The Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights of the Government of Sri Lanka welcomes the entry into force of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPD). The Convention will have a legally binding effect from Saturday 3 May 2008. The 20th instrument of ratification was deposited by Ecuador on 3 April which triggered the process of entry into force of this important international human rights instrument. Sri Lanka is a signatory to this Convention, having signed the instrument in March 2007.
A high level committee chaired by Dr. Rohan Perera, Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and comprised of senior officials of the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Disaster Management and Human Rights as well as the Attorney-General’s Department was convened on an initiative of Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, to study the feasibility of Sri Lanka’sratification of this Convention.
The Committee has reported to Minister Samarasinghe that, once draft enabling legislation – now being finalized – has been enacted by Parliament, it will be possible for Sri Lanka to become a state party to the Convention as early as September 2008 during the annual treaty event which coincides with the 63rd Sessions of the UN General Assembly in New York. The Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare has taken the lead in preparing legislation and approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted for initiation of the legislative process.
The Convention adopted in December 2006 is expected to provide a powerful tool to eradicate the obstacle faced by persons with disabilities. Among the issues addressed by this instrument are discrimination against persons with disabilities, segregation from society, economic marginalization, and lack of opportunities for participation in social,political and economic decision-making processes. (Ends)
02 May 2008
MINISTRY OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS
No:02,
Wijerama Mawatha,
Colombo 07,
SRI LANKA