Sharizat Scores Big For The Disabled

PETPOSITIVE SAYS: 

We were by the side - and fully in support of - Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil when she picked up a pen and signed one of the most important documents for the disabled in the world yesterday afternoon. 

The event which was held at her office at the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Development in Kuala Lumpur was also witnessed by other disabled groups. 

As much as this was truly a historical occasion for the disabled community in Malaysia, we honestly thought, however, that the declaration ceremony would have been even more significant had the document been ratified in parliament rather than at the ministerial/cabinet level. 

Had this been done, it would have armed the UN document with the necessary bite to take people and institutions to court in order to bring about a more just world for the disabled.

Here are two reports that came out on the same day that the treaty was signed.  

BERNAMA:

July 06, 2010 21:21 PM

Malaysia Signs Convention On Rights Of Persons With Disabilities

 

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia on Tuesday signed the instrument to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and withdrew its reservations on several articles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

The signing of the instrument by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil showed the government's commitment to protecting and improving the welfare of the disabled, women and children.

Shahrizat said the Convention on the disabled outlined eight common principles, including respect and self-reliance, removing discrimination against the disabled, and their full and effective participation in society.

"We hope it will bring change to the lives of the disabled in this country," she said at the signing ceremony, here.

Shahrizat also handed over the instrument ratifying the Convention to Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot Jaem to be sent to the United Nations for further action.

On the withdrawing of Malaysia' reservations on certain articles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Shahrizat said the government would give children the freedom to have their say and the right to form associations and to assemble peacefully.

She said the move was in line with the recognition given to children's rights as they would be the nation's future leaders.

Besides that, she added, the government would also fix the minimum age for women to marry and make the marriage registration compulsory, remove prejudices and customs that discriminated against women, and stress on opportunities to be given to women to hold public office.

Shahrizat said when the government agreed to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, it acted by appointing two women as Syariah Court judges recently.

"This is a positive step in raising the status of women in this country by giving them important decision-making positions," she said.

THE MALAY MAIL:

Malaysia signs convention on rights of people with disabilities

Submitted by francisnantha on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

• diasbilities-convention
• Local

The government would also give children the freedom to have their say and the right to form associations and to assemble peacefully

Bernama

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 01:08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia today signed the instrument to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and withdrew its reservations on several articles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
The signing of the instrument by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil showed the government's commitment to protecting and improving the welfare of the disabled, women and children.
Shahrizat said the Convention on the disabled outlined eight common principles, including respect and self-reliance, removing discrimination against the disabled, and their full and effective participation in society. "We hope it will bring change to the lives of the disabled in this country," she said at the signing ceremony, here.
Shahrizat also handed over the instrument ratifying the Convention to Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot Jaem to be sent to the United Nations for further action.
On the withdrawing of Malaysia' reservations on certain articles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Shahrizat said the government would give children the freedom to have their say and the right to form associations and to assemble peacefully.
She said the move was in line with the recognition given to children's rights as they would be the nation's future leaders.
Besides that, she added, the government would also fix the minimum age for women to marry and make the marriage registration compulsory, remove prejudices and customs that discriminated against women, and stress on opportunities to be given to women to hold public office.
Shahrizat said when the government agreed to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, it acted by appointing two women as Syariah Court judges recently.
"This is a positive step in raising the status of women in this country by giving them important decision-making positions," she said.
 

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DISABLED CONVENTION UPDATE - bbc online

Entry into force of disability pact closes major gap in rights protection – Arbour

Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

6 June 2008 – The recent entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities closes a major gap in human rights protection for hundreds of millions of people around the world, the Organization’ s top rights official said today.

The Convention and its Optional Protocol, which entered into force on 3 May, does not create new rights but aims to ensure that the benefits of existing rights are fully extended and guaranteed to the estimated 650 million people around the world with disabilities.

“The speedy entry into force of both instruments attests to their centrality in the fullest possible reach of human rights protection,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour told the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, which held a celebration of the entry into force of the landmark treaty today.

“As a major gap has now been closed, it is imperative that these obligations take real effect in the lives of all persons with disabilities,” she added.

The treaty asserts the rights of people with disabilities to education, health, work, adequate living conditions, freedom of movement, freedom from exploitation and equal recognition before the law for persons with disabilities.

It also addresses the need for persons with disabilities to have access to public transport, buildings and other facilities and recognizes their capacity to make decisions for themselves.

The Convention’s Optional Protocol allows individuals to petition an international expert body with grievances.

The High Commissioner underscored that the new treaty is about change. “It requires us to move away from charity-oriented or medical-based approaches to a human rights-based approach to disabilities. These traditional approaches and attitudes, no matter how well-intentioned they might have been, regarded persons with disabilities either as passive recipients of good will or deeds or as problems to be fixed, or both,” she stated.

The Convention embodies the celebration of diversity and the empowerment of the individual as essential human rights messages by envisaging a fully active role in society for persons with disabilities.

“It asserts that they are free to live independently in their community, to make their own choices, and to contribute to society so that we can all learn and benefit from their diverse experiences and knowledge,” Ms. Arbour said.

She added that the Council has an important role to play in the future of the treaty, noting that as the principal UN body dealing specifically with human rights, the Council is “perfectly positioned, and indeed expected, to advance the Convention’s goals among States and within the UN system.”

BBC ONLINE: UN Disability Treaty

At-a-glance: UN disability treaty

The UN is expected to agree a new treaty giving greater rights to disabled people around the world.

Here is an at-a-glance guide to the draft United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:

• Participating countries to change laws and ban discriminatory customs and practices
• Disabled people to have an equal right to life
• Equal rights for disabled women and girls
• Protection for children with disabilities
• A right to own and inherit property, to control financial affairs and have equal access to financial services
• Disabled people not to be deprived of their liberty "unlawfully or arbitrarily"
• Medical or scientific experiments without consent to be banned
• An end to enforced institutionalisation
• Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse
• A right to privacy and access to medical records
• Countries to remove barriers to accessing the environment, transport, public facilities and communication
• A right to independent living
• Essential equipment to be made affordable
• A right to an adequate standard of living and social protection
• An end to discrimination relating to marriage, family and personal relationships
• Equal access to education
• An end to discrimination in the job market
• A right to equal participation in public life
• A right to participate in cultural life
• Developing countries to be assisted to put the convention into practice

End

PLEASE MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR THE DISABLED MALAYSIA - malaysiakini

The Malaysian Animal-assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (PetPositive) joins hands with all disabled Malaysians and organisations committed to their cause in and outside the country to welcome the coming into force of the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

MCPX

This landmark treaty which was adopted two years ago was made available for signatures in March of last year. With Ecuador being the 20th nation to ratify the significant agreement last month, the CRPD took effect on May 3.

We are especially thrilled that our nation, Malaysia, has also signed the document in New York last month. By doing so, our government has taken the first all-important step to keep its promise and determination to improve the quality of lives of all Malaysians with disabilities.

However, there are two more significant steps for Malaysia to take with utmost urgency. We have to ratify and then implement the CRPD treaty, seeing to it carefully that the ‘Optional Protocol’ section is accepted without conditions or changes.

The Optional Protocol provides disabled people with a means of redress for individuals or groups who feel that their government has violated the convention and where national remedies have been exhausted.

It is only after this that our disabled citizens can truly, fully and finally enjoy the rights and dignity that our society has long denied them.

The CRPD will finally provide 650 million handicapped people around the globe and in Malaysia what they have been asking all their lives - a chance to go to school, find jobs, get married, raise a family and retire peacefully like everyone else.

PetPositive urges all political parties in both the Barisan Nasional and the Pakatan Rakyat to do everything in their power to make this a reality for disabled Malaysians who have been left out of our mainstream society for far too long.

Here and now is the chance for us all to prove to the world and our society that we really care for our disabled citizens!

The writer is president, the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (PetPositive).

Also in yesterday's The Star:

Thursday May 15, 2008

Treaty a step forward for the disabled

THE Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive) joins hands with all disabled Malaysians and organisations committed to their cause in and outside the country to welcome the coming into force of the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

The landmark treaty that was adopted two years ago was made available for signatures in March of last year. With Ecuador being the 20th nation to ratify the significant agreement last month, the CRPD took effect on May 3.

We are especially thrilled that Malaysia, also signed the document in New York last month.

By doing so, our Government has taken the first all-important step to keep up with its promise and determination to improve the quality of life of all Malaysians with disabilities.

However, there are two more significant steps for Malaysia to take with utmost urgency.

We have to ratify; and then implement the CRPD treaty, carefully seeing to it that the “Optional Protocol” section is accepted without conditions or changes.

The Optional Protocol provides disabled people a means of redress for individuals or groups who feel that their government has violated the convention and where national remedies have been exhausted.

It is only after this that our disabled citizens can truly, fully and finally enjoy the rights and dignity that our society has long denied them.

The CRPD will finally provide the 650 million handicapped people around the globe and in Malaysia what they have been asking all their lives: a chance to go to school, find jobs, get married, raise a family and retire peacefully like everyone else.

Petpositive urges all political parties in both the Barisan Nasional and the Pakatan Rakyat to do everything in their power to make this a reality for disabled Malaysians who have been left out of our mainstream society for far too long.

Here and now is the chance for us all to prove to the world and our society that we really care for our disabled citizens!

ANTHONY SIVA BALAN THANASAYAN,

President,

The Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association.

Also in yesterday's The New Straits Times:

Helping the Disabled: Treat Pact As An Urgent Issue

The treaty will enable the disabled to enjoy the rights society has long denied them.

THE Malaysian Animal-assisted Therapy For The Disabled And Elderly Association (Petpositive) joins hands with all disabled Malaysians and organisations committed to their cause to welcome the coming into force of the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

The landmark treaty, adopted two years ago, was made available for signatures in March last year. With Ecuador being the 20th nation to ratify the agreement last month, the CRPD took effect on May 3.

We are especially thrilled that our nation, Malaysia, also signed the document in New York last month. Our Government has taken the first all-important step to keep its promise to improve the quality of life of all Malaysians with disabilities.

However, there are two more significant steps for Malaysia to take with utmost urgency: we have to ratify, and then implement the CRPD treaty, seeing to it that the Optional Protocol section is accepted without conditions or changes.

The Optional Protocol provides disabled people a means of redress for individuals or groups who feel that their government has violated the convention and where national remedies have been exhausted.
It is only after this that our disabled citizens can truly enjoy the rights and dignity that our society has long denied them.

The CRPD will finally provide the 650 million handicapped people around the globe and in Malaysia what they have been asking all their lives: a chance to go to school, find jobs, get married, raise a family and retire peacefully like everyone else.

Petpositive urges all political parties to work to ensure this a reality for disabled Malaysians. Here and now is the chance for us all to prove to the world and our society that we really care for our disabled citizens.

In yesterday's Malay Mail:

WELCOMING RIGHT OF THE DISABLED > Show that you care

Dear Editor, THE Malaysian Animalassisted Therapy For The Disabled and Elderly Association (PETPOSITIVE) joins hands with all disabled Malaysians and organisations committed to their cause to welcome the coming into force of the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

The landmark treaty which was adopted two years ago was made available for signatures in March last year. With Ecuador being the 20th nation to ratify the signifi cant agreement last month, the CRPD took effect on May 3.

We are especially thrilled that our nation, Malaysia, also signed the document in New York last month.

By doing so, our Government has taken the fi rst all-important step to keep up with its promise and determination to improve the quality of lives of all Malaysians with disabilities.

However, there are two more signifi cant steps for Malaysia to take with utmost urgency.

We have to ratify; and then implement the CRPD treaty, seeing to it carefully that the ‘Optional Protocol’ section is accepted without conditions or changes.

The Optional Protocol provides disabled people a means of redress for individuals or groups who feel that their government has violated the convention and where national remedies have been exhausted.

It is only after this that our disabled citizens can truly, fully and fi nally enjoy the rights and dignity that our society has long denied them.

The CRPD will fi nally provide the 650 million handicapped people around the globe and in Malaysia what they have been asking all their lives: a chance to go to school, fi nd jobs, get married, raise a family and retire like everyone else.

PETPOSITIVE urges all political parties in both the Barisan Nasional and the Pakatan Rakyat to do everything in their powers to make this a reality for disabled Malaysians who have been left out of our mainstream society for far too long.

Here and now is the chance for us all to prove to the world and our society that we really care for our disabled citizens! Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan PETPOSITIVE president, Kuala Lumpur

Finally A Powerful Document To Change The Lives Of Disabled Persons!

BREAKING NEWS!

The Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (PETPOSITIVE) joins hands with disability groups in Malaysia and around the world to welcome the coming into force the CRPD or Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Malaysia signed the treaty in New York in April of this year. (See story 2 below).

What is left now for our Government to do is to ratify and implement the CRPD as soon as possible without adding any changes to the all important official document in order for disabled Malaysians to finally start seeing a qualitative change in their lives.

PETPOSITIVE urges all political parties of both the Barisan Nasional and the Pakatan Rakyat to do everything in their powers to make this a reality for disabled Malaysians who have been left out of our mainstream society for far too long.

Here and now is the chance to prove to the world that we really care for our disabled citizens!

aNt
PET+BLOGSPOT

Story #1 by BBC Online:

UN celebrates disability treaty

By Geoff Adams-Spink Age & disability correspondent, BBC News website

The UN is celebrating the coming into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) - a landmark agreement that aims to give the world's 650m disabled people full equality.

Adopted in 2006, and opened for signature in March last year it took effect on 3 May a month after the 20th nation ratified it - in this case Ecuador.

The CPRD is the first human rights treaty of the 21st Century

This is fast, officials say, reflecting the commitment of some nations to the treaty's goals, as well as pressure from the disability lobby.

It is estimated that about 10% of the world's population lives with some sort of disability - making disabled people the world's largest minority.

This figure is likely to increase as a result of medical advances and the world's ageing population, according to the World Health Organisation.

Disabled people experience a number of social, cultural and economic barriers which the convention aims to address.

For example, the World Bank estimates that 20% of the poorest people on the planet have a disability.

Disabled women are said to be "multiply disadvantaged" because they experience exclusion on account of their gender and their impairment.

In some countries, disabled child mortality is as high as 80% even when the general level of mortality for the under fives has dropped below 20%.

And almost one in five of less educated people has a disability compared with just over one in 10 of those who are better educated.

The CRPD guarantees disabled people:

• The right to make their own decisions
• The right to say No to being placed in an institution
• The right to say No to medical or psychological treatment
• The right to live in the community
• The removal of barriers to participation in daily life
• Equal opportunities for all

At-a-glance: UN disability treaty

So far some 25 countries have ratified the convention - starting with Jamaica in March last year.

'Reservations'

The largest nations that have already ratified it include India, Mexico, the Philippines and South Africa.

Spain, Hungary and Slovenia are the only EU nations on the list so far.

Some countries will ratify the CRPD "with reservations" - in other words opting out of certain sections of it.

For instance, disability campaigners in the UK are critical of their government's "reservations" on residential care, segregating education, employment in the armed forces and freedom of movement for disabled people with regard to nationality and immigration.

"We are seriously concerned that the government appears to be proposing to ratify a watered-down version," said Andy Rickell of pan-disability charity, Scope.

Mr Rickell says the government should not have an "a la carte" approach to the human rights of disabled people.

The British government says that it intends to ratify the CRPD by the end of this year.

"We cannot ratify the convention until we are in a position to ensure that we can fulfil our obligations by implementing the provisions in full," said UK disability minister, Anne McGuire.

"There are still a number of issues that need to be clarified and we cannot ratify it until these have been settled."

The CRPD also has an "Optional Protocol" which provides a means of redress for individuals or groups who feel that their government has violated the convention and where national remedies have been exhausted.

To date, 15 countries have signed the protocol - the UK government says it, too, intends to do so.

For disability rights campaigners, the next step is now clear.

"The global disability community continues to call on all governments to promptly sign, ratify and implement the CRPD and its Optional Protocol without any reservations or declarations," said Lex Grandia of the International Disability Alliance.


Story #2 by The Star:

Thursday April 10, 2008

Malaysia signs UN convention on disabled

NEW YORK: Malaysia has signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations headquarters here.

The Malaysian Government was represented by Datuk Faizah Mohd Tahir, Secretary General of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, said a statement issued by her entourage.

The signing was witnessed by Annebeth Rosenboom, chief of the treaty section at the UN's Office of Legal Affairs, Malaysia Consular at New York Raja Nurshirwan Zainal Abidin, and National Population and Family Development director Aminah Abdul Rahman.

The Convention entitles the disabled to the full enjoyment of all human rights and ensures full and effective participation as well as inclusion in society, on an equal basis with others.

The eight general principles of the Convention are:

* Respect for inherent dignity and individual autonomy; * Non-discrimination; * Full and effective participation and inclusion in society; * Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity; * Equality of opportunity; * Accessibility; * Gender equality and respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities; and * Respect for the rights of children with disabilities to develop and preserve their identities.

The signing shows the Government’s concern and commitment following the formulation of the Policy on Persons with Disabilities and its Plan of Action, the Persons with Disabilities Act 2007 and the recent appointment of a disabled person as a senator, the statement said.

End