Canada accedes to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

On December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, along with the ministers of Justice, Foreign Affairs and Canadian Heritage, announced that, with the support of all provinces and territories, Canada has acceded to the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Accession to the Optional Protocol means that Canadians will have additional recourse to make a complaint to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, if they believe their rights under the Convention have been violated.

“This announcement regarding the Optional Protocol, along with this government’s intention to pass the proposed Accessible Canada Act, sends a strong message to Canadians with and without disabilities that this government truly believes in inclusion and equality for all. This is one positive step to ensuring that Canadians with intellectual disabilities have their voices heard and that we are one step closer to ensuring we are not the left behind of the left behind.” – Kory Earle, President, People First of Canada

Read more at https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2018/12/canada-ascends-to-the-optional-protocol-to-the-united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html