United Nations Press Release
UN Landmark Disability Treaty to Enter into Force on 3 May
United Nations, 2 May 2008 – The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is set to enter into force tomorrow, 3 May, marking a new era in efforts to protect the rights of the world’s 650 million persons with disabilities.
The Convention, the first new human rights treaty of the 21st Century, has been signed by 127 countries since 30 March 2007 and ratified by 25. The Convention needed 20 countries to ratify it before it could take effect. Jamaica was the first country to ratify the Convention, and on 3 April, Ecuador ratified it, providing the sufficient number of parties for the Convention to enter into force.
Along with the Convention, an Optional Protocol which will allow individuals and groups to petition for relief will also take effect on 3 May.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called the Convention “a powerful tool to eradicate the obstacles faced by persons with disabilities.” He said, “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.”
The Convention itself does not create any new rights. Rather, it aims to ensure that the benefits of existing rights are fully extended and guaranteed to the world’s estimated 650 million people with disabilities.
“It had been argued that persons with disabilities were covered by existing human rights treaties, but the reality was very different,” says Akiko Ito, the UN Focal Point on Disability. “Persons with disabilities have routinely suffered discrimination in the job market, in schools and in receiving public services. This Convention will make sure that these people will no longer be ignored.”
By ratifying the Convention, States commit themselves to enact laws and other measures to improve disability rights, and also abolish legislation, customs and practices that discriminate against persons with disabilities.
The Convention, one of the fastest treaties ever negotiated at the United Nations and one of the fastest to enter into force, has the strong support of United Nations member countries as well as advocacy by the global disability movement, which was instrumental in drafting the treaty.
To mark the Convention’s entry into force, the United Nations will convene a special ceremony in the General Assembly Hall in New York on 12 May, with participants from governments, theUN system and civil society.
A conference of the parties is expected to be convened within six months.
For more information, please contact Franck Kuwonu of the UN Department of Public Information, tel. 1 212 963-8264; e-mail: Kuwonu@un.org.
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Background information from:
Pragati Pascale
Chief, Development Section
Strategic Communications Division
UN Department of Public Information
Tel (212) 963-6870, e-mail pascale@un.org
BACKGROUND
The Convention is the first treaty focusing exclusively on disability rights. It gives status and authority to disability as a human rights issue. The Convention does not see disability as a medical condition. It sees disability as the result of interaction between peoples and obstacles and hurdles that can be removed or mitigated. The Convention does not create new rights. The Convention aims to ensure that the benefits of existing rights are fully extended and guaranteed to people with disabilities.
Countries that ratify the treaty agree to enact laws and other measures to improve disability rights, and to abolish legislation and practices that discriminate against people with disabilities. These commitments mark a change in attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities. It means that people with disabilities are no longer viewed as objects of charity and pity. They are viewed as persons entitled to equal rights.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a major achievement for the United Nation and its member countries in their efforts to promote and guarantee equal rights and equal protection for all, especially for persons with disabilities. The Convention also represents an historical accomplishment. Not only was it one of the fastest treaties ever negotiated at the United Nations, it is also one of the fastest to enter into force. Adopted by the General Assembly on 13 December 2006, it was opened for signature on 30 March 2007 and will enter into force on 3 May 2008.
The process leading to the adoption of the Convention and subsequently to its entry into force was remarkable, for the dedication of member countries and the global disability community, including civil society organizations and NGOs.
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UN Landmark Disability Treaty to Enter into Force on 3 May
United Nations, 2 May 2008 – The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is set to enter into force tomorrow, 3 May, marking a new era in efforts to protect the rights of the world’s 650 million persons with disabilities.
The Convention, the first new human rights treaty of the 21st Century, has been signed by 127 countries since 30 March 2007 and ratified by 25. The Convention needed 20 countries to ratify it before it could take effect. Jamaica was the first country to ratify the Convention, and on 3 April, Ecuador ratified it, providing the sufficient number of parties for the Convention to enter into force.
Along with the Convention, an Optional Protocol which will allow individuals and groups to petition for relief will also take effect on 3 May.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called the Convention “a powerful tool to eradicate the obstacles faced by persons with disabilities.” He said, “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.”
The Convention itself does not create any new rights. Rather, it aims to ensure that the benefits of existing rights are fully extended and guaranteed to the world’s estimated 650 million people with disabilities.
“It had been argued that persons with disabilities were covered by existing human rights treaties, but the reality was very different,” says Akiko Ito, the UN Focal Point on Disability. “Persons with disabilities have routinely suffered discrimination in the job market, in schools and in receiving public services. This Convention will make sure that these people will no longer be ignored.”
By ratifying the Convention, States commit themselves to enact laws and other measures to improve disability rights, and also abolish legislation, customs and practices that discriminate against persons with disabilities.
The Convention, one of the fastest treaties ever negotiated at the United Nations and one of the fastest to enter into force, has the strong support of United Nations member countries as well as advocacy by the global disability movement, which was instrumental in drafting the treaty.
To mark the Convention’s entry into force, the United Nations will convene a special ceremony in the General Assembly Hall in New York on 12 May, with participants from governments, theUN system and civil society.
A conference of the parties is expected to be convened within six months.
For more information, please contact Franck Kuwonu of the UN Department of Public Information, tel. 1 212 963-8264; e-mail: Kuwonu@un.org.
* * *
Background information from:
Pragati Pascale
Chief, Development Section
Strategic Communications Division
UN Department of Public Information
Tel (212) 963-6870, e-mail pascale@un.org
BACKGROUND
The Convention is the first treaty focusing exclusively on disability rights. It gives status and authority to disability as a human rights issue. The Convention does not see disability as a medical condition. It sees disability as the result of interaction between peoples and obstacles and hurdles that can be removed or mitigated. The Convention does not create new rights. The Convention aims to ensure that the benefits of existing rights are fully extended and guaranteed to people with disabilities.
Countries that ratify the treaty agree to enact laws and other measures to improve disability rights, and to abolish legislation and practices that discriminate against people with disabilities. These commitments mark a change in attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities. It means that people with disabilities are no longer viewed as objects of charity and pity. They are viewed as persons entitled to equal rights.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a major achievement for the United Nation and its member countries in their efforts to promote and guarantee equal rights and equal protection for all, especially for persons with disabilities. The Convention also represents an historical accomplishment. Not only was it one of the fastest treaties ever negotiated at the United Nations, it is also one of the fastest to enter into force. Adopted by the General Assembly on 13 December 2006, it was opened for signature on 30 March 2007 and will enter into force on 3 May 2008.
The process leading to the adoption of the Convention and subsequently to its entry into force was remarkable, for the dedication of member countries and the global disability community, including civil society organizations and NGOs.
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