STATEMENT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NAME OF THE CONVENTION: CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
NAME OF OPTIONAL PROTOCOL: OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

30 March 2007

Mr. Chairman

My Government would like to express its pleasure that after five years of negotiations, the Eight Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities was able to conclude the convention and adopt it within the prescribed time frame, as per the UN resolution 60/232 of December 2005 and finally adopting it on 13 December 2006 by 61 Session of the UN General Assembly resolution number A/RES/61/106

This treaty, the first of its kind, set internationally binding provisions that promote and protect the rights of a long neglected section of the world's population, whose social and economic integration would benefit humanity. South Africa celebrates the concluded Convention as it represents a victory for human rights.

In this regard, special recognition is given to Ambassador Don MacKay of New Zealand whose work as Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee enabled the speedy and successful conclusion of this historical Convention. The Committee was an unconditional negotiation forum that proved that no disability could be a hindrance to advancing diplomacy at this august body. The entry into force of the Convention will ensure that persons with disabilities no longer represent one of the most marginalized groups and their rights are no longer routinely ignored or denied throughout the world.

My delegation/my country is certain that through the accumulated-knowledge and experience during the proceedings of the Ad Hoc Committee, the UN system has become less disabling. We propose that the UN, in its reform process, should give consideration to provisions on inclusiveness and equality that are contained in the Convention. The UN should in its reform process implement creative systems in order to reduce or even eliminate altogether the environment that inhibits the effective participation by persons with disabilities in its events and processes.

Mr. Chairman,

South Africa would have preferred that the provisions on individual communication and complains procedure contained in the Optional Protocol to the Convention should have been part of the Convention itself. However, we acknowledge that an Optional Protocol approach was the best feasible compromise that could ensure the universal acceptance of the Convention and thus fast track its ratification and entry into force.

South Africa will soon start the necessary preparations for the process to ratifying both treaties.

South Africa urges Member States to consider both signing and ratifying the Convention and its Optional Protocol because this will ensure that" its implementation and monitoring mechanism by the Committee are enhanced. Our understanding is that though the two treaties were separated, they are both aimed at advancing the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in a mutual reinforcing manner. Therefore, my delegation is of the view that the Convention's provisions can not be achieved in isolation of the Optional Protocol.

The Optional Protocol gives an implementation force to the Convention because it provides recourse for those whose rights may be under threat or undermined. The Optional Protocol also provides the Committees with proactive means to seek further information on the status of human rights of persons with disabilities through the inquiries procedure. These procedures can be useful instruments for the protection of persons with disabilities and may allow for the provision of technical assistance to States Parties on emerging best practices by the committee.

In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, South Africa recognizes that persons with disabilities are among the most marginalized of all peoples and are barred by a wide range of physical, legal and social barriers from achieving their full potential. However we also acknowledge that this Convention will pave the way to ensuring that both States and public perception on persons with disabilities change to allow the full integration of persons with disabilities into the society.