UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities gets 20th ratification

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On 3rd April 2008, Ecuador signed up as the twentieth country to ratify the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Tunisia and Jordan signed earlier the same week. This will bring the Convention automatically into force on 3rd May. This is a significant landmark for travel and tourism policy and provision, as the Convention includes the right of disabled people to equal participation in cultural activities, including recreation, leisure and sport (Article 30).

On 3rd April 2008, Ecuador signed up as the twentieth country to ratify the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Tunisia and Jordan signed earlier the same week. This will bring the Convention automatically into force on 3rd May. This is a significant landmark for travel and tourism policy and provision, as the Convention includes the right of disabled people to equal participation in cultural activities, including recreation, leisure and sport (Article 30).

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international treaty that identifies the rights of persons with disabilities as well as the obligations on States parties to the Convention to promote, protect and ensure those rights.  The Convention also establishes two implementation mechanisms: the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, established to monitor implementation, and the Conference of States Parties, established to consider matters regarding implementation.

States negotiated the Convention with the participation of civil society organizations, national human rights institutions and inter-governmental organizations.  The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on 13 December 2006 and it was opened for signature on 30 March 2007.  States that ratify the Convention are legally bound to respect the standards in the Convention.  For other States, the Convention represents an international standard that they should endeavour to respect.

Further information about the UN Convention is available at the UN Enable Website

European States that have so far ratified the Convention are: Croatia, Hungary, San Marino and Spain.

Follow this link  to: countries that have ratified the Convention 

Read the statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon