NEWS: Tunisia 19th to Ratify Intl Disability Rights Treaty

RatifyNow has announced that Tunisia ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) earlier today. This North African nation is the 19th country to ratify the first legally-binding international human rights instrument. Thirty days after the 20th nation ratifies the CRPD, the human rights treaty will go into force–meaning that all ratifying nations will be obliged to obey it from that point on.

The 20th ratification is expected to happen very, very soon. The milestone ratification will be announced at RatifyNow.org as soon as possible after it occurs and is confirmed with trusted sources.

Among the 19 countries to ratify the CRPD, 11 also have ratified the accompanying Optional Protocol. The Optional Protocol gives people with disabilities in ratifying countries the option to pursue redress (justice) at the international level if their rights continue to be violated under the CRPD. The Optional Protocol will enter into force at the same time as the CRPD, 30 days after the 20th ratification of the CRPD.

Both the CRPD and the Optional Protocol will be legally binding only for countries that choose to ratify them. However, 126 countries have signed the CRPD and 71 have signed the Optional Protocol. Signing either treaty is a country’s way of signaling interest in ratifying it at a future date. Becoming a signatory country also obligates a nation to avoid pursuing any new action that could directly violate the treaty.

Find out if your country is among the signatories at

http://www.un.org/disabilities/countries.asp?navid=12&pid=166

Learn more about the CRPD by reading the RatifyNow FAQ at:

http://ratifynow.org/ratifynow-faq/

And learn about the Optional Protocol at:

http://ratifynow.org/un-convention/the-optional-protocol/

Check the RatifyNow.org web site soon to learn about upcoming events to celebrate and promote the CRPD on or near May 12.

Are you planning an event related to the CRPD in your country? RatifyNow would like to know at RatifyNow@gmail.com!