About the Convention

Background on the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People

Why was the Convention developed?

Although existing human rights treaties apply to everyone including disabled people, there is evidence that disabled people around the world continue to be denied their human rights. An international agreement was developed to set out clearly that disabled people have and should be able to enjoy the same rights as other people. It also explained what countries need to do to promote and protect those rights.

In November 2001, the United Nations agreed to set up a committee to consider proposals for an international agreement on disability rights.

Representatives from Member States including the UK, disabled people and disabled peoples organisations were then involved in drafting the text for the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People from January 2004. On December 2006 it was formally adopted by the UN.

On 30 March 2007 it received the highest number of signatories in history to a UN Convention on its opening day.

The number of signatories and countries that have ratified the Convention continues to grow. You can find more information about how the text of the Convention was negotiatedon the UN's Enable website. The site also contains a list of the countries that have signed and ratified the Convention and its Optional Protocol.

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