Sunday Scribblings: In the news!

In one south-Asian nation, a wheelchair-bound woman with cerebral palsy was recently married to a very handsome young man. Many people wondered, “why?” as he so attractive and could have married anyone. Turns out, he wanted one of her kidneys for his brother… In another country, teenage girls in an institution-based program have been sterilized, so that when the male nurses and aides at night “used” them, they wouldn’t get pregnant. Half of all disabled people are abused, physically, sexually, or emotionally. The good news is that on 30 March 2007, the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities opened for signatures and 80 member nations signed the Treaty on the very first day!!!

The disabled currently represent ten percent of the world’s population, with 80% or more living in developing countries, and many of the disabled live in poverty. So the UN’s Convention on disability rights hopes to safeguard and advance basic rights and human dignity to the world’s 650 million disabled people, with the ultimate aim to improve their social life and development on an equal basis with others in the society where they live.

The 50-article Convention goes into great detail the rights of persons with disabilities. It covers, among others, civil and political rights, accessibility, participation and inclusion, the right to education, health, work and employment and social protection. Importantly, the Convention recognizes that a change of attitude in society is necessary if persons with disabilities are to achieve equal status. The text is available on line.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was the most rapidly agreed-to human rights treaty in the history of international law, and the first human rights treaty of the 21st century, said U.N. human rights chief Louise Arbour. It went from dream to reality in less than 3 years. 80 countries signed on the first day, (click here for the entire list of member nations who have signed), and Jamaica ratified it as well. It will enter into force 30 days after only 19 more countries ratify it -- hopefully by next year!

Countries that ratify the treaty agree to enact laws and other measures to improve disability rights, and also abolish legislation, customs and practices that discriminate against persons with disabilities. I don’t live in the USA, so I don’t know all the in’s and out’s and why’s that the USA has not signed this. I do know that the USA already has many laws regarding the rights of the disabled (Americans with Disabilities Act, etc). And I believe that this Convention is aimed at bringing out more awareness of the rights of the disabled, especially for developing nations, as that is where most of the disabled live. So why has the USA not signed it? Many countries still do look up to the USA (though, not all). ☺

An interesting side note is that the UN also recognizes that the website on the Convention must be accessible to all people. They are already taking steps that they hope will allow for anyone and everyone to find the information they need. The UN is trying to design their website so that those who are visually-impaired may use it, and they are working to make the Internet more accessible, especially for people with disabilities.

"The existing human rights system was meant to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, but the existing standards and mechanisms have in fact failed to provide adequate protection to the specific cases of persons with disabilities. It is clearly time for the UN to remedy this shortcoming."
-- United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Louise Arbour

My hope is that people with disabilities, families, YOU, and everyone will do everything they can to campaign for member states of the UN to sign and ratify the Convention. We need to publicize and promote the existence of this new historic Treaty as a legally binding instrument, one which will empower people with disabilities, help remove the physical and social barriers they face, and guarantee freedom from exploitation and abuse.

Go to Sunday Scribblings for more news of the day!

Comments

[AscenderRisesAbove]

your post made me cry...
Thanks for keeping us informed!

[Kamsin]

Thanks for this post. It is so shocking that disabled people can get treated in the way you described. Let's hope and pray that the UN treaty will make a real difference in the lives of those with disabilities the world over.

[Susan Abraham]

Thank you for this post. It made me suddenly remember Australia. It's one of the most disabled-friendly nations I know.

[Paris Parfait]

Thanks for sharing this important news.

[gautami]

Thanks for this post. Very informative. India is not very friendly for disabled people. Though there has been a slow change lately.

Your article is an eye-opener.

[Kim G.]

Such important information. Thanks for sharing it! Happy Easter!

[colleen]

Very informative In the News. I worked for a local agency for 9 years that provides foster care for people with disablities, helping to get many out of institutions. Our town is pretty disabled friendly now.

[ally bean]

What an encouraging piece of news. Thanks for sharing it.

[tinker]

Unfortunately, though I can't be certain, since I haven't finished reading the papers I mention below, but we may be lagging behind in signing it, due to even further proposed budget cuts to services for the disabled - the headline in the Feb 07, Disability Policy Collaboration's newsletter, Washington Watch, reads:

BUSH ADMINISTRATION FY 2008 BUDGET REQUEST
DEVASTATING TO DISABILITY COMMUNITY

the full article is available at www.thearc.org, then clicking on the Washington Watch link.

Thanks for bringing up this important topic 'in the news,' Bonnie - blessings to you.

[khambagirl]

Thank you, Terri, for the information about the Disability Policy in the USA. What a terrible blow to have funds cut for people with disabilities.