A/HRC/34/26 her sex, while most domestic laws allow for persons with psychosocial disabilities to be detained on the basis of their impairment.2 6. Persons with disabilities continue to be systematically excluded from all areas of life. National laws and policies generally perpetuate exclusion, isolation, discrimination and violence against persons with disabilities, despite international human rights law standards. Factors such as deprivation of legal capacity, forced institutionalization, exclusion from general education, pervasive stereotypes and prejudices and lack of access to employment prevent persons with disabilities from enjoying their rights fully, on an equal basis with others. In particular, women and girls with disabilities face considerable restrictions on the exercise of their rights relative to men and other women and girls, due to, for instance violence, abuse or neglect, and have fewer opportunities in terms of education and employment.3 7. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development presents a unique opportunity to strengthen equality for persons with disabilities and to increase their inclusion and participation in society. The principles of equality and non-discrimination for persons with disabilities is a cross-cutting feature in all Sustainable Development Goals, and is not limited to those explicitly addressing inequality (Goals 5 and 10) or those referring to persons with disabilities. In this regard, international cooperation is of key importance; donors should mainstream the rights of persons with disabilities and foresee disabilityspecific funds in their programmes. Disability markers to monitor mainstream international cooperation efforts can contribute to these ends. B. Evolution of equality and non-discrimination under international law 8. Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes that all persons are “equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of the law” and to “equal protection against discrimination”. Article 2 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights obligate States to guarantee the exercise of rights without discrimination. The Covenants expanded the list of forbidden grounds of discrimination to include the “other status” clause, enabling the inclusion of grounds not explicitly mentioned therein. This clause was crucial for the advocacy and development of the rights of persons with disabilities under international human rights law long before the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disablities. Disability was first adopted as a forbidden ground for discrimination in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Human Rights Committee, in its general comment No. 18 (1989), recognized the autonomous character of the right to non-discrimination under article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, making it applicable to all areas of law or in fact. As equality and nondiscrimination are a core aspect of human rights treaties, no reservations, understandings or interpretations are admissible in this domain, as any would be contrary to the object and purpose of the treaty involved.4 In addition, the Human Rights Committee, in its general comment No. 29 (2001) found that there are “elements or dimensions of the right to non2 3 4 4 See Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Guidelines on Article 14 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (available on the Committee webpage at www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/CRPDIndex.aspx), para. 6. See Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, general comment No. 3 (2016), paras. 6 and 9. Human Rights Committee, general comment No. 24 (1994) on issues relating to reservations made upon ratification or accession to the Covenant or the Optional Protocols thereto, or in relation to the declarations under article 41 of the Covenant, paras. 8, 9 and 19.