Ukrainian Step by Step Foundation Calls for Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Ukraine
Natalia Sofiy, former Executive Director of the Ukrainian Step by Step Foundation and current consultant for the World Bank, calls on the people and government of Ukraine to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which came into force in May 2008 after ratification by 20 countries.
A new step towards the protection of the rights of children with special needs
By Natalia Sofiy, Ukrainian Step by Step Foundation
Millions of children and adults with special needs live all over the world and many of them are discriminated against almost every day. On 1 June 2008, Ukraine, like many other countries, celebrated the International Day for the Protection of Children's Rights. But do these rights take into account the rights of children with special needs?
The UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities became an international law on 3 May 2008, nearly a month before the International Day for the Protection of Children's Rights. This occurred after the Convention was ratified by 20 states. It had been adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 13 December 2006 and is the first international document in 21st century on the political, social, economic, and cultural rights of persons with disabilities. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan described the Convention as a historic achievement for 650 million disabled people across the world.
The rights of children with special needs are violated far too often. Formally, issues related to their development are not seen through the context of human rights protection. This lack of recognition often leads to their isolation from the majority of their peers - isolation which makes their problems invisible to society. In addition, international law does not pay adequate attention to children at all, let alone children with special needs.
Ratification of the Convention by Ukraine
Sadly, Ukraine is not among the twenty countries that ratified the Convention and, in doing so, proved that they deserve to be considered civilized, humane, and equitable societies. Unlike a declaration, a convention has a binding force. Consequently, it obliges states to fulfill its requirements, for example: "Article 24. Education. 1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning... 2. In realizing this right, States Parties shall ensure that: (a) Persons with disabilities are not excluded from the general education system on the basis of disability, and that children with disabilities are not excluded from free and compulsory primary education, or from secondary education, on the basis of disability; (b) Persons with disabilities can access an inclusive, quality and free primary education and secondary education on an equal basis with others in the communities in which they live..."
The activities of NGOs working to raise public awareness of this paper and support its ratification by Ukraine are encouraging. In November 2007, President Viktor Yushchenko issued a Decree to ensure prompt signing and ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It took two years for 20 countries to ratify the Convention. How long will it take Ukraine?
It is possible to expedite this process by uniting the efforts of the entire community. The Ukrainian Step by Step Foundation has made it a priority to launch an information campaign and enlist support from wide circles of stakeholders to facilitate the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The strategy to promote the Convention includes:
- a written appeal to the Head of the Ukrainian Parliament on advancing the ratification process (signatures to the appeal are being collected from NGOs, educational institutions, people with special needs, and members of their families);
- an international conference to promote the Convention that will be held 23-24 October 2008 in Kyiv under the aegis of the United Nations. Twenty countries have been invited to participate. The Foundation is also involved in the event and is conducting the education session;
- over 115 activities involving 38 NGOs and 14 meetings with journalists that are planned during International Inclusion Week of 29 September - 5 October 2008;
- hearings on inclusive education and strategies to promote the ratification of the Convention, planned to be held at the Education and Science Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament at the end of November.
USSF hopes that efforts of many Ukrainians will urge their country to join the states that have ratified and realized the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
