ARTICLE 18

Freedom of movement and citizenship

1. States Parties shall recognize the right of persons with disabilities to freedom of movement, to the freedom to choose their residence and the right to a citizenship, on an equal basis with others, including by ensuring that persons with disabilities:

a) have the right to obtain and change their citizenship and are not deprived of their citizenship arbitrarily or on the basis of disability;

b) are not deprived, on the basis of disability, of the possibility to obtain, hold and use documents certifying their citizenship or other identification documents or to use relevant procedures, such as those of immigration, which may be necessary to facilitate the exercise of the right to freedom of movement;

c) are free to leave any country, including their own;

d) they are not deprived, arbitrarily or based on disability criteria, of the right to enter their own country.

2. Children with disabilities will be registered immediately after birth and will have the right, by birth, to a name, the right to citizenship and, as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by their parents.