Disability treaty to correct injustices, opens for signature
COLOMBO: A new human rights treaty that would protect the rights of
the world's 650 million persons with disabilities will be opened for
signature at the United Nations on 30, March.
Over 40 countries have already indicated they will sign the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities when it opens for
signature by States and regional organisations at a solemn ceremony in
the UN General Assembly hall.
Many more are expected to announce their intention in the coming
weeks leading up to the signing event.
At its core, the convention ensures that persons with disabilities
enjoy the same human rights as everyone else, and are able to lead their
lives as fully-fledged citizens who can make valuable contributions to
society if given the same opportunities.
It covers rights such as equality, non-discrimination an equal
recognition before the law; liberty and security of the person;
accessibility, personal mobility and independent living; right to
health, work and education and participation in political and cultural
life. The treaty will enter into force when ratified by 20 countries.
Disability organisations from around the world are expected to attend
the ceremony. It was the disability community that came together at the
global level to fight for a specific treaty that would recognise their
rights.
The disability community quickly organised itself into the
International Disability Caucus - a coalition of 70 international,
regional and national organisations.
Member States and the disability community worked together at the UN
to create a treaty that ensures that persons with disabilities finally
enjoy all the rights and responsibilities that others in society take
for granted.
The convention demands real change through effective legislation and
a shift in attitude.
The 45 countries that have enacted some legislation in this area have
already demonstrated that change in the area of rights for persons with
disabilities takes place far more rapidly when there are laws.
The convention says implementation will be progressive, and does not
call on budget strapped governments to pay for things they cannot
afford. But it sets out minimum measures to respect basic human dignity,
as well as longer-term goals to achieve full integration.
Also opening for signature is an 18-article Optional Protocol on
Communications, which will allow petitioning by individuals and groups
on alleged violations of their rights to a committee of experts once all
national recourse procedures had been exhausted. UNIC |
