March 11, 2010
Manitoba Supports United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons With Disabilities
– – –Manitoba has Significant History of Advancing International Disability Rights: Howard
Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard, minister responsible for persons with disabilities, today applauded Canada’s decision to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Canada has committed to abide by the convention in accordance with its ratification and to monitor progress in promoting and protecting the human rights of people with disabilities in civil, cultural, economic, political and social life.
“Manitoba is proud to be home to internationally recognized advocates and organizations who have worked for many years towards this day,” said Howard. “We celebrate with them and recommit ourselves to building a province where all people enjoy the rights and responsibilities of full citizenship.”
The province believes that people with disabilities should be fully included in all aspects of Manitoba’s society, the minister said. The provincial Disabilities Issues Office assists in fulfilling this vision by promoting stronger provincial policies, programs and opportunities for Manitobans with disabilities. The office co-ordinates this work with government departments and through the ongoing engagement of disability community organizations.
Almost 16 per cent of Manitoba’s population has one or more disabilities that affect their daily lives and worldwide it is estimated that 650 million people live with disabilities, the minister said.
For more information on Manitoba’s Disabilities Issue Office go to https://www.gov.mb.ca/dio/index.html.
For more information on the convention, please go to the United Nations Convention website at www.un.org/disabilities.
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