UN Panel Approves Treaty to Protect the World’s Estimated 650 Million People With Disabilities
On August 26, a United Nations General Assembly panel passed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities-a treaty to expand the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities throughout the world. The full 192-nation General Assembly is expected to approve the treaty during its next session, which opens in September. The treaty is expected to take effect in 2008 or 2009.
The treaty will require nations that sign it to adopt laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability. Currently only 45 nations have laws that protect people with disabilities. Some of the principles of the treaty include:
- People with disabilities must have an equal right to life
- Equal rights for women and girls with disabilities
- An end to enforced institutionalization
- A right to equal participation in the job market and public life
- Countries must remove barriers to accessing the environment, transportation, public facilities and communications systems.
Go to www.un.org/disabilities/convention/ to view the entire text of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
