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Disability
is not Inability |
::UN panel approves treaty on rights of disabled
Date: 25/08/2006
Organisation: Washington Post
Resource type: Disability News
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UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A treaty to protect the rights of
the world's 650 million disabled people cleared a key hurdle on
Friday as a U.N. General Assembly panel approved a draft text
of the convention.
The text now goes to the full 192-nation General Assembly, which
is expected to approve it during its 61st annual session to open
next month. It would then be opened for signature and finally
for ratification.
"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," Assembly President
Jan Eliasson told cheering delegates after its adoption by consensus,
without a recorded vote.
The convention, which likely will take effect in 2008 or 2009,
would require nations ratifying it to adopt laws prohibiting discrimination
on the basis of any form of disability, from blindness to mental
illness. Nations would also have to eliminate any discriminatory
laws.
It would oblige governments to fight stereotypes and prejudices
and promote awareness of the capabilities of people with disabilities
and their contributions to society,
It would protect disabled newborns' right to life, and ensure
children with disabilities are not separated from their parents
against their will.
A General Assembly drafting committee that includes all 192 U.N.
member-nations has been working since 2001 on the treaty.
The final two-week drafting session, which ended on Friday, went
right down to the wire, with a vote actually taking place two
hours after the usual 6 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT) U.N. deadline for
shutting down meetings.
BROAD RANGE OF CONTROVERSIES
The negotiations were noteworthy for the large number of disabled
who participated, whether as delegates or observers for various
interest groups.
Disputes touched on a broad range of controversies ranging from
abortion to the conflict in the Middle East to parents' powers
over their children.
The final sticking point centered on a proposal by Sudan to ensure
protection of the rights of the disabled living under foreign
occupation -- a reference to Palestinians living under Israeli
occupation. Israel branded the provision an attempt to politicize
the treaty and the United States demanded a recorded vote on the
provision.
Delegates voted 102-5, with eight abstentions, to keep the provision
in the draft. Voting to delete it were Australia, Canada, Israel,
Japan and the United States.
Another rough spot centered on language requiring governments
to provide the same sexual and reproductive health services to
the disabled as to other population groups.
That provision was dropped without a vote in the face of strong
opposition from anti-abortion delegates.
Another controversy dealt with the right of the state to commit
disabled individuals to institutional care without their consent.
A compromise approved by the panel stated: "Every person
with a disability has a right to respect for his or her physical
and mental integrity on an equal basis with others."
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Category: Community
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