By William Miller

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

OTTAWA, Canada – Canada ratified the World Body’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on March 11, 2010. Shortly after the signing, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon announced that Canada would make promoting rights for disabled people a priority.

Cannon asserted that rights for disabled persons were “fundamental Human Rights” at a news conference on Thursday, shortly after he had delivered the ratification. In support of the ratification, Cannon said “this is another addition to Canada’s foreign policy, which is based on the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and certainly based on human rights.”

In ratifying the Convention, Canada has committed to promote non discrimination accessibility and inclusion of disabled persons. The Convention also commits ratifying countries to establish independent organizations to oversee the implementation of the conventions principles.

The ratification will benefit nearly four and one half million Canadian Citizens with disabilities. The signing comes one week before the opening of the Paralympic Games in Vancouver.

Several groups have long promoted Canadian ratification of the convention and welcome the decision to do so.  Ray Smith co-chair of the Persons with Disabilities National Working Group said “ this means the government of Canada is committed to promoting an protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.” Marie White national chairperson of the Council on Canadians with Disabilities referred to the ratification as historic.

The Canadian Human Rights Convention also welcomed the ratification but has said the real test will be implementing the provisions into practice. Canadian Human Rights Chief Commissioner Jennifer Lynch said “ultimately, the successes of this ratification will relate to the degree to which the Convention rights are being enjoyed on the ground, not how they appear on the page.” The Human Rights commission also indicated that it would like to be involved in the implementation of the monitoring organization.

For more information, please see:

Canada.ca – UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities Ratified – 13 March 2010

Benzinga – Announcement: Canadian Human Rights Commission – 12 March 2010

Vancouver Sun – Canada Makes Rights of Disabled a Foreign Policy Focus – 12 March 2010