The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 13 December 2006, and opened for signature on 30 March 2007. The Convention was negotiated during eight sessions of an Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly from 2002 to 2006, making it the fastest negotiated human rights treaty. The Convention aims to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy human rights on an equal basis with others.
United Nations system in Ukraine is joining efforts with all relevant stakeholders including civil society organizations and official agencies to support Ukraine's adoption of the Convention and to promote rights of the people with disabilities.
Map of Signatures and Ratifications
Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities
As of 21 November 2007, Status of Convention and Optional Protocol Signatories and Ratification:
- 118 signatories to the Convention
- 67 signatories to the Optional Protocol
- 7 ratifications of the Convention
- 3 ratifications of the Optional Protocol
Full List with Status of Ratification by Country
Latest Developments
Parliament Hearings on observing rights of people with disabilities takes place in Ukraine
11 June 2008. Kyiv, Ukraine – The Hearings of the Parliament Committee on pensioners, veterans and people with disabilities take place today to address the issue of observing the rights of people with disabilities (PWD) in Ukraine. During this session the manual for parliamentarians “From exclusion to equality: ensuring rights of people with disabilities” was presented to over 300 MPs, government officials, human rights experts, journalists and people with disabilities. The Ukrainian version of this publication was produced by the UN office in Ukraine in cooperation with the National Assembly of People with Disabilities.
Upholding human rights with rigorous accountability is one of the crucial leadership challenges of our time, says UN Resident Coordinator O’Donnell.
14 April 2008. Kyiv, Ukraine - The international conference “Modern challenges of protecting people rights and freedoms” has been launched today in the Parliament of Ukraine devoted to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Ombudsman institution in Ukraine. Addressing over 100 participants from 50 countries, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine called to uphold human rights with rigourous accountability.
13 December 2007. Kyiv, Ukraine – On observance of the International Day of Disabled People and the month devoted to addressing problems of people with disabilities, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis M. O’Donnell and Head of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities Valeriy Suchkevych signed a Memorundum of Understanding. The parties agreed to cooperate in protecting rights of People with Disabilities (PWD), promoting their social inclusion, raising public awareness on the challenges of PWD and joining efforts in signing and ratification of the Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities in Ukraine. For the first time published in Ukraine, the Convention in Braille language was presented this day to the journalists.
Future society is an inclusive one that provides equal opportunities for disabled, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine
Kyiv, 4 December 2007 - The National Assembly of Disabled People of Ukraine initiated the round table discussion "UN Convention on the RIghts of Disabled People and the Copuncil of Europe Plan on people with physical disabilities: national implementation - from policy to practice". Led by Head of the Assembly Valeriy Shushkevich and with participation of UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francic O'Donnell, the participants discussed the best world and European knowledge and practices on addressing challenges of disabled people as well as issued a series of recommendations and further actions to be taken in Ukraine.
3 December, 2007. Kyiv, Ukraine: On observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko headed the All-Ukrainian meeting of the state authorities and public organizations working with disabled "Ukraine without Barriers". Addressing the participants, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Mr. Francis O'Donnell appreciated the latest President Decree on authorizing Ukraine's signing of the UN Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities and promised to lend full support.
Ban Ki-moon calls to ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities in the lives of their communities
3 December 2007 - In the message to the International Day of Disabled People, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that persons with disabilities are deprived of adequate employment opportunities in nearly every society. Yet, whenever the opportunity arises, persons with disabilities prove their worth as productive members of the workforce.
President of Ukraine authorized the Minister for Labour and Social Policies to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
16 November 2007 - The President of Ukraine Viktor Yuschenko authorised Minister for Labour and Social Policies to sign the the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol with the decree # 258/2007.
UN and partners issue handbook on rights of persons with disabilities
8 October 2007 - Aiming to help lawmakers better understand the new Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, the main United Nations human rights office and its partners today launched a handbook on the treaty's provisions.
Information Materials and Publications
|
The official statistics of the number of People With Disabilities (PWD) in Ukraine is around 2.5 million people, which amounts to 5.2% of the overall population. In Accordance with the Article 19 of the Law "On the basic principles of social protection of disabled people in Ukraine", business enterprises, institutions and organizations, are obliged to provide jobs for PWD, with one working place reserved for them if the enterprise counts between 8 and 25 people of staff. Read More... |
 |
Handbook for Parliamentarians on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol:
Around 10 per cent of the world's population, or 650 million people, live with a disability. They are the world's largest minority. 20 % of the world's poorest people have some kind of disability, and tend to be regarded in their own communities as the most disadvantaged. Read More... |
|
Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Convention on the Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesWhat is an international convention? How will the new Convention help persons with disabilities? When will the new Convention take effect? Read More... |
The United Nations documents on disability including all the reports, text of the conventions, Special Reporter reports and statements as well as monitoring on implementation of the rules and programmes of action from 1994 till 2007.
Read More...
 |
|
For more information please contact United Nations Office in Ukraine:
Tel: (+38044) 253 9363, Fax: (+38044) 253 2607
Human Rights Advisor
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
UN Communications Officer
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
