Maldives signs the Convention on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities; Now Party to 8 of 9 Core Human Rights Treaties

New York, 02 October 2007: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abdulla

Shahid, today signed the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities on

behalf of the Maldives during the UN’s annual Treaty Event in New York. As

a result, the Maldives is now Party to eight of the nine core international human

rights treaties, a demonstration, according to the Foreign Minister, of the

Government’s determination “to uphold the very highest global standards in

human rights protection and promotion”.

The Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted on

13 December 2006, and was opened for signature on 30 March 2007. To

date 102 countries have signed and four countries have ratified the Convention.

The Convention aims to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal

enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with

disabilities (defined as those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual

or sensory impairments), and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. In

order to achieve this, States Parties commit, through law and practice, to inter

alia: respect the inherent dignity and individual autonomy of disabled persons;

uphold non-discrimination with regard to disabled persons; ensure their full and

effective participation and inclusion in society; improve accessibility; and

respect the evolving capacities of children with disabilities.

Following the signing ceremony, Mr. Shahid said: “The Maldives has taken

tremendous strides over recent years in its pursuit of strengthened human rights

protection. Today we add another piece to the jigsaw and demonstrate once

again the Government’s determination to uphold the very highest global

standards in human rights protection and promotion”.

Human rights are inherent in every member of society. It is therefore important

for governments to recognize, respect and promote the rights of all, including

persons with disabilities. Such persons have a vital role to play in the

development of all countries, including the Maldives. They also have as much

right as anyone else to pursue their dreams and to fulfill their personal potential.

By signing the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the

Government is publicly recognizing these truths and is committing itself to

protect and promote the rights, dignity and future prosperity of disabled

persons”.

The Minister went on to note that in addition to signing these important

conventions, the Government is also taking action to strengthen their

implementation in the Maldives:

“The Government is currently working with a range of international actors,

including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to improve

our capacity to implement the important commitments contained in instruments

like the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities”, said Mr. Shahid. 

The Minister also took advantage of this year’s Treaty Event, entitled “Towards

Universality and Implementation – A Comprehensive Legal Framework of

Peace, Development and Human Rights”, to deposit the Maldives’ Instrument

of Accession to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The deposition

as well as the signature of the Disabilities Convention took place in the presence

of the UN Undersecretary-General for Legal Affairs, Mr. Nicholas Michel, and

the Chief of the Treaty Section, Ms. Annebeth Roseboom.  

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations was adopted on 18 April 1961,

and is the fundamental international treaty on the conduct of diplomatic relations

and privileges and immunities of diplomatic missions.

Although the Maldives already follows the standards laid down by the

Convention, the Government decided to take the symbolic step of signing the

treaty in order to demonstrate its commitment to playing a full and constructive

role within the international community.

ENDS