UN: Convention on Disability Rights

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton)
My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Anne McGuire) has made the following Statement.

The United Kingdom played an active role in negotiating a new convention on disability rights, which was adopted by the United Nations on 13 December 2006. On 14 December, the Prime Minister said that he hoped that the UK would be among the first states to sign the convention (Official Report, Commons; col. 1288W)

The convention opens for signature on 30 March, and our signature tomorrow and that of other states will mark a significant step forward to ensuring that around 650 million disabled people worldwide will enjoy their human rights on an equal basis with everyone else. It is the culmination of negotiations lasting more than four years, in which disabled people have played a central role in the content of the convention.

Work is under way to check the UK’s legislation, policies and practices against the convention’s obligations. Before ratification, the convention will be laid as a Command Paper before both Houses of Parliament, together with an Explanatory Memorandum. It will also be sent to the Joint Committee on Human Rights for it to consider. Either or both Houses might decide to hold a debate.