The Disabled Can Claim Their Right in UN

The disabled people can claim their rights in UN (United Nations) now. Turkey signed the Optional Protocol of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the decision was published in the Official Newspaper today.

The convention signed on 30 March is the first and only international document, which is competent on the issue of rights and freedom of persons with disabilities.

Having become a party of the Convention in 2009, Turkey made it a part of the domestic law. However, the Optional Protocol, which provided the right of individual application, was being shelved for 5 years.

Today, due to signature of the Optional Protocol in the Official Newspaper, the disabled people can open up the issue of violation of their rights in UN. The violation will be judged by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities composed of the independent specialists. Since the Committee is not a court, the decisions it made about the application will not cause punishment but offer suggestions. However, these decisions will determine the policies of Turkey.

In the Convention consisting of 50 articles, there are regulations range from availability, health, employment, education, discrimination, consciousness-raising to participation in sports activities, so that the disabled people can fully participate in social life and become equal citizens. (MUY/ÇT)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.