DISABLED PEOPLES' INTERNATIONAL

DPI Celebrates the 20^th Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

UN Headquarters, New York USA – At 11:30 AM today the Republic of Ecuador deposited its instrument of ratification for the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This in turn triggered the entry into force of the Convention which will occur in 30 days on May 3, 2008.  

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon issued the following statement:

The Secretary-General welcomes the 20th State depositing a ratification or accession today, which triggers the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Protocol on 3 May 2008.

The Secretary-General congratulates the States that have already ratified or acceded to the Convention for enabling the entry into force only a year-and-a-half from its adoption by Member States on 13 December 2006.  

It is estimated that there are at least 650 million persons with disabilities worldwide, of whom approximately 80 percent live in less-developed countries. The Convention, together with its Optional Protocol, is deeply rooted in the firm commitment of the international community to rectifying the egregious neglect and dehumanizing practices that violate the human rights of persons with disabilities.

The Convention will be a powerful tool to eradicate the obstacles faced by persons with disabilities: discrimination, segregation from society, economic marginalization, and lack of opportunities for participation in social, political and economic decision-making processes. It is a historic moment in our quest for realization of the universal human rights for ALL persons, creating a fully inclusive society for all.

Therefore, all States are called upon to ratify or accede to this Convention without delay. They will have an opportunity to deposit instruments of ratification or accession to this Convention during this year’s annual treaty event at the beginning of the sixty-third General Assembly session.

Upon hearing the news, DPI contacted His Excellency, Ambassador Luis Gallegos, now Ecuador’s Ambassador to the United States, previously first chair of the Ad Hoc Committee which drafted the historic treaty.

Regarding the news, Ambassador Gallegos said, “It’s true. Ecuador’s is the 20^th Ratification and we will have a Convention in 30 days!” Ambassador Gallegos went on to reflect on his involvement with the treaty’s development, saying, “it has been a noble and wonderful experience to accompany the Disabled Persons Movement from the origin of the negotiation to this historic moment in which we have a binding international convention to protect and promote their rights. And finally he voiced the hope of all of us involved in the work of the Convention by saying, “I hope it will change societies and end discrimination and the exclusion of persons with disabilities.”

For additional information contact:

Mary Ennis, Executive Director, DPI Headquarters Tel: +1 709 747 7600, or email mary@dpi.org

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