The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities : Convention relative aux droits des personnes handicapées des Nations Unies : vue d'ensemble

The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD, or the Convention) and its accompanying Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Optional Protocol) were enthusiastically welcomed by many states, civil society organizations, members of the disability community and other commentators when it was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 December 2006. The Convention is considered significant for a number of reasons. Most importantly, it is intended to serve as a vehicle for helping persons with disabilities to enjoy their human rights. The Government of Canada described it as "an important means for the international community to recognize and reaffirm the need to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in all aspects of life." The Convention remains groundbreaking for the manner in which it was drafted, adopted and signed. Not only was it completed in less time than any preceding human rights treaty and received a record number of signatures from UN member States, it was negotiated with the involvement of many groups, including non-governmental and international organizations as well as national human rights institutions.