ࡱ> DFC#` bjbj >,*$8 <,$!t"EEEm!o!o!o!o!o!o!$#h&X!k#"Ekk!w!k8m!km!h %ֽA^m!!0!t&t&t&E'XEEE!!{^EEE!kkkk$$$ $$$$$$ 2 July 2007 Human rights and disability representatives call for speedy ratification of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability A coalition of Australias peak human rights and disability advisory and advocacy groups called on the State and Territory governments to support the Commonwealth as it pursues swift ratification of the new United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The participants representing national organisations and organisations from all states and territories met for two days last week in Sydney at a workshop on the UN Convention auspiced by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. This Convention is the first major UN human rights treaty of the 21st century and those attending the meeting were quick to congratulate the Federal Government on being among the first to sign the Convention on 30 March 2007. The next step is to ratify the Convention; a process that involves the State, Territory and Commonwealth governments. Speaking for those who attended, Kevin Cocks of Queensland Advocacy said today: The UN Convention sets out fundamental rights for full societal participation for people with a disability, enshrining their rights in modern and effective law. So far, 99 countries have signed the Convention but only one country has ratified. We urge all Australian governments to work as quickly as possible to enable Australia to take full advantage of the benefits of the Convention at the earliest opportunity. Our goal is for Australian ratification of the Convention by 3December 2008, International Day of People with a Disability. Australia has shown leadership in the Convention development process, working closely with disability groups to advocate for meaningful rights for people with disabilities. People with disabilities look forward to working further with the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to continue this leadership and be one of the first 20 countries to ratify, the number needed for the Convention to come into force. Disability advocacy and advisory groups are also keen to work with all levels of government in Australia to develop the monitoring and implementation mechanisms required under Article 33 of the Convention. Also speaking for those who attended, Andrew Buchanan of the Disability Council of NSW today said: Human rights and disability advisory and advocacy groups applaud the Federal Governments progress so far. We now urge all Australian governments to do the work to ensure that people with a disability in Australia are guaranteed the rights articulated in the new UN Convention on the Rights of People with a Disability. More information on the UN Convention can be found at:  HYPERLINK "http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable" www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable PAGE 1 of 2 This statement has been authorised by representatives of the following organisations: ACT Disability Advisory Council ACT Disability and Community Services Commissioner Australian Association of the Deaf Australian Federation of Disability Organisations Blind Citizens Australia Brain Injury Australia Deafness Forum Disability Council of NSW Disability Council of Queensland Disability Studies and Research Institute Intellectual Disability Rights Service Mental Health Council of Australia National Association of Community Legal Centres National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS National Council on Intellectual Disability National Disability and Carers Ministerial Advisory Council National Ethnic Disability Alliance National Seniors Australia NSW Disability Discrimination Legal Centre People living with HIV/AIDS NSW People with Disability Australia Premiers Disability Advisory Council (Tasmania) Public Interest Advocacy Centre Physical Disability Council of Australia Queensland Advocacy Incorporated Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission WA Ministerial Advisory Council on Disability Women with Disabilities Australia For media comment, please contact: Kevin Cocks, Director, Queensland Advocacy Inc: 0402 288 419 Samantha Jenkinson, Acting Chief Executive Officer, the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations: 0412 887 674 Andrew Buchanan, Chair, Disability Council of NSW: 0418 965 102 PAGE 2 of 2     PAGE   PAGE 2 M E D I A R E L E A S E r C D cd:Dxzlmź}ujuauӓShoh~pt5CJOJQJhDh~pt0Jjh~ptUjh~ptUhlh~pt6 hlh~pt h"h~pth~pthoh~ptH*OJQJhoh~pt6OJQJhoh~ptOJQJh h~ptOJQJh*bh~pt5CJ OJQJhoh~pt5CJ OJQJh*bh~ptOJQJ%jh*bh~ptUmHnHsHtH  C D cd9:z{gd~ptgd~ptn^ngd~pt n@&^ngd~pt^gd~pt$(]^a$gd~ptlm.ETn3g9Ygd~ptn^ngd~pt $n^na$gd~ptmTm3g9YzJKxy3iuvټٸٴٴٰ٧ʞʘفvmmmhWh~pt^JhFih~ptB*phhoh~pt5CJOJQJhm}hY^J hY^Jhm}h~pt^Jh;h~pt^JhYhthW^hLhlj hx^J h~pt^Jh 'h~pt^Jh~pth;h~ptB*phh;h~ptB*^Jphh~ptB*^Jph(YzKyvw $n^na$gd~pt 7$8$H$gd~ptgd~ptƱƩЖ$hih~pt5B*CJPOJQJphhF OJQJhL0JmHnHuhF  hF 0JjhF 0JUhhp=jhhp=UhQhoh~pt5CJ OJQJh~pth(]h~ptB*^Jph$a$gd~pt$a$gdF  8!h $ 8!ha$gdF &`#$   gd~pt$a$gd~pt < 00P:p~pt|. 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