EU signs new UN treaty on disability rights

The European Community will today sign a new UN treaty on disability rights on its opening day for signature in New York. This is the first time the Community signs a core UN human rights convention.

The Convention, which covers the rights of people with disabilities aims to ensure that people with disabilities enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with everyone else. It will provide protection for 50 million EU citizens and 650 million people with disabilities worldwide.