News/Press

The Human Rights of disabled people protected by a United Nations new
historical Treaty

The UN Convention adopted last Friday, the eighth international human rights Treaty in history, will prohibit discrimination against 650 million disabled people in the world.

Brussels, 28 August 2006 – Five years of intensive negotiations at UN level have been necessary for the adoption of the international text, the first human rights text adopted in the past 16 years.

The new Convention is based on existing human rights Treaties and their application to people with disabilities. Its aim is to guarantee an effective protection of disabled people and ensure that they can enjoy from the most basic human rights. The text prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in all areas of life and addresses access to the full range of human rights: civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including through positive actions.

For the European Disability Forum (EDF), the representative organisation of 50 million disabled people in Europe, the adoption of the Convention is a landmark step forward that will significantly reinforce the protection of millions disabled people against discrimination in the world. “This Convention will be vital in our long fight against daily discrimination of disabled people and sends a strong message to the world: disability is first and foremost, a Human rights issue”, declared Yannis Vardakastanis, EDF President.

EDF has actively been involved in the development of this process, since a proposal was put forward in 2001 by Mexico. In particular, the European Disability Forum was involved in drafting first working text of the Convention and has regularly been part of the EU Member States delegations. Moreover, it has played a major role in facilitating the work of the International Disability Caucus, an alliance of organisations of people with disabilities and other allies active in the negotiations. It must be noticed that, for the first time in the UN history, the role of NGOs has been vital in elaborating the new Treaty leading to its very positive outcome.

The new Convention pays particular attention to the situation of women with disabilities, as well as to the rights of children through both specific provisions, and a mainstreaming approach. It also includes a strong Treaty monitoring body, and an optional protocol on individual (or group) complaints and state enquiries, which will be open for signature and ratification by States concurrently.

EDF welcomes the fact that, for the first time, the European Communities will be parties to a human rights Treaty, and therefore, will be scrutinised as the signatory States, as regards the implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities.

The European Disability Forum calls for a rapid adoption of the Convention by the UN General Assembly at its next session, opening in September. EDF also invites the EU member States, as well as candidate countries for accession, and the European Communities to agree on a rapid signature and ratification process. Finally, the European Disability Forum is confident that the European Union, which has played a proactive role to guarantee a high protection level of disabled people in the Convention, will continue to work towards an effective implementation of the Convention and will share a comprehensive approach in the future development of European non-discrimination legislation.

For more information, please contact: Helena González-Sancho Bodero, EDF Communication and Press Officer; Tel office: (+ 32 2) 282 46 04; E-mail: communication@edf-feph.org

The European Disability Forum (EDF) is the European umbrella organisation representing the interests of 50 million disabled citizens in Europe. EDF membership includesnational umbrella organisations of disabled peoplefrom all EU/EEA countries, as well asEuropean NGOs representing the different types of disabilities. The mission of the European Disability Forum is toensure disabled people full access to fundamental and human rights through their active involvement in policy development and implementation in Europe.