UK ratifies human rights treaty for disabled people

The UK has today ratified an international treaty that enshrines the human rights of disabled people, Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People has announced.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a powerful and explicit statement, which states that disabled people must be able to enjoy, on an equal basis, the same human rights as others.

Jonathan Shaw said: "There are an estimated 650 million disabled people in the world, including over 10 million in the UK. The ratification of the Convention is a very significant landmark, for disabled people and for UK Government and society as a whole. Not only does it show the Government's commitment to equality of human rights for disabled people, but our determination to achieve equality by 2025.

"Now that we have ratified we can start implementing the Convention, building on the approach towards disability equality set out in our 2005 report 'Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People'. We aim to start the Parliamentary process for ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention shortly."

(DWP) New anti-discrimination treaty for disabled people on track for June

A major UN treaty that will enshrine the human rights of disabled people will soon be ratified by the UK, Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People, announced today.

Covering all aspects of life, including health, education, employment and access to justice, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) reaffirms that disabled people have - and should be able to enjoy - their human rights on an equal basis with non-disabled people.

Jonathan Shaw said: "I'm pleased to say the Parliamentary processes for ratification are complete, and we are now on track to formally ratify the Convention in June. After careful consideration it remains our view that the handful of reservations and the interpretative declaration are required and we will proceed on that basis. Once ratified we can start implementing the Convention, which will have a positive impact on the lives of disabled people.

"The Government has always been very clear about the importance of this Convention. Ratification is a further demonstration of our commitment to ensuring the equality of human rights for disabled people, and our determination to achieve equality by 2025."