Is this the end of the era of charitable policies towards those with disabilities

Focus News – New York. Canada joined 81 other countries on Thursday in ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Xinhua informs.

“Canada is committed to promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and enabling their full participation in society,” Lawrence Cannon, the Canadian minister of foreign affairs, said after the ceremony with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon. “Ratification of this convention underscores the government of Canada’s strong commitment to this goal.”

The UNCRPD is an international human rights instrument intended to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Parties to the Convention are required to promote, protect and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities, and to ensure that they enjoy full equality under the law.

There are approximately 4.4 million persons with disabilities in Canada — about 14.3 percent of the population.

“The government of Canada’s ratification today of the Convention is an historic event for Canadians with disabilities,” said Marie White, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities.

“It signals the end of an era where people with disabilities were seen as objects of charity. Ratification of the Convention makes real our goal of recognition as full and equal citizens of Canada.”