Ratify UN Convention

In the press conference organised by National Alliance of Disabled People's Organisations (NADPO), the speakers said prompt ratification and successful implementation of "Comprehensive and integral international convention on the protection and promotion of the rights and dignity of Persons With Disabilities (PWD)" would eradicate all kinds of discrimination between PWD and non-disabled persons.

President of NADPO Abdus Sattar Dulal said the convention is a historic achievement of prolonged struggle and hard work.

He urged the government, the media, organisations working with disabled people and representatives of the civil society to work together in order to ratify the UN convention.

A total of ten per cent population of the country are persons with disability and the government has the responsibility for their welfare, said Dulal, adding the ratification of the convention is a must to ensure human rights of the persons with disability.

The ratification process has already started and the convention would be opened for signature on March 3, 2007 and it would be effective after being adopted by at least 20 countries, the speakers said.

The convention also recognised the need to promote and protect the human rights of all persons with disabilities and importance of international cooperation for improving the living conditions of persons with disabilities in all countries.

It would promote non-discrimination, participation, accessibility, equal opportunity and dignity to the physically and mentally challenged people and would ensure equal rights of around 65 crore persons with disability across the globe, the speakers said.

Secretary General of NADPO Jahangir Alam, Senior Vice President Shawkat Hossain Bhuiyan and National Executive members were also present at the press conference.