ACTION MUST BE TAKEN ON UN CONVENTION FOR DISABLED PEOPLE - LIZ LYNNE

9.25.00pm GMT Tue 13th Nov 2007

A marked slowdown in the number of countries signing and ratifying the UN's Disabilities Convention and its optional convention since it was launched earlier this year has prompted a Liberal Democrat MEP to launch a Written Declaration in the European Parliament today to attract attention to the issue and prompt more EU Member States and other countries to sign and ratify it.

Liz Lynne, Vice President of the All Party Disability Intergroup and rapporteur for a 2003 European Parliament report on the UN Convention for disabled people's rights, co-authored the declaration.

Speaking after the launch today in Strasbourg, Liz said:

"Achieving a legally binding convention was a milestone in itself, but it is no use if countries do not sign and ratify it. After an initial wave of enthusiasm, progress with the Convention has been poor - we must keep up the pressure on countries to sign, ratify and implement the Convention if we are to deliver the equality that disabled people deserve. International human rights treaties are worthless if they are not enforceable."

"My hope is the declaration we launched today sends a strong message reminding people of the importance and potential of this convention in the fight to secure fundamental human rights for all disabled people."