Ability Forum

Vic

India will ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities tomorrow.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee would submit the instruments of ratification for the convention, the world body said today.

The Convention, termed first human rights treaty of the 21st century, provides the States ratifying it to enact laws and other measures to improve disability rights, and also abolish legislation, customs and practices that discriminate against persons with disabilities.

So far, 115 countries have signed the convention, which was adopted unanimously by the General Assembly on December 13, 2006 and opened for signature on March 30, 2007.

Twenty ratifications or accessions are necessary for the treaty to come into force, and so far five countries have ratified it -- Jamaica, Hungary, Panama, Croatia and Cuba.

The Optional Protocol to the Convention has been signed by 64 countries.

The Protocol will come into force when the Convention does, and after 10 ratifications or accessions.

Ahead of the ratification, Mukherjee, is scheduled to have discussions with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on international issues as also on the matters before the United Nations including expansion of the Security Council

Source: The Hindu

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Vikas

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Kr_iyer · Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:29 pm Post subject: Tell me what will happen

Hi Vikas,

I am happy to know that. Tell me what about PWD amendment. Will it be changed. Tell me how many countries have accepted the UN version and what is the benefit?

Would you enlight me?

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If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Vic · Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:22 pm Post subject:

Hi,

For details abou the UN Convention on Rights of PWD please check the link http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/about.shtml

Basically once the convention is raified then it becomes government's obligation to implement it. This means whenever any acts, policies, guidelines & other regulations are revised they will need to reflect the spirit of inclusion of PWD, not only in the government or public sector but in the private sector as well.

As far as ammendments to the PWD Act go, they are going through the final round of consultation at present.

Personally, I really hope that the UN convention is ratified before the amendments to the PWD Act are finalised as then it will put presure on the MSJE to fine tune the PWD Act to reflect full inclusion, as reflected in the UN convention & will not leave room for the bureaucracy to drop out suggestions they feel uncomfortable with.

Till now 6 countries have ratified the convention. India, hopefully, will be the 7th on the list.

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Vikas

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Dsamant · Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:28 pm Post subject:

This is great news. The last news source I read said it had ratified the Convention already...the UN site is not updated with that information yet, but I believe thats probably just a website delay on their end.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/071001/43/6lf91.html

This gives advocates more teeth to demand. Vikas, do you have an idea whether the MSJE is considering the Convention during the amendment. If we need to adopt the Convention, we will need a significant change in the provisions of the Act...all for the better ofcourse!

And the Convention will allow people to seriously advocate for extremely necessary changes in our Mental Health Act and other policies as well.

deepti

Vic · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:23 am Post subject:

Hi deepti,

Amazing - I read the yahoo news snippet ...... the reporter is obviously misinformed. The UN convention is yet to be ratified by the GOI.

The MSJE isnt considering the convention in this ammendment of the PWD Act ---- infact I have a feeling that they are pushing for the ammendments to get through before the ratification - i hope it doesnt happen this way as otherwise we will have to wait another decade for the next amendments to include the principles of the UN convention.

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Vikas

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Kr_iyer · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:38 am Post subject: Tough Luck

Hi vikas ,

i was overjoyed at least the loopholes og PWD will be fixed,Ok, Better Luck Next Time.
Let us hope for best

_________________
If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.
RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Sachin · India (1 October 2007)

India has finally ratified the UN convention on rights of persons with disabilities.

Shivani · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject:

15 Nations have ratified the UN Convention. Peru was the 15th. Only 5 more ratifications left for it to become an International Law. This is great news for all of us

Shivani