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An important seminar taking place on Monday 4 December 2006 in Belfast, organised jointly by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, will consider the new United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The event is taking place on Monday 4 December 2006 in Malone House, Barnett Demesne, Belfast from 1.30pm – 4.00pm. For further information, please contact Peter O’Neill, Head of Information, Education and Development on 
028 9024 3987 (office), 07786 338290 (mobile).
This is the first human rights treaty of the 21st Century, and the United Nations hopes it will mark a significant improvement in the treatment of disabled people around the world. It is also the first international instrument which has directly engaged National Human Rights Institutions in the drafting process.
The convention is likely to encourage states to develop a different way of thinking about disability issues. Those countries that sign up to it will have to enact laws and other measures to improve disability rights and also agree to remove legislation, customs and practices that discriminate against disabled people.
According to Professor Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the NIHRC:
The rationale for the convention is that welfare and charity should be replaced by new rights and freedoms for people with disabilities. The convention recognises that a change of attitude is vital if disabled people are to achieve equal status. Countries will also have to guarantee that disabled people will have a right to life on an equal basis with others.
Bob Collins, Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland added:
The Equality Commission welcomes this new United Nations Convention. It will add weight to the range of laws which already exist to promote the rights of disabled people and will enhance the work being done to change the attitudes which underlie discrimination on grounds of disability.
New legislation which comes into operation on 1 January 2007 creates new or improved civil rights for disabled people in Northern Ireland and also imposes a new duty on public authorities to promote positive attitudes towards disabled people and encourage their participation in public life. We hope that this marks a significant improvement in the treatment of disabled people and will lead to a more proactive public approach to disability issues.
As well as Monica McWilliams and Bob Collins, Monica Wilson, Chief Executive of Disability Action and Professor William Binchy, a Commissioner with the Irish Human Rights Commission, will also contribute to the event.
Further information
1.30 Arrival and lunch
2.00 Introductions
Mr Bob Collins, Chief Commissioner, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Professor Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
2.30 The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Professor William Binchy, Commissioner, Irish Human Rights Commission
3.00 Disabled rights in practice
Ms Monica Wilson, Chief Executive, Disability Action
3.30 Plenary discussion
4.00 Close
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