UN Convention is vital step towards equality for disabled people

3.58.12pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 29th Aug 2006

Liz Lynne MEP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for social affairs in the European Parliament and President of the Liberal Democrat Disability Association has welcomed the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York, an international treaty that will give greater rights and freedoms to disabled people around the world.

Liz drafted the European Parliament's 2003 report on "A United Nations legally binding instrument to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities" that contributed substantially to the debate on what the eventual UN Convention should look like.

Speaking in Brussels today, Liz Lynne commented: "This is an historic day for disabled people across the world and I hope it will mark a significant improvement in the treatment of disabled people. The challenge now is to turn the principles of this treaty into purposeful action in every country in the world."

"As I made clear in my 2003 report, we desperately need a legally-binding convention covering a whole raft of different rights, including the right to quality of life and that's what we've got."

"I am particularly pleased that disabled people, organisations of disabled people and organisations representing disabled people were consulted by the UN. This is something that MEPs called for in my report in 2003"

"In particular, I am pleased with the inclusion of a strong Treaty monitoring body to help ensure compliance and to monitor how disabled people are treated in practice."

"Whilst I am delighted with this convention, there is much more that must be done, in particular I will continue to call for an EU-wide Directive on disabled people's rights to be adopted as a matter of priority"

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Liz Lynne MEP was rapporteur for the European Parliament's 2003 report, "Towards a United Nations legally binding instrument to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and is currently Rapporteur for the 2006-7 EU Disability Action Plan.

2. Liz Lynne is Lib Dem Spokesperson on Employment and Social Affairs in the European Parliament and President of the Liberal Democrat Disability Association.

3. Liz Lynne is Vice President of the European Parliament's all party Disability Intergroup.

4. The next step is for the adoption of the Convention by the UN General Assembly at its next session, opening in September 2006.