A/HRC/19/36 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 21 December 2011 Original: English Human Rights Council Nineteenth session Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Thematic study by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on participation in political and public life by persons with disabilities* Summary The present study focuses on participation in political and public life by persons with disabilities. It analyses relevant provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, highlights good practices in the field of participation of persons with disabilities in elections and in the conduct of public affairs, and identifies the main challenges that still prevent or limit the equal and effective participation of persons with disabilities in the political and public life of their countries. * GE.11-17527 The present report is being circulated in all official languages. The annex is being circulated in the language of submission only.