The United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Rights of People with a Disability in 2006. That is the first Human Rights Convention adopted since the turn of the century and within this millennium to provide access for the community with disabilities and special needs.
This Convention formally recognises equality for all people with a disability and special needs and joins only seven (7) other prior core international Human Rights Conventions adopted by the UN.
Persons with disabilities and special needs have the same rights and privileges afforded to the able-bodied members of our community.
Disabled Access International based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) fully supports the United Nations initiative and applauds the UAE Government’s Federal Law 29/2006 for this vitally important anti-discrimination rights strategy for people with disabilities and special needs that has major impacts in the fields of access within the built environment, transport, employment, education and community facilities for people with special needs.
Disabled Access International fully supports and applauds the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes AM who said on 14 December 2006:
"This Convention clearly spells out that the 650 million people with disabilities throughout the world are entitled to equality in work, education, access and many other areas of public life.
"I congratulate the Assembly on this decision and urge the Australian Government to confirm our status as one of the leading countries in providing equality for people with disabilities and to be an early signatory to the Convention.
"The Convention, which will be available for signing in March, clarifies equal rights and non-discrimination for people with disabilities throughout the world.
"This Convention provides a clear benchmark and establishes goals for Governments throughout the world to work towards as well as monitors the situation to ensure real progress actually takes place.
"Many government and non-Government organisations have played a role in the drafting of this landmark Convention and I would like to particularly thank the Australian Government for its positive contribution and congratulate the numerous organisations of people with disabilities who also made major contributions to the process."
Disabled Access International looks forward to this important community education tool to improve the understanding of the importance of access within the community with disabilities and special needs within the UAE.