribution to this dialogue.
Especially I highly thanks to the organization of persons with disability representative from Chile, Andy, thanks to the all member of the task force, miss Amalia Go, miss Natalia Kuala, and Mr.
Mazino Copern and miss Gathripopuuy, for their preparing and work hardly throughout the dialogue.
I also thank all members of the committee for their active participation, as well as the secretarial interpreters, sign language interpreters, captioners, and all those who have supported this dialogue.
The information provided during these two meetings, together with any additional written response will assist the committee in preparing its concluding observation on Chile.
The concluding observation will be formally communicated to the state departies through its permanent admission.
This concludes the committee's consideration of the periodic report of Chile.
Thank you so much.
This meeting is adjourned.