Disability Rights UN Convention Enters Into Force – Gender
Author: Womens UN Report Network
Date: July 22, 2005
WUNRN
UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons With Disabilities:
______________________________________________________________________
UN Secretary-General
Ban Hails Entry into Force of Treaty on Disability Rights
3 April 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed
the entry into force of the first international treaty on the human rights of
persons with disabilities, after the required twentieth country ratified the landmark convention
today.
“It is a historic moment in our quest for realization of the universal human
rights for ALL persons, creating a fully inclusive society for all,” Mr. Ban’s
spokesperson Marie Okabe said in a statement celebrating the rapid
progress of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
which was adopted in December 2006.
“The Convention will be a powerful tool to eradicate the obstacle faced by
persons with disabilities,” she said, pointing to discrimination, segregation
from society, economic marginalization, and lack of opportunities for
participation in social, political and economic decision-making processes.
Today’s ratification by Ecuador means that the Convention, along with an
optional protocol that will allow individuals and groups to petition for
relief, will be legally binding as of 3 May. Tunisia and Jordan also ratified
the treaty earlier this week.
Through today’s statement, the Secretary-General also congratulated the
States that have ratified or acceded to the Convention. Some 126 countries have
signed the Convention since 30 March 2007, and 71 have signed the optional
protocol.
“It is estimated that there are at least 650 million persons with
disabilities worldwide, of whom approximately 80 percent live in less developed
countries,” Ms. Okabe noted.
As many as two-thirds of United Nations Member States do not have any legal
protection for people with disabilities, according to the UN Focal Point on
Disability Akiko Ito, even though they comprise one in 10 of the global
population.
“The Convention, together with its Optional Protocol, is deeply rooted in
the firm commitment of the international community to rectifying the egregious
neglect and dehumanizing practices that violate the human rights of persons
with disabilities,” Ms. Okabe concluded, calling on all States that have not
yet done so to accede or ratify it without delay.
In a statement issued this past weekend, more than 20 UN departments,
agencies, programmes, and funds pledged their support to implementing the
convention.
The newly-formed Inter-Agency Support Group for the Convention said that
support will focus on six main areas: policies to support the purpose and
objectives of the Convention; programmes including international cooperation;
capacity-building of Member States, civil society, and the UN system; research
and access to knowledge on disabilities; accessibility; and the Committee on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
================================================================
To leave the list, send your request by email to: wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com.
Thank you.
Categories: Releases