Campaigners hail 'landmark' convention on disability rights

Disability campaigners have welcomed the EU's ratification of the UN convention on rights for people with disabilities.

The convention aims to uphold civil, political, social and economic rights for the more than 80 million people with a disability in the EU.

It commits signatories to ensuring that people with disabilities enjoy their rights on an equal footing with other citizens.

All 27 member states have also signed the document, and 16 have ratified it so far.

The European Disability Forum (EDF) pointed out that this is the first time that the EU has ratified such a treaty, and described the news as a "landmark victory in human rights".

EDF president Yannis Vardakastanis said, "The European Union has not only achieved a major step in its history, but it is also sending a positive signal to its member states that haven't ratified the convention yet: it is now time to commit to the rights of persons with disabilities."

However, EDF vice-president Donata Vivanti raised concerns over the exclusion of the employment of people with disabilities in the armed forces from the convention.

"We invite other states parties across the world to oppose this reservation to avoid setting a dangerous precedent worldwide," she said.

European commission vice-president for justice Viviane Reding said, "Good news for the new year and a milestone in the history of human rights as it is the first time ever that the EU becomes a party to an international human rights treaty.

"The UN convention promotes and protects the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities."

The convention comes after the commission presented its EU disability strategy for the next 10 years in November 2010.

"I now call on all remaining member states that have not yet ratified the convention to do so swiftly," Reding said.

"It is our collective responsibility to ensure that people with disabilities do not face additional obstacles in their everyday lives."