Pakistan Signs International Convention Disability Rights Pact

Pakistan today signed an international convention to protect the rights of the approximately 650 million people who have disabilities in the world today. So far eighty countries have signed the United Nations convention in what the U.N. human rights chief called an unprecedented show of support to empower the physically and mentally impaired.

The convention is a plan to end discrimination and exclusion of the physically and mentally disabled in education, jobs, and everyday life and requires countries to guarantee freedom from exploitation and abuse for the disabled. The convention guarantees that the disabled have the  right to life on an equal basis with the able-bodied and requires countries to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and guarantee equal legal protection.

Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi signed his signatures on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on behalf of the Government of Pakistan during the annual United Nations event designed to increase participation in global pacts.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi was received at a conference room especially set up for the event by the Under Secretary General for Legal Affairs, Patricia O’Brien.

The annual treaty event, held at UN Headquarters in New York since 2000, seeks to promote the increased participation of countries in the more than 500 multilateral treaties deposited with the Secretary-General, and by so doing, to strengthen the rule of laws worldwide.

Human Rights Louise Arbour announced the huge level of support at a news conference. ``It's certainly unprecedented in terms of support for a human rights instrument, but it's apparently setting records for the signature of any convention in the United Nations,'' she said.

According to the latest U.N. figures, about 10 percent of the world's population, or 650 million people, live with a disability.

Also at the 63rd UN General Assembly President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have pledged to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir issue, vowed to continue the peace process for bringing lasting peace to the region. The two leaders had a one-to-one meeting for more than half an hour. President Zardari said he was working for poverty alleviation and economic development in South Asia.

Leaders of Pakistan and India, vowing to work for an “early and full” normalisation of relations between the two countries, have agreed to open trade across four points, including two along the Line of Control in Kashmir, as part of efforts to strengthen trade, commerce and bilateral ties.