(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) A group of international experts on the rights of persons with disabilities on wednsday called on all Governments to work towards universal ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol.
"Since 2006, the Convention has witnessed an impressive number of ratifications in a short period of time," noted in a joint statemen Catalina Devandas, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities; Maria Soledad Cisternas Reyes, who currently chairs the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and Lenin Moreno, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Disability and Accessibility.
Out of 193 United Nations Member States, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has so far been ratified by 150 States and the European Union.
"This is clear evidence of the importance that States attach to filling the protection gap that previously rendered persons with disabilities invisible in human rights efforts," the experts stressed on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
"Ratification is an important first step; it is a commitment towards implementation," they said, while calling "on all stakeholders - Member States, the Human Rights Council, UN agencies, national human rights institutions, organizations of persons with disabilities and broader civil society - to work towards universal ratification of the CRPD and its Optional Protocol".
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.