United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
abevan December 22nd, 2009
The European Community ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on November 26 2009.
The convention contains an entire article on Accessibility (Article 9) which, amongst other things, states that:
‘These measures, which shall include the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility, shall apply to, inter alia:
a) Buildings, roads, transportation and other indoor and outdoor facilities, including schools, housing, medical facilities and workplaces;
b) Information, communications and other services, including electronic services and emergency services’.
In the European Union, more than 65 million persons have a disability, representing more than 10% of the residents from 27 countries. Since its entry into force on May 2008, the Convention has been signed by all Member States and by the European Community; it has been ratified by 12 of them (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, and the UK) – Ireland have signed the convention, but have not yet ratified it. The purpose of this convention is “To promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.”
Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum, stressed: “The European Union has not only achieved a major step in its history, but it is also sending a positive signal to its Member States that haven’t ratified the Convention yet.”