27 August 2006
Hon Ruth Dyson
Minister for Disability Issues
UN convention on rights of disabled welcomed
Disability Issues Minister Ruth Dyson today welcomed the news that a United
Nations General Assembly committee had reached agreement on the first ever
UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.
"I am pleased that disabled people's rights are to be formally recognised
by the UN," said Ruth Dyson.
"I congratulate the New Zealand delegation for their leadership in drafting
this treaty and I especially thank the New Zealand ambassador and chairman
of the committee Don MacKay, for his work in getting agreement on this
important issue."
The draft of the convention is expected to be considered by the UN General
Assembly later this year.
The convention is expected to apply to an estimated 650 million disabled
people worldwide in countries which ratify it.
ends