United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland17

Reservations:

       “Work and Employment – Convention Article 27 mainly

       The United Kingdom accepts the provisions of the Convention, subject to the understanding that none of its obligations relating to equal treatment in employment and occupation, shall apply to the admission into or service in any of the naval, military or air forces of the Crown.

       Education – Convention Article 24 Clause 2 (a) and 2 (b)

       The United Kingdom reserves the right for disabled children to be educated outside their local community where more appropriate education provision is available elsewhere. Nevertheless, parents of disabled children have the same opportunity as other parents to state a preference for the school at which they wish their child to be educated.

       Liberty of Movement

       The United Kingdom reserves the right to apply such legislation, insofar as it relates to the entry into, stay in and departure from the United Kingdom of those who do not have the right under the law of the United Kingdom to enter and remain in the United Kingdom, as it may deem necessary from time to time.

       ...

Declaration:

       “Education – Convention Article 24 Clause 2 (a) and (b)

       The United Kingdom Government is committed to continuing to develop an inclusive system where parents of disabled children have increasing access to mainstream schools and staff, which have the capacity to meet the needs of disabled children.

       The General Education System in the United Kingdom includes mainstream, and special schools, which the UK Government understands is allowed under the Convention.”

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

10 April 2017

With regard to the reservation made by Brunei Darussalam upon ratification:

       “The United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations in New York […] wishes to lodge an objection to the reservation made by Brunei upon accession to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The reservation is as follows:

       Reservation

       ‘The Government of Brunei Darussalam expresses its reservation regarding those provisions of the said Convention that may be contrary to the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam and to the beliefs and principles of Islam, the official religion of Brunei Darussalam.’

       The Government of the United Kingdom notes that a reservation which consists of a general reference to a system of law without specifying its contents does not clearly define for the other States Parties to the Convention the extent to which the reserving State has accepted the obligations of the Convention. The Government of the United Kingdom therefore objects to the aforesaid reservation.”

15 February 2019

With regard to the declaration made by Libya upon ratification:

       “In the view of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland the declaration made by Libya, according to which Article 25 (a) of the convention will be interpreted in a manner that does not contravene the Islamic sharia and national legislation, amounts to a reservation.

       The Government of the United Kingdom notes that a reservation which consists of a general reference to a system of law without specifying its contents does not clearly define for the other States Parties to the Convention the extent to which the reserving State has accepted the obligations of the Convention. The Government of the United Kingdom therefore objects to the aforesaid reservation.”

12 March 2025

With regard to the reservations made by Bhutan upon ratification:

       “The Government of the United Kingdom has examined the reservations made by the Kingdom of Bhutan, upon its ratification of the Convention, which read:

       Reservations

       ‘The Kingdom of Bhutan does not consider itself bound by paragraph 1(a) and paragraph 2 of Article 18, paragraphs 1(b) and (c) of Article 23, paragraphs 1(c) of Article 27 and section (a) (ii) of Article 29 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.’

       The purpose of the Convention, as set out in Article 1(1), is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. The United Kingdom considers that the reservations made by the Kingdom of Bhutan are contrary to this purpose as they restrict the full and equal enjoyment by persons with disabilities of certain human rights and fundamental freedoms covered by the Convention.

       The United Kingdom accordingly objects to the reservations as being incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention. They are neither permitted under Article 46(1) of the Convention, nor Article 19 of the Vienna Convention of the Law of Treaties.

       This objection shall not prevent the entry into force of the Convention as between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the United Kingdom.”