Talks begin at UN on treaty protecting rights of persons with disabilities

Government representatives began talks today at United Nations Headquarters in New York on an international treaty aimed at protecting the rights of disabled persons, who make up one tenth of the global population.

Addressing delegates on behalf of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Nitin Desai, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said there had been a shift in thinking on the proposed treaty from care, social welfare and medical support to an emphasis on the human rights framework necessary to pursue the goals of full participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life.

The common endeavour to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities was essential not only for those directly affected but for all people, as everyone lost if disabled persons were not allowed to function fully in their societies, he added.

Echoing this view was Luis Gallegos of Ecuador, the Chairman of the negotiating panel, which is known formally as the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. He agreed that the proposed treaty would benefit not only persons with disabilities, but society as a whole, since all were part of a social context in which that vulnerable group required special attention.

During its two-week session, the Committee is expected to review a range of proposals on the draft convention.