Today, we applaud the Plenary on the UN General Assembly as they adopt the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We call on all nations to promote the Convention and its principles in partnership with organizations of persons with disability and their families at national and international level.

      For the first time, the rights of persons with intellectual disability and their families are recognized explicitly in international law. This Convention includes and protects the rights of persons who cannot speak for themselves and it acknowledges the fundamental and often life-long role that families play in supporting their family members who have disabilities. Persons with intellectual disability and their families continue to be among the most vulnerable persons in all of the nations of the world.

     Four provisions in the Convention are particularly important to persons with intellectual disability and their families: The right to live in the community, not in sub-human conditions or in institutions, is secured in Article 19 (Living in the Community); The right to be included in education along with other children is secured in Article 24 (Education); The right to make one’s own decisions is secured in Article 12 (Legal Capacity); and Preamble recognizes the role of families in the achievement of human rights for their members with disabilities.

      This is the first Convention in the 21st Century, Convention that acknowledges the rights of persons with disabilities as human rights. Disability, now, is considered to be a part of human diversity. Without development, which includes persons with disabilities in all aspects of social and political life, the UN Millennium Goals could not be achieved. The Convention represents an expected document of great importance. Focused on the rights for development of persons with disabilities, it treats the societies as a whole, and the need to provide opportunity to every person to make their contribution in accordance with their potential and ability.

      From the experiences in the past years, the treatment of persons with disabilities emerged on the surface some of the worst aspects of human nature. Most often, persons with disabilities were seen as an object of shame, or in best relation with compassion and charity. Declaratively, on paper, they enjoy the same rights as other citizens, but in real life, they were mostly left on the margins of societies.

      Persons with disabilities and their organizations have been working hard and intense on the need from Convention, and United Nations answered this need. During the past three years, the Convention had several recognitions: it is a first act for human rights in the 21st century; quickest negotiations for an act of human rights in the history of international legislation and a first act which resulted from lobbying by internet. We have learned from experience, in countries where laws related to disability are implemented, the changes happen more quickly because there are legal opportunities. When the adopted Convention is going to be signed and ratified, it will influence the national legislation and their transformation for improvement of the life of persons with disabilities. It will offer perspective for persons with disabilities to enjoy the same human rights as the others: education, employment, and architectural accessibility, access to the legal system.

      But, this will not happen over night. The largest part of the work remains to be made as a result inspired by the Convention. All Governments are being called upon to start with ratification and implementation of the Convention, without delay.
      We believe that this day is a special occasion. Let this be an introduction for persons with disabilities throughout the world to become equal citizens of the society.

Announcement of Inclusion International