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    Saudi Arabia Ratifies International Disability Treaty

    By Andrea Shettle, MSW | July 14, 2008

    Saudi Arabia ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and also the accompanying Optional Protocol last June 24.  It is the 29th country to ratify the CRPD and the 18th to ratify the Optional Protocol.

    The CRPD is the first international, legally binding human rights treaty to protect people with disabilities.  Countries that ratify the CRPD obligate themselves to protect a wide range of human rights for their citizens with disabilities.  Some of these rights include: the right to vote and participate in public and cultural life; the right to freedom from abuse and torture; the right to access education, health services, public transportation, and other public accommodations; the right to live at home with one’s family in the community, not in an institution; the right to sign contracts; and many more.

    People who feel their rights have been violated under the CRPD may pursue redress within their own country’s system of justice.  If their country has ratified the Optional Protocol, then people unable to receive redress within their country may also petition the international Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  The Committee is authorized to investigate severe or recurring violations of human rights against people with disabilities.

    An additional 100 countries have officially declared interest in ratifying the CRPD in the future, and 53 have also indicated interest in ratifying the Optional Protocol.

    Find out if your country is among them at http://www.un.org/disabilities/countries.asp?navid=12&pid=166

    Learn more about the CRPD and Optional Protocol by skimming the RatifyNow FAQ.

    Learn how you can become involved with the global campaign to promote the ratification and implementation of the CRPD and Optional Protocol in your country and elsewhere.

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