Website of the UK government

The UK was actively involved in setting up the convention and the government believes it will play an important part in protecting and promoting disabled people's human rights around the world.

What the convention will do for disabled people

A human rights convention is a piece of international law which sets out the duty of countries to protect human rights. Once in force, it is legally binding for any country that has ratified it.

The UN Convention on The Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides a recognised international standard for disabled people's human rights in one document. This will help the international community to put pressure on countries whose work on disability rights could be improved. Countries that ratify the convention will also have to report regularly to the UN about the steps they're taking to protect and promote disabled people's rights.

The UK was among the first 82 countries to sign the convention on 30 March 2007. Since then, over 127 countries have signed the convention, with 24 having ratified. By signing, states show their intention to proceed to ratification in due course. The UK aims to ratify the convention by the end of 2008.

The full text of the convention can be viewed on the UN 'enable' website. The site provides detailed information on the UN's work on disability rights.

• United Nations 'enable' website (opens new window)

How to find out more and get involved

To find out more about what the UK government is doing in relation to the convention, visit the website of the Office for Disability Issues, which has a comprehensive 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQs) section on the UN Convention.

• UN Convention FAQs - Office for Disability issues website (opens new window)

Disability rights activist and campaigner Dr Richard Light represented disabled people from the UK as part of the UK delegation that negotiated the text to the convention. His independent website Human Rights & Disability aims to increase awareness of human rights and disabled people's access to them.

• Human Rights & Disability website (opens new window)

Disability Awareness in Action (DAA) was established to promote disabled people's rights and to provide a worldwide network for the exchange of information. 

The DAA website has a detailed list of UK and worldwide charities and organisations.

• Disability Awareness in Action - list of organisations (opens new window)