Memorandum submitted by Ray Fletcher
I am writing as a private individual to the
Committee pleading with the Committee to press the Government
to support the Convention and Protocol in full with no reservations.
In doing this the UK Government would be acting
after many other countries have already done so but would at least
be signalling that we as a nation believe wholeheartedly in the
rights of disabled people in all aspects of their life.
I would remind the Committee that the UK took
a lead in the 1970's when under Harold Wilson the then Labour
Government appointed Alf Morris as the world's first ever Minister
with special responsibilities for Disabled People.
The UK Government were a little slower than
some other countries in introducing formal legislation to prevent
discrimination but at least with the Disability Discrimination
Act 1995 we made a major step forward and were amongst the leaders
in introducing such legislation. This has been further progressed
since then with extensions to the original act under Maria Eagle's
guidance.
Overall therefore the UK has been at the forefront
of change for disabled people since the 1970's but on this Convention
there appears to be a marked reluctance to embrace the principles
and practicalities that go with the convention.
There is no reason why this should be the case.
All of us are committed to full inclusion of disabled people in
all areas of life and this convention reinforces that aim.
Reservations, amendments or exclusions in ratifying
the convention and protocol in my personal view indicates a reluctance
to really commit to achieving full inclusion of disabled people
and in the process undermines the governments' own disability
strategy.
The UN convention has come about because of
particular initiatives and campaigns and the UK was the birthplace
of one of the key building bricks in developing to the Convention.
In 1999 Lord Morris of Manchester presented
a Charter for the Third Millennium to RI's World Congress held
in London. Alf himself chaired the group that drew up the Charter
which included Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Professor Stephen Hawking;
the then Commonwealth Secretary HE Emeka Anyaoku; together with
notable representatives from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, India, Hong
Kong, Russia, China and the USA.
The UK therefore had a major part to play in
bringing this Convention into life and it is a tragedy that this
nation of progressive thinkers has held back on fully ratifying
the convention and protocol.
Now is the time to do it. No reservations. No
excuses. Just do it!
6 November 2008
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