Harper government in Ottawa planning to boycott March 30 ceremony in New York
Ottawa (28 Feb. 2007) - The 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has joined forces with disabilities organizations and other groups across the country to urge the Canadian government to join countries from around the world in signing a new United Nations convention in New York at the end of March.
The list of groups includes the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres (CAILC), the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL), Amnesty International and over 40 other civil society organizations.
Unfortunately, the Harper government in Ottawa has indicated that it will not participate in the March 30 signing ceremony of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The decision is out of step with Canada’s active role in the development of the UN Convention and Ottawa’s stated commitment to advance and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
The disability community, in alliance with broad civil society, is therefore urging the prime minister and his government to reconsider and participate in the ceremony. Historically, Canada has exercised its prerogative to sign international conventions.
'Extremely important'
“This convention is extremely important for the 650 million persons with disabilities who make up 10 per cent of the world's population and one of the most marginalized groups,” says NUPGE president James Clancy.
"Their rights had been routinely ignored or denied throughout much of the world. For the two million Canadians with disabilities who still struggle to gain full participation and equality in all aspects of our society, Canada’s ratification of the convention would represent a positive step forward."
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the UN General Assembly, with the support of Canada, on December 13, 2006. Once signed and ratified by 20 UN member states it will be the only legally binding international convention that secures the rights of persons with disabilities. Moreover, it is the first human rights convention of the 21st century and becomes the eighth core UN human rights treaty.
Canada’s participation in all meetings of the ad hoc committee to draft this document has been exemplary and a source of pride for all.
“We are surprised, in light of our history of leadership to learn that the Government of Canada will not participate at this Ceremony. This is a critical moment in the life of the new Convention, and we should be there,” says Marie White, chair of CCD.
“While we appreciate and support the need for ongoing consultations with provincial and territorial governments in regard to ratification, we believe sufficient consultation has taken place during the development of this Convention to enable Canada to become signatory to the Convention,” adds Michael Bach, executive vice-president of the CACL.
“The breadth and scope of the organizations that are signatory to the attached Open Letter to the Prime Minister demonstrate the broad support for this new Convention and for the promotion of the human rights of persons with disabilities,” said Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International, Canada’s English speaking branch. NUPGE
More information:
• Council of Canadians with Disabilities - Letter to Stephen Harper - pdf
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