Urgent Request - Ratification of U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

You might recall that we have previouslydiscussed this UN Convention and why it is so important for the disability community.

Now a recently-received missive from the Nova Scotia Association for Community Living, advising that it is considered urgent that Canada ratifies this convention now, noting that Canada, and in particular, Nova Scotians, played a crucial role in framing this document.

We need to ratify this document within days if we are to continue to be able to influence the roll out of the Convention world-wide. Simply put, there will be a meeting of nominees of advocates and experts from countries who have ratified the Convention next month. These nominees will choose the membership of an oversight Committee that will work to ensure that the convention is being adhered to by countries. If Canada does not ratify, by October 3rd, we will not be at that meeting. Canada needs to be there to make sure that the correct interpretations of these articles are being made. Please note that some countries that have ratified the Convention do not themselves have stellar human rights records but will be at that meeting by virtue of their ratification.

We need to immediately be in touch with Peter MacKay, Minister of Defence, and with David Emerson, Minister of Foreign Affairs to urge Canada to ratify.

Peter MacKay Fax ~ 902-755-9572
Peter MacKay E-mail ~ petermackay@votepetermackay.ca
David Emerson E-mail ~mailto:~emerson.d@parl.gc.ca
David Emmerson Fax ~ 613-943-0219