NO RESERVATIONS- JUST RATIFY: SAYS MEP TO GOVERNMENT

9.50.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 27th Aug 2008

Local MEP Liz Lynne has expressed her concern over reports that the government is intending to 'express reservations' when it ratifies the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

The Convention came into force in May 2008 and the UK Government has previously declared their intention to ratify the text during 2008. Now it seems they are having doubts with the Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP, indicating the UK might only ratify with reservations.

'Express Reservations' allow a country to sign a Convention that they broadly agree with, but says that they are unwilling to implement certain articles of it. Liz Lynne, who is Vice President of the All Party Disability Intergroup in the European Parliament, says that this is simply not good enough. She commented:

"The UN Convention is a hugely important document detailing a clear set of rights that every disabled person is entitled to. For the Government to attempt to put reservations and caveats on their ratification send an appalling message to those with disabilities.

"The UK should be leading in the world in rights for disabled people and setting an example for others to follow, the full and complete ratification of the Convention is a giant step towards that goal"

"I urge the government to stop dragging its heels and ratify the Convention as it is and within their intended 2008 deadline."

ENDS

Notes:

• In 2003 Liz Lynne helped draft a report calling for a UN Convention on Disabilities. This report can be found at:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A5-2003-0270+0+DOC+WORD+V0//EN&language=EN

• Liz also tabled a written declaration in November 2007 calling on the European Commission and Council to work with the disabled community to implement the UN Convention. The declaration can be found at:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P6-DCL-2007-0101+0+DOC+WORD+V0//EN&language=EN

• She has also campaigned extensively on a wide range of other disability issues. Her report calling for a European Directive on anti-discrimination on the ground of race, religion, sexual orientation and disability in regards to the provision of goods and service was recently adopted by the European Parliament. You can find the full report at:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2008-0159&language=EN