Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Enters into Force
HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE, SOCIETY & CULTURE
Thursday, April 10, 2008
On April 3, Ecuador ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, making it the twentieth country to do so, the minimum number required for the Convention to enter into force. The Convention, which was adopted by the General Assembly in December 2006, opened for signature and ratification on March 30, 2007.
The purpose of the Convention is “to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.” States parties to the Convention agree to ensure equality and non-discrimination for persons with disabilities, defined as “those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” Some of the rights highlighted in the Convention include a right to accessibility, a right to liberty and security of person, a right to living independently and being included in the community, a right to personal mobility, a right to education and health, a right to an adequate standard of living and social protection, and a right to participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport. The Convention will be enforced by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Jim Kelly is the President of Solidarity Center for Law and Justice, P.C., a public interest civil and human rights law firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. The opinions expressed herein are his own.
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