Disability treaty passed by UN
The convention will now go to a full General Assembly for approval
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Saturday, 26, Aug 2006 07:35
A new landmark UN treaty protecting the rights of disabled people worldwide has been agreed upon in New York.
The draft text of a convention safeguarding the world's 650 million disabled people from discrimination was approved by a UN general assembly panel yesterday and is expected to take effect as early as 2008 or 2009.
Following the approval of the convention, UN member nations will be required to adopt equal opportunity laws which ban discrimination based on any form of disability.
Any discriminatory laws would be required to be abolished by member countries.
"You are sending an absolutely wonderful message to the world. You are sending the message that we want to have a life with dignity for all and that all human beings are equal," said Jan Eliasson, president of the assembly panel.
Government promotion of services for the disabled and disabled newborn's right to life also form part of the convention, which was voted in despite a large number of controversies.
Points of contention included the provision of sexual and reproductive health service to disabled groups, abortion and the power of the state to commit disabled individuals to institutional care.
The vote to approve the draft text of the convention was left unrecorded.