‘They still need to listen more’: Working in partnership with disabled young researchers to inform and shape country submissions to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

Disabled children and young people have the right to express their views freely on all matters affecting them. This is enshrined in the United Nations (UN) Conventions serving both children and disabled people. However, this right is rarely recognised and enacted. To avoid invisibility, it is vital that disabled children and young people are central to the UN reporting processes within countries. The chapter reflects upon a practical, empowering, rights-focused methodological framework which, if adopted, would enable states parties to empower disabled children and young people to lead submissions to the UN. This framework emerged from a study led by a disabled young researcher collective which gathered evidence to inform England’s Children’s Commissioner’s submission to relevant UN Committees.