EU 25 commits to the protection of disabled people’s human rights

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has officially been adopted by the UN General Assembly. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities represents a historical moment for the European disability movement. The innovative Convention, not only is the first official recognition of disability as a Human Rights issue, but also, it will be the first Human Rights Treaty to be signed by the European Communities as a legal entity, since the beginning of the European integration process.
All men and women shall enjoy from their most fundamental rights. Very often, this principle is far from daily reality. None of the EU-25 can claim that they are respectful of disabled people’s Human Rights, a group that suffers from discrimination and prejudice in all fields of life.
This is the first time that an international instrument of the kind covers both the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of people with disabilities, establishing an effective framework for the rights’ protection of 650 million people in the world. The ratifying countries will now be legally obliged to treat people with disabilities as individuals with rights, clearly defined throughout the 50 articles of the Convention text, covering all fields of life.
For the European Disability Forum, this major success shall be reinforced by the development of stronger disability legislation in the European Union at all levels. So far, only a European directive protects disabled people from discrimination in the field of employment.