Disability convention and optional protocol

April 2, 2007

Dear colleagues, A short note to let you know that the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol were opened for signature on Friday 30 March in New York. 82 countries signed the Convention (apparently a record at the opening for any UN treaty and certainly a record for one of the core human rights treaties) and 44 countries signed the optional protocol. One country, Jamaica, ratified the Convention. A list of signatories is attached to this email. The Convention requires 20 ratifications to come into force and the OP requires 10.

The High Commissioner attended the cermony, making opening remarks that noted the role of civil society in the negotiation process and also emphasized the role of States in implementing the Convention.

The High Commissioner also gave the opening address in the afternoon High-Level Dialogue that followed the signing cermony. The High Commissioner emphasized the importance of all of us to adapt to the Convention in order to ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities, the importance of elaborating practical ways to implement the complex issues raised by the Convention (giving the examples of legal capacity and right to education), the question of the efficient and effective use of resources to promote the rights of persons with disabilities, and the importance of accountability and remedies. I am attaching copies of the two speeches.

DON'T FORGET to visit the portal page for information on human rights and disabilities and to find the text of the Convention and Optional Protocol on the website with the other core human rights treaties. All the best, Simon Walker.