The United Nations (UN) has announced that 123 countries are signatories to the convention, 69 countries signatories to the Optional Protocol, 14 countries have now ratified the international Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Eight of these countries also have ratified the optional protocol.

To date 34 African countries have signed and 3 countires (Gabon, Namibia and South Africa) have ratified the CRDP.

This international disability rights treaty is meant to “promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities,” including self-determination, physical and programmatic access, personal mobility, health, education, employment, habilitation and rehabilitation, participation in political life, and equality and non-discrimination.

The CRPD will become legally binding after 20 countries have ratified it. The optional protocol is a separate document that would allow individuals to seek redress (justice or compensation) for treaty violations internationally after they have exhausted everything that can be done at the national level. The optional protocol will be legally binding after 10 countries have ratified it.

For more information about the convention and the status of country signatories and ratification please visit the UNenable website on the following link.