Campaigners say convention delay could boost rights

By Sunil Peck

Campaigners say the government's decision to delay ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities could be good news for disabled people.

Although the UK government was one of the first in the world to sign up to the convention, it will not become legally-binding until the government ratifies it.

Previously, the government had said that its intention was to ratify the convention by the end of this year.

But Jonathan Shaw, minister for disabled people, said the government would only ratify once it was in a position to ensure that its provisions could be implemented.

He added: “I am aware that this may come as a disappointment to disabled people and their organisations, who have been frustrated that the pace of ratification process has not been quicker. Let there be no doubt, however, about either my personal commitment, or the commitment of the government, both to the convention, and to human rights for disabled people."

He added that it was his "ambition" for the convention to be ratified by next spring.

Richard Rieser, chair of the United Nations Convention Campaign Coalition (UKCCC), has condemned the government for dragging its feet over ratifying the convention and insisting on the right to opt out of a number of areas in the convention.

But he said: "Our position has always been that we would rather it was ratified later rather than sooner, which allows time to cut through the secrecy that surrounds this."

He said the extra time would give the coalition more time to campaign for the government to drop its reservations to some aspects of the convention.

He said the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which has been keen to opt out of the commitment to develop an inclusive education system, had indicated that it would be re-assessing its position.

Dr Alice Maynard, chair of the disability charity Scope, which is a member of the UNCCC, said she assumed the government was using the extra time to remove the reservations.

She added: “We urge the government to ensure it engages meaningfully with disabled people’s organisations over the coming months. We hope it will find a way forward to ratify the convention in full so the rights it enshrines become a reality for disabled people in the UK.”

But Mark Harper, the Conservative shadow minister for disabled people, criticised the delays.

He said: “It is staggering that the government, a year-and-a-half after signing the convention, have still not been able to ratify it. This dithering is unacceptable. The government need to get a move on and make a decision before Christmas.”
21 November, 2008