Historic Number Of States Sign Disability Rights Convention
CBM’s Vice President Jeya Wilson Reports From New York
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- Jeya Wilson, Vice President for Global Alliances, represented CBM at the signing ceremony of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at UN Headquarters in New York. © CBM
Over eighty signatures – the highest number to sign a UN Convention on the opening day – set records when the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was opened for signature on Friday, 30 March, reports Jeya Wilson, Vice President for Global Alliances, representing CBM at the signing ceremony at the United Nations General Headquarters in New York.
The Convention is historic in many other respects: It is the first human rights treaty of the new millennium, it is the fastest agreed convention in UN history, the first human rights treaty signed by the EU, and it is the first convention that had full consultation and participation by civil society. And, it is the first time that a ceremony has been held to mark the occasion of the signing of a Convention at the UN.
”The next step is the ratification of the Convention. The real challenge, however, is the implementation so that the words are translated into action,” says Jeya Wilson. “Speaker after speaker, representing their governments, commended the role of civil society, and recognised that implementation will not be possible without the participation of NGOs and DPOs. There is clear acknowledgement of the need to mainstream disability into development cooperation.”
In her speech, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights pointed out that the Convention takes the disability agenda from the medical and social model to the recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities. On behalf of the International Disability Alliance and the International Disability Caucus, the Chairperson of Disabled Peoples International stressed that people with disabilities must be fully involved in the implementation of the Convention, and decision-making should be in consultation with them. Speaking on behalf of the EU, Germany’s representative, stressed that seeing disability as part of the diversity of human beings and changing the public’s perception of disability accordingly is, ultimately, about changing society.
The Convention requires ratification by at least 20 States. For this ratification process, national laws have to be harmonized with the UN Convention. So far, only Jamaica has ratified the Convention. At present, fewer than 50 of the 192 member states of the UN have legislation to protect persons with disabilities.
“Where does it begin? In small places and close to home,“ the UN High Commissioner for Refugees quoted Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, when stressing the paradigm shift needed in the way we work, think, and operate. The Convention will impact on all areas of life from access to buildings and websites to hiring of persons with disabilities.
The Convention is historic in many other respects: It is the first human rights treaty of the new millennium, it is the fastest agreed convention in UN history, the first human rights treaty signed by the EU, and it is the first convention that had full consultation and participation by civil society. And, it is the first time that a ceremony has been held to mark the occasion of the signing of a Convention at the UN.
”The next step is the ratification of the Convention. The real challenge, however, is the implementation so that the words are translated into action,” says Jeya Wilson. “Speaker after speaker, representing their governments, commended the role of civil society, and recognised that implementation will not be possible without the participation of NGOs and DPOs. There is clear acknowledgement of the need to mainstream disability into development cooperation.”
In her speech, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights pointed out that the Convention takes the disability agenda from the medical and social model to the recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities. On behalf of the International Disability Alliance and the International Disability Caucus, the Chairperson of Disabled Peoples International stressed that people with disabilities must be fully involved in the implementation of the Convention, and decision-making should be in consultation with them. Speaking on behalf of the EU, Germany’s representative, stressed that seeing disability as part of the diversity of human beings and changing the public’s perception of disability accordingly is, ultimately, about changing society.
The Convention requires ratification by at least 20 States. For this ratification process, national laws have to be harmonized with the UN Convention. So far, only Jamaica has ratified the Convention. At present, fewer than 50 of the 192 member states of the UN have legislation to protect persons with disabilities.
“Where does it begin? In small places and close to home,“ the UN High Commissioner for Refugees quoted Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, when stressing the paradigm shift needed in the way we work, think, and operate. The Convention will impact on all areas of life from access to buildings and websites to hiring of persons with disabilities.
Several speakers at the signing ceremony presented their countries’ views on the new human rights treaty. Nigeria reserves 10% of public service positions for qualified people with disabilities. But it was acknowledged that sub-Saharan Africa would find difficulty in meeting its obligations under the Convention. Indonesia pointed out the importance of the media in educating society about disabilities, and Chile said that the way to approach the paradigm shift is to regard it as social investment. South Africa took the view that the Convention paves the way from formal equality for persons with disabilities to substantive equality.
Read more:
UN General Assembly Adopts Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Social Exclusion is a Violation of Human Rights - summary of an essay by Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt, Director of the German Institute for Human Rights on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
What Are CBM's Activities On 30. March?
UN General Assembly Adopts Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Further information: UN Enable Website
Read more:
UN General Assembly Adopts Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Social Exclusion is a Violation of Human Rights - summary of an essay by Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt, Director of the German Institute for Human Rights on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
What Are CBM's Activities On 30. March?
UN General Assembly Adopts Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Further information: UN Enable Website
