DILI, 05 july 2022 (TATOLI) – The National Parliament, on monday, ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The convention was ratified with 42 votes in favor with no against and abstentions.
On the same day, the Parliament also ratified the Optional Protocol that allows for individual complaints to be submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for any violations.
“Today, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is approved and it will be soon presented to the President of the Republic for its promulgation,” the President of the National Parliament, Aniceto Longuinhos Guterres Lopes announced at the Parliament, yesterday.
In its report, Parliamentary Committee B on Foreign Affairs, National Defense and Security said the government must fulfill its obligation to protect the rights, and ensure the inclusion and full participation of persons with disabilities.
The Convention was adopted on 13 December 2006 during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly by resolution A/RES/61/106. Under its article 42, the Convention shall be open for signature by all States and by regional integration organizations at United Nations Headquarters in New York as of 30 March 2007.
The Government of Timor-Leste, through the Council of Ministers, had at its meeting on may 4 approved the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) along with the Optional Protocol that allows for individual complaints to be submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for any violations.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Julião da Silva said that the ratification of the convention marked another milestone for Timor-Leste.
At the same place, Vice Minister of Social Solidarity, Signi Chandrawati Verdial said the ratification of the convention was good for government policy to ensure inclusion and full participation of persons with disabilities.
“The National Action Plan for the Persons with Disabilities: 2021-2030 has been approved and we have appointed 13 ambassadors who have been working on the promotion and protection of the right of persons with disabilities in all ministries,” she said.
Verdial said the elaboration of the draft for the establishment of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities is underway: “Once the elaboration of the draft is completed then we will present it to the Council of Ministers for its approval.”
MP from the KHUNTO party, Olinda Guterres said the ratification of the convention showed a strong commitment of Timor-Leste to ensure social inclusion in the country: “Therefore, the government needs to ensure that all public buildings have to be more accessible for persons with disabilities.”
Lidia Norberta, MP from FRETILIN concluded that the ratification of the convention was a historic moment for Timor-Leste, especially for the person with disabilities.
Jornalista: Nelson de Sousa
Editor: Cancio Ximenes/Nelia Borges
Translation: Filomeno Martins
