UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Thursday the entry into force of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.
"The secretary-general welcomes the twentieth state depositing a ratification or accession today, which triggers the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Protocol, on 3 May 2008," said a statement issued by Ban's press office.
"The secretary-general congratulates the states that have already ratified or acceded to the convention for enabling it to enter into force within such a short period of time," it said.
"The convention, together with its Optional Protocol, is deeply rooted in the firm commitment of the international community to rectifying the egregious neglect and dehumanizing practices that violate the human rights of persons with disabilities," it said.
Calling the convention "a powerful tool to eradicate the obstacles faced by persons with disabilities," Ban called on all states to "ratify or accede to this convention without delay."
"It is a historic moment in our quest for realization of the universal human rights for ALL persons, creating a fully inclusive society for all," he said.
With the deposit by Ecuador of the instrument of ratification Thursday morning, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol begins the process of its entry into force, which will take place 30 days afterwards on May 3.
The convention was adopted by the General Assembly in December 2006 along with its Optional Protocol with an aim to protect the rights of at least 650 million persons with disabilities worldwide, of whom approximately 80 percent live in less-developed countries.
Source: Xinhua
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